Train Song [Hardcover]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Saaf (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

A young boy watches a freight train go by on its daily run.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Simple rhymed couplets accompany pictures of a little boy playing on a hill with his toy train while watching a real train (with a conductor that looks just like him) wind through the hills and valleys before him. "Chug-a-chug-chug and clickety-clack-/Steam is white and the engine's black." The train goes across bridges, through tunnels, past a station, and disappears into the distance, but the boy knows that, "Tomorrow when it's almost ten,/Freight train will be back again." Saaf's gouache illustrations are childlike and straightforward; the colorful double-page spreads are bordered in a wide band of white with text printed in bold black at the bottom. The book should not be confused with Diane Siebert's book of the same title (Crowell, 1990), which is more sophisticated in text and aimed at a slightly older audience. Ziefert's title will be received eagerly by young train enthusiasts. A natural for preschool storytime.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

A little boy stands on a hill as a freight train travels through the valley below. Waving at the engineer, the boy watches each car as it goes by, carrying logs, pigs, ducks, cows, and the like. As the train pulls out of sight, the child reflects that "Tomorrow when it's almost ten, / Freight train will be back again." The same steady rhythm chugs through the book, telling the story in rhymed couplets. Large in scale and naive in style, Saaf's gouache paintings illustrate the text with becoming directness and simplicity. An homage to the fascination many young children feel for trains, this picture book will find a ready audience. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531302040
• ISBN-13: 978-0531302040
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Children's Books > Transportation > Trains

More About the Author

Harriet Ziefert was born in New Jersey. She grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University. "About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year. Ziefert's picture book A New Coat for Anna is about a girl in a bombed-out European city during the months just after World War II. Anna has outgrown her old coat, and her mother trades her few surviving treasures--a watch, a lamp, a necklace, and a porcelain teapot--in order to obtain wool and have it spun, woven, and finally sewn into a fine red coat for Anna. A Horn Book Magazine reviewer stated, "the simple text, based on a true story, carries the narrative along effectively." The book, which was illustrated by Anita Lobel, was chosen as one of ten books to be read aloud by former First Lady Barbara Bush as part of a program promoting reading. Ziefert was invited to the White House for the occasion. The reason Ziefert began writing easy-to-read books was that she felt "they were getting too hard for kids to read in the first grade." She says that she wrote easy-to-read books with seventy-five or fewer words, even ones with fifty or fewer words, "to see how much of a story" she could produce with that limit. She enjoyed the challenge, and cites her book Sleepy Dog as an example. "Sleepy Dog is the most successful book I've ever done, in terms of number of books sold." She's also been working on a developmental program with publisher Dorling Kindersley, made up of books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her book Pete's Chicken, which was illustrated by Laura Rader, was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review as "a simple, sweet 'Song of Myself' for children . . . [which] applauds the specialness of every child as it reminds parents of the healing power of just being there for children." Among her other books is a series of easy-to-read books, such as Trip Day and Worm Day, about an inventive science teacher and his rambunctious class of students. Ziefert's book Let's Get a Pet was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by a joint committee of the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council. . Ms. Ziefert lives in Maplewood, New Jersey and Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has two adult sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for All Ages, December 19, 2003

By 

Sarah (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Train Song (Hardcover)

My son is almost two. He absolutely loves when I read him this book...over and over again. He even tries to read it with me. The rhyming and repetition keep his attention. He turns each page with great anticipation. He really loves the illustrations and pointing to all the pictures. It's one of his favorites and it's fun for parents to read, too! I HIGHLY recommend this to everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loads of pleasure for your child, November 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Train Song (Hardcover)

My 16 month old loves this book. He would have us read it over and over again and never seems to tire of the story. The rhtyhm of the words and the simple and bold illustrations make this book an attention getter. As soon as I come home in the evening my son starts "choo-choo" and "clikkity-clak". He loves it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Illustrations, January 26, 2001

By 

"55dw" (Blagoevgrad Bulgaria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Train Song (Hardcover)

Every child I have given this book to loves it-especially the wonderful illustrations by Donald Saaf-all of his books are illustrated beautifully,but this one is really superb.