This Train

by Paul Collicutt

A concept book for the youngest of train lovers

All aboard! This is one train book you don't want to miss. Using a refreshingly simple approach, Paul Collicutt has crafted the perfect book for young railroad enthusiasts. Each page features a vividly colored and detailed painting of a train, and the spreads show how they are different -- long and short, fast and slow, old and new. As a bonus, full-color endpapers feature captioned renderings of real-life engine models from all over the world that were the inspirations for the trains depicted throughout the book.

Genres: Picture Books, Trains, Childrens, Transport, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 1999

About the author

Paul Collicut originally intended to be a comic-book artist, inspired by Marvel comics, but fell in love with painting and became an illustrator. His picture book THIS TRAIN won a Parents Choice Gold Award. He lives in Hove, near Brighton, in England.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book about all sorts of trains, as well as opposites that allows the young reader to make the comparisons and contrasts. Fast and slow, rain and snow, even dark and glow (ok, so I make up the last one for the rhyme). Neo loved being able to guess all the opposites and wondered if we might ride on some trains to test out the theory of all these different types of trains. ALL ABOARD!

[J9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3 yr old twins love this book. Great learning to read book. Besides being about trains, each sentence begins with "This train" and so the twins are starting to recognize these words already. The trains also show opposites on each page (this train is short/this train is long) and so there are many learning opportunities to be had here. The pictures are bright and colorful and engaging, but most of all, the preschoolers love it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This board book will see plenty of use from the train or transportation lovers in your family or classroom. The end papers even feature actual trains, complete with their names and the countries where they run. The book starts off with color contrasts of two trains before moving into size, age, direction, and times when trains travel, among other concepts. Young readers will be delighted with the ending when they, too, are invited to climb on that train. Isn't there something about that "All Aboard!" that sends a shiver of anticipation up riders' spines? At least that's how it always felt to me when I've traveled on a train. Although most trains seem to rely more on automation than humans nowadays, there still is much to be said in support of traveling by train. This book for young readers will keep that interest in trains alive in the hearts of many a youngster. The colors used for the illustrations are appealing and make me want to get on a train to just about anywhere right now.

[Arielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the illustrations are lovely, they aren’t quite clear enough for the intended audience. This book is to teach basics. “In the tunnel” and “over the bridge” should be obvious from a small distance.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and colorful illustration with some basics re: opposites and a couple random colors thrown in. It seems a little like someone painted a bunch of pictures of trains and then slapped on some descriptive words, but my son loves trains, so extra points for filling that niche!

[Sue Mosher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colourful and appealing to children who love trains, this is a book of opposites. It also shows and names actual trains.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Train is a board book mainly for the toddler and beginning reader who love trains. The bright colors and the wonderful action that is depicted with each engine is sure to capture the attention of any train enthusiast. In both the front and back cover of the book are illustrations and descriptors of each train pictured in the book from old coal steam trains to modern high-speed electric trains. This is a book that will entice a reluctant reader but train enthusiast to take those first steps with the simple text that is on each page.

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The structure of this book is simple: facing pages contrast two trains by some attribute. The first spread's two pages say, "This train is yellow. / This train is red."

This line ("This train is...") repeats, and the book's spreads show many simple attributes like old/new, but also more complex ones like on a bridge/in a tunnel or carries passengers/carries freight. The art is pretty and colorful, a call back to classic vintage posters.

Sometimes the illustrations aren't as good at showing what's in the text as they should be. The yellow/red spread, for instance, is confusing because while one train is more yellow and the other more red, they are both actually yellow and red. But overall this book is a great way to introduce or generalize opposites, and the huge variety of colorful trains and settings creates a lot of interest.

****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is from a longer blog post about great books for kids who really love trains: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/obsesse...

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various sorts of trains are introduced doing opposite things. The trains featured are identified in the opening and closing spreads.

If you're looking for a book that features opposites or things for compare/contrast that will appeal to transportation-wild kids, this is an eye-catching option. The illustration style reminds me a bit of Art Deco with bright colors. I liked the identification guides in the front and back to the different kinds of trains. The text is also very easy for kids just getting the hang of this reading thing.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bold, bright illustrations combined with brief descriptive text provide young train enthusiasts with a satisfying book experience. Each double-page spread presents opposites and picture clues so children will enjoy completing sentences.

This train is YELLOW. This train is (picture clue--point to word) RED.
This train is LONG (stretch arms wide). This train is (hold up thumb and forfinger to depict...) SHORT.
This train is OLD. This train is (pause) NEW.

and so forth.`

[Kristi Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the 2016 board book edition of the book.

Originally published in 1999, This Train, has now been reissued in a small board book format. The original artwork with vibrant colors and rich details has been reduced in size, but not in quality. A wide variety of trains is presented, including the original end pages with trains from around the world. This new edition will be a great addition to any library circulating board boards to young patrons.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love this book, our 2 and 4 year old read it aloud, comparing the differences of trains on each page. The illustrations are bright and well-done, (though I like the author's other book "This Truck" a tad better).

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son adores this book and at just three will point to the words and 'read' them to me. The illustrations are beautiful and the repetition of key words is great. I even has the rhythm of a train! Love it.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and great for toddlers. Tony loved it, he never tired of reading it.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely illustrations.