From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K—Filled with sound effects galore, this rollicking read-aloud is perfect for transportation storytimes. The text moves along with a steady rhythm, describing the passengers who occupy the various cars of a colorful train ("Here is the school class off on a trip, and the children yell, Please, sir, please, ma'am...are we there yet?'") followed by a refrain ("and the train goes, Clickerty-click, clickerty-clack…"). The bright retro illustrations look like a 1960s record-album cover. The train and the characters' clothing are depicted in glossy colors and covered with flat floral patterns and other graphic designs. The people's stylized faces are adorned with eyeglasses, freckles, and/or beards and mustaches; surrounded by hair of different shades; and topped with hats of all shapes and sizes. There are many details for children to pore over, like a full tea cart and doily-covered tables for the "ladies off to the races" and the fancy uniforms worn by the "soldiers off on parade." This visually pleasing offering joins a large pantheon of good train titles including Philemon Sturges's
I Love Trains! (HarperCollins, 2001) and Donald Crews's
Freight Train (HarperCollins, 1978).—
Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"The illustrations are reminiscent of the '50s whilst the end papers could be done by the great Edward Bawden. The end of the book, by the way, is enormously satisfactory in the best tradition of the cautionary tale. Pure delight." Carousel on Whatever (ISBN: 1-4063-0133-7)"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
