Niccolini's Song (Picture Puffin Books) [Paperback]

Chuck Wilcoxen (Author), Mark Buehner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2006 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Picture Puffin Books

Niccolini is no ordinary night watchman in the train yard. He sings the anxious locomotives to sleep every night with a traindreaming song about "gentle hills, steady tailwinds, and feathers for freight." Soon parents start to bring their crying babies and sleepless children to the rail yard, hoping to soothe them into slumber. But how will Niccolini’s gentle song ever be heard over all the racket? Niccolini’s Song is music so sweet, and a story so comforting, even restless young listeners will find themselves drifting off to peaceful dreams.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K–The night watchman in a rail yard is a good listener. One night, he hears a voice and realizes that a steam engine has asked him to sing a lullaby. Niccolini sings a song from his childhood and the anxious locomotive falls fast asleep. Before long, he is singing to all of the engines; shortly thereafter, mothers begin to bring their restless babies to be lulled by his song. On a particularly windy and noisy night, Niccolini cannot be heard over the din of crying infants, "temper-troubled children," and "disconcerted dogs." He turns to the engines, which softly blow their whistles, playing his tune. Finally, the little ones fall asleep, their parents take them home, and the trains and Niccolini whisper good night to one another. The rhythmic pace of the text, short sentences, and alliterative phrases make this creative bedtime story ideal for reading aloud. Buehner's soft paintings are imbued with dusky, nighttime hues. Careful observers will notice subtle cloud formations in the sky, such as romping animals and slumbering babies. A unique take on a popular topic, this book will have particular appeal to readers who love trains.–Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

...this bedtime story will soothe and captivate both young and old. -- Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142407100
• ISBN-13: 978-0142407103
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 10.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,227,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Train Kept A-Singing, All Night Long, March 14, 2005

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Niccolini's Song (Hardcover)

Very rarely have I seen nighttime so beautifully portrayed as in "Niccolini's Song," a magical, book about a night watchman sings lullabies to the trains he cares for. Wearing his engineer-striped cap and denim overalls, the mustachioed, big-eyed Niccolini is a comforting presence: "Some watchmen were as cold and hard as the engines they cared for. Niccolini was not. He was a quiet man. His wife always said he was a good listener."

Usually there's no trouble at the train yard, but Niccolini is ready with his whistle and his legs just in case. One night, he hears mysterious sounds, which is just a family of raccoons. However, he then hears low whispers:

"No, please, no more whistling."

"Seventy-six boxcars from here to Waxahachie, and only three hours sleep." turn

"Would you sing to me....Something low and sweet?"

The whispers are from a train ("it takes a very good listener to hear a steam engine worry"), and it implores Niccolini for comfort with a song. His hand on the locomotive, Niccolini closes his eyes, remembers a tune his mother used to sing to him, and makes up new words that lull the engine to sleep. The picture of Niccolini singing to the train is as warm as the night must be cold; it's an outstanding illustration by Mark Buehner.

Many authors would be satisfied to let the narrative end here; it's already a lovely story. However, author Chuck Wilcoxen extends it in an imaginative way. Niccolini's soothing lullabies not only sooth the trains that need it, but an ever increasing number of mothers who bring their crying babies to the train yard to hear Niccolini. And, on one particular night, when the wind is howling and all the unsettled babies in the neighborhood come with mothers and fathers to the yard, Niccolini conducts a concert of trains, all playing Niccolini's song by softly blowing their whistles. The clouds, as if directed by Niccolini as well, form in to soft animal shapes, and both parents and kids become calm, trudging back up the hill to their little houses.

Buehner, a veteran of many children's books, paints a velvety nightscape sharp outlines and warm facial colors that melt away fears of the dark, and first-time author Wilcoxen masterfully tells a soothing, wistful, and very imaginative tale. This is one of the best children's books of the year, and it would make an excellent gift. Simply magnificent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even trains need lullabies, January 29, 2005

By 

H. Meyers "book junkie" (seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Niccolini's Song (Hardcover)

Niccolini's Song fell into the hands of my three year old son and we've been reading it ever since. The illustrations are lush, and the story is enchanting. Descriptions such as "...stroking the damp hair of their sleeping children..." make the story one I can relate to, and the fact that the big trains need lullabies is comforting to my son. If you have a train lover on your shopping list, you can't go wrong with this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a lovely book!, October 21, 2004

By 

Anna (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Niccolini's Song (Hardcover)

My train obsessed three year old LOVES this book. It's our #1 request at bedtime! The story is lovely, the pictures are incredible.