Train Song: An ALA Notable Picture Book About Musical Journeys Through Cities and Forests for Kids

by Diane Siebert, Michael Wimmer (Illustrator)

Here is the song of the train. Listen as it rushes past big cities and small towns. Listen as it sweeps through forests and fields and into tunnels. Hear the whistle wailing, brakes squealing, wheels rolling, r-o-l-l-i-n-g, stop. Now the train is homeward bound. All aboard! Notable Children's Books of 1991 (ALA)
Best Books of 1991 (SLJ)
100 Favorite Paperbacks 1994 (IRA/CBC)
Notable 1990 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children's Books of 1990 (Library of Congress)
Favorite Paperbacks for 1994 (IRA/CBC)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Transport, Storytime, History, Trains

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Diane Siebert is the author of Mojave, a 1988 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice, a 1988 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Social Studies, and a 1989 Teachers Choice, and Heartland , a 1989 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice, a 1989 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Social Studies, and a 1990 Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts. Ms. Siebert lives at Crooked River Ranch, Oregon.

Reviews

[Gerry]

This is a very atmospheric book, brought to life by the very onamatopoeic verse by Diane Siebert.

A variety of trains criss-cross the American countryside, passing all types of terrain, stopping at stations on the way before disappearing out of sight along the track.

Buffalo, New York City, Boston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, with stops at all points, flash by. Freight trains rumbling, grumbling straight through to LA. Drivers in striped caps looking after boxcars and flatcars, cars with lumber, cars with cattle all clickety-clacking to Seattle.

Trains with passengers on board rolling toward their destinations then rolling, strolling into town. Air brakes squeal, moaning, groaning, steel on steel. And, after a stop it's 'All aboard' before roaring past forest greens and desert browns. Finally, whistle wails and it's homeward bound.

Mike Wimmer provides almost larger than life delightful illustrations to accompany the text.

[booklady]

This book is sumptuous if you are a/an: 1) train lover; 2) aesthete for poetry or art; 3) American West history buff and especially if you are all three. We had this when our children were growing up and they loved it. My grandson doesn't yet appreciate the poetry, but he loved the train art.

[Nancy]

A beautifully written and illustrated nostalgic celebration of trains. Siebert engages all the reader's senses with lines like, "steel wheels rolling on steel trails rumbling grumbling on steel rails". The short, repeaticious lines needs to be read aloud in order to appreciate the cadence of rolling along the track, "out in back, railroad track, clickety-clack, clickety-clack." This was a favorite bedtime story at my house for many years. It's gentle rhythm is just right for lulling a fussy toddler to sleep.

[Samantha]

1. Notable Children's Books of 1991 (ALA), Best Books of 1991 (SLJ), 100 Favorite Paperbacks 1994 (IRA/CBC), Notable 1990 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC), Children's Books of 1990 (Library of Congress), Favorite Paperbacks for 1994 (IRA/CBC)
2. Kindergarten-Grade 2
3. This fun, interactive read is about travel route of a train through big cities, small towns, and dark tunnels.
4. I love that this book has a fun song that's easy to follow, and that it teaches aspects of history. Such a fun read for young children!
5. This book is a great way to discuss, in a classroom setting, fiction vs. non-fiction as well as the different types of transportation (and their jobs).

[Alicia]

For Ages: 4-7
Summary: A riveting Journey through the states on a train ride and all the sounds, movement, and sights that come with it. A vivid depiction of a day or more in the life of all the various trains.

Review: This book contains very descriptive words that make you feel as if you were riding on the train which was more helpful than the pictures. The illustrations were rather vague and irrelevant at times.

Classroom use: Can be used during a transportation theme and learning about trains or a model for learning how to use more descriptive words in writing.

[Jason Dow]

Great memory from my childhood, reread as pre-show for Murder On The Orient Express

[Diane Bateman]

This was a great book for the kiddos that want to learn about trains . It was very fun to read .

[Alana]

It's a poem with the rhythm of a train clacking down the tracks. My toddler was very enamored. The drawings were nice.

[Lukas]

I have literally read this book to shreds over the years. I love it!

[Dolly]

This is a wonderful tale about trains and life near a railroad track. Listening to the song of the train, it's a regular and predictable rhythm.

The lyrical and rhyming narrative flows so nicely off the tongue and the cadence really gives the impression of the sounds of a train.

The illustrations are somewhat old fashioned and complement the poetry nicely. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

[Katey]

What a beautiful book. We can often think of trains as part of the past. We forget their importance and the power that they are. This book takes a powerful engine and turns it into a graceful locomotive.

[Karen]

entire book of poems about a train

great for students to think about something like train and develop ideas

[Sharon]

Another hand-me-down from our train-loving cousins.

[Tommy]

Another hand-me-down from our train-loving cousins.

[Danny]

Another hand-me-down from our train-loving cousins.

[Haley Scholl]

Loved this, gorgeous wording and illustrations

[Beverly]

Siebert is a really good poetess

[Karen Gibson]

Grandchild read. Love the lyrical way this book reads.

[Kai]

For Grace.

[Savannah]

I loved this book!

[Ame]

Great bedtime read with a sing - song beat and awesome illustrations.

[Heather]

Beautifully illustrated, I really enjoy reading this to my song, I like the poetry of it.

[David]

Read it with a snappy, rolling cadence to make it come alive. My 4 year-old students love this book even though they don’t know the cities mentioned.

[Sandy Sopko]

Realistic illustrations and lovely rhymes for train lovers.

[Lauren]

Picked this book up at Goodwill and it has become a staple in our favorite bedtime books.

[Crystal]

I read this book for my college class as an information book about social studies. This book is great for kids to get into and join with reading along. It also teaches kids about the trains and how important they were/are.