Prairie Train

by Marsha Wilson Chall, John Thompson (Illustrator)

All Aboooard! During the first half of the twentieth century, the legendary steam engines of the Great Northern Railroad ruled the American northwest from Seattle, Washington, to St. Paul, Minnesota. Riding the Empire Builder was the safest, fastest, and most comfortable way to travel, as it chugged over wide rivers, across the Great Plains, and through snowbound mountain passes with such regularity you could set your watch by it. But for a small girl travelling by herself for the first time, a trip from her country home to visit Grandma in the city of St. Paul is anything but routine. With words rich in the rhythm of the rails and paintings both beautiful and authentic, PRAIRIE TRAIN welcomes you aboard the Great Northern for a memorable journey across the country and into the past.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction

40 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a family story told by the author's grandmother, this surprisingly colorful picture book, set in the 1930's, vividly recounts the narrator's first train ride, from her small town home in the prairie (North Dakota?)to St. Paul. The story captures the excitement of her traveling alone on the Great Northern Railroad to visit Grandma, and the realistic paintings add to the text. One thing bothered me: as they train pulls into St. Paul the girl observes a city of lights, zillion more than stars. According to one dictionary, the word zillions did not appear until 1940; another (Merriam-Webster) puts it at 1934. But the book is set, I would guess, in the mid 1930's. Even if Merriam-Webster is correct, would the little girl in her prairie town be likely to be a first adapter of the word? This one word did not ring true--and "millions" would have been just as expressive. No Lexile measure is available, but the book would be fine as a read-aloud for second graders, and the short lines would make it a fairly easy read for new readers. Use in units on the midwest, prairies, farms, and especially for transportation.

[Debs Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book of days gone by. A little girl goes by herself on a long train journey across the country. My guess is that it goes from one end of the Great Northern line to the other. It is set in a time where train travel was a thing of luxury and we get to experience it through the eyes of a child who when waited on in the dinner car sneaks a few sugar cubes into her coin purse and who makes friends with an older lady passing the time while knitting. A snowstorm brings the train to a halt, causing fear for the girl. The train is late, will Grandma still be waiting on the other end? Of course, Grandma did just that.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a historical era yet relate-able for any kid going on a trip by themselves. Great for 3-8 year old kids, picture book

[EJLJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, and a wonderful story giving a view into the Midwest from the early 1900s.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful St. Paul-based train ride memory. Good adult picture book.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasure to read aloud, with the sounds of the train and rhythmic prose. My toddler is spellbound everything I read this.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the train in the early 1930's and a young girl's ride to see her grandmother. It was interesting to take a look at history.

[LLeG84 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and has a sweet story about a girl going to visit her grandmother.