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5.0 out of 5 stars
I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done, August 6, 2004
There is something deeply rewarding about author Marsha Wilson Chall's recent, "Prairie Train". Once you've finished the book you may find yourself yearning to take in some of the sights, sounds, and feelings the story evokes. You will certainly wish that you yourself could take a trip such as the one taken by the heroine of the tale. The danger of writing any book that takes place in the 1920s or 30s is that it could easily be so steeped in nostalgia as to be impossible for kids to connect with. With "Prairie Train" such fears are groundless.
Our first image of our young female heroine is of her lying on a wooden slatted floor. There is a look of anticipation on her face as she listens to the sounds of the Great Northern train going, "Clackety clack clack clack". The next morning she's aboard the train, going to see her grandmother at the end of the line. Her mother (decked out in a fabulous ensemble that I personally would kill to get my hands on) runs alongside until she is gone. On board, the girl takes stock of her clothing and possessions. She reads the signs painted on the sides of barns and watches the countryside pass. She gets to go to the dining car all by herself and surreptitiously slip some five sugar cubes into her coin purse (we won't consider what may happen to those cubes later). Everything is delightful until the train screeches to a halt due to too much snow on the track. The girl is far less confident at this point, but a grandmotherly figure sitting across the seat offers to show her how to knit. Then a boy with a harmonica plays a tune and things start perking up. The track is cleared and the old woman, before getting off at her stop, gives the girl the afghan she finished. Finally the train enters St. Paul Union Depot (yay Minnesota!) and the girl descends like a princess to the arms of her waiting grandmother below.
Before I praise anything else, I'd just like to thank the fates that John Thompson was the illustrator on this puppy. The pictures in this book are absolutely amazing in many ways. I've always been a fan of realistic illustrations in books for children (Chris Van Allburg and that type of stuff) and Thompson does not disappoint. The clothing worn by characters in this tale is spot on. The girl herself is in a cranberry colored coat, white gloves, and shiny patent leather shoes. The wool beret on her head is so well illustrated that you can practically make out its woolen stitches. Each character presented here looks as if they'd have entire stories to tell, if only you cared to ask. But my favorite picture, bar none, is the shot of the girl bursting into song next to the nice lady on the train as a nearby boy plays a silver harmonica. The expression of the girl, her hands, and her mouth, is so authentic and so realistic (it looks like you've caught her mid-note) that I can't help but assume that Thompson was working from a photograph. I shouldn't be too surprised that these pictures are as great as they are, however. After all, John Thompson illustrated the incredibly remarkable, "Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters" which, if you haven't read it, you must run out and buy RIGHT NOW.
None of this is detract from author Marsha Wilson Chall, of course. I loved the repetition of verses explaining the girl's possessions. I enjoyed the idea of a girl in a dining car by herself checking out the world behind her in the mirror of a silver knife. And I really took a great deal of joy in sentences like, "An old windmill spins like a crazy Ferris wheel. A silo stretches, tight with winter feed". This book is a midwestern joy to read through. It sings as you read it and chugs along merrily. For kids who would kill to take a trip alone and on their own like an adult, this book has instant appeal. A nostalgic story that feels particularly contemporary.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for a variety of readers., October 6, 2009
Both the text and illustrations are enjoyable in this book. The text is rich with details and analogies. American Girls fans--and future American Girls fans--will appreciate the descriptions of the girl's outfit--savoring, for instance, her cranberry coat. They'll also enjoy the girl's bravery and the kindness of the woman sitting across from her when the train stops for a snowdrift and sympathize with the girl's desire to reach her grandmother.
Railfans, like my four-year-old son, will appreciate the beauty and detail of the Great Northern train. There's also plenty of use of prairie imagery.
The cold weather, warm coat, and warm afghan in the story make this a cozy read for chilly days. Highly recommended for all sorts of people!
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Another great nostalgic tale, September 22, 2005
This is a great little gem of a book. All the grandparents out there who ever took a train ride as a child will undoubtedly enjoy reading this to their grandchildren. Trains are such compelling mechanisms, after all, and the story of a young girl taking her first train ride alone is a great combination. The illustrations are rich and realistic. Another reviewer was put in mind of Chris Van Allsburg, as was I. These illustrations are slightly softer but no less impressive. They pair nostalgic images with the text, resulting in a verbal and visual trip to a bygone era.
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