Underground Train [Hardcover]

Mary Quattlebaum (Author), Cat Bowman Smith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 1997 | Age Level: 3 and up

Award-winning author Mary Quattlebaum brings the sights and sounds of the subway to young train lovers and their parents in this bright, kinetic book, perfect for reading aloud. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A rhyming tour of what goes on above Washington's subway, this book is "just the ticket for introducing young readers to our nation's capital," said PW. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K. A little girl and her mother take a trip on the Washington, DC, metro to meet Nana in the park. Sporting a jaunty red beret, this eager preschooler picks an orange seat and settles down to watch "the tunnel blurring by like a long, black night." As the train rushes underground ("Rrrruuuummm. Whoooosshh"), readers get to see what's "above the train, above my head." The White House, the Capitol, various familiar monuments, and the zoo are a few of the sights along the way. Before long, the conductor announces the awaited stop and Nana is there to greet mother and daughter. Although the rhythmic language isn't consistently successful?be prepared to wonder if you've missed a beat?the appeal of the journey never falters. Lighthearted watercolor illustrations capture the little traveler's infectious curiosity as well as the hustle and bustle of the crowded urban streets. While the often busy layout makes this book difficult to share with groups, individual children and adults will no doubt enjoy taking this bright and cheery train ride together.?Alicia Eames, New York City Public Schools
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers; F edition (October 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385322046
• ISBN-13: 978-0385322041
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Children's Books > Transportation > Trains

More About the Author

Mary Quattlebaum is an award-winning children's book author. Her new picture book Pirate vs. Pirate is a "rip-roaring pirate yarn" (Booklist) about two buccaneers--a guy and a girl--who both want to be the biggest, baddest pirate in the world. School Library Journal gave it a "four-arrrrr! rating."

Pirate vs. Pirate was inspired by Mary's husband, who asked for a pirate book so he could dress up like a pirate at book events. Mary actually is amazed at the number of kids (and adults) who, like her husband, want to dress up like pirates and shout "arrrr" along with the characters in the book.

Some of Mary's other titles include Winter Friends (starred review, Publishers Weekly), a book of poems based on her snowy city neighborhood, and Sparks Fly High (starred review, Kirkus), her retelling of a Colonial American folktale. Mary's humorous Jackson Jones chapter-book series features a city boy and his adventures in a community garden. The first book, Jackson Jones and the Puddle of Thorns, was called "fast-paced and funny" (Booklist). The latest title, Jackson Jones and the Curse of the Outlaw Rose, is a "unique mystery" (School Library Journal) about a haunted, historical rosebush.

Mary is eagerly awaiting two soon-to-be-published picture books. The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans is about a playful ghost who haunts a New Orleans restaurant. Jo MacDonald Saw a Pond was inspired by the pond and wild critters of Mary's country childhood.

When she is not writing, Mary likes to garden, read, walk the family dogs, play the harmonica (badly), juggle (very badly), and eat popcorn (noisily).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Virtual Subway Ride in the Nation's Capitol, September 3, 2004

By 

A Writer (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Underground Train (Turtleback)

Mary Quattlebaum's book evokes the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C., and especially of the D.C. subway system. The writing is downright poetic and is illustrated with beautiful, charming, and accurate depictions of the city. The day I bought this book, my two-year-old wanted it read to him again and again. I didn't mind; I love it too! The book is out of print and may be hard to find, but it's worth the trouble.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book young train lovers might really like, February 28, 1999

By 

Suzanne Amara (MA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Underground Train (Hardcover)

My son (age 4) has this book on his frequent reading request list! I like it too, but not as well as he does. He gets very confused by the parts of the book that are set above the ground, and I find them sort of needless---especially since on some pages there is no picture at all of the train underground. My son asks every time we are on those pages---"where's the train?". But that small flaw in our eyes is not enough to make him not like this book very much! His favorite part is the descriptive writing of how the train sounds! If you have a young train or subway lover, I would get this one!

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations, May 3, 2006

By 

Zachary Schrag "historian" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Underground Train (Picture Yearling Book) (Paperback)

I love this book for many reasons, but perhaps most of all for the way the watercolors capture the light inside a Metro station and the texture of the concrete. It is the finest artistic representation of Metro I have seen.