C Train: A New Beginning

by Meredith Rusu, Brigette Allen (Editor), Angela Atuesta (Illustrator)

C Train is about a New York City subway train that finds a new home thanks to an old friend. The city sidewalks are alive with people hurrying to their homes, work, and school. Underground, C Train is busy taking people to these destinations. Her favorite passenger, Maya, a Latinx girl with a star barrette, shares magical stories about marine life. The subway train loves Maya’s marker masterpieces of the ocean and marvels at the sea creatures and where they live. As Maya grows up and pursues her dream career in ocean engineering, C Train grows older and winds up stuck in the railyard. When Maya visits her old friend, the two embark on a new journey to find C Train a new home, far from the subway rails!

C Train is the first in a series of books called The Circle Tales, that introduces children to the concept of repurposing something at the end of its useful life. The book and the series, created by Brigette Allen, are based on true events and inspired by her niece Margeaux.

Kindle Edition

Published June 8, 2023

About the author

Meredith Rusu lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of more than one hundred children’s books, notably There’s a Yeti in my Tummy (the first picture book in the Mighty Moods series), Anna, Elsa, and the Enchanting Holiday, Silenzio, Bruno!, and The DATA Set series under the name Ada Hopper. She has also written for many popular licenses including LEGO, Disney/Pixar, Peppa Pig, and Star Wars. When she isn’t writing, Meredith enjoys singing karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two.

Reviews

[Brittney Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

C Train

Also how timely today is also World Oceans Day 🌊 a great book to dive into on this day!

Thank you @thecircletales_ and @prbythebook for this gifted copy

🚊 C Train is a STEAM-based series and the first from the creative environmental and education company, The Circle Tales.

This is probably my new favorite picture book and of course it’s Non-fiction. Where to even start. C Train is a NYC subway train who bustles groups of people each day… the illustrations of the city and the people are eye appealing. The heart of the story is about C Train and the years it has ran and what happens once it’s time on the tracks are up. With a new purpose after a long run C Train is repurposed and dropped into the sea to help create artificial reefs 🪸 …FASCINATING. At the end of the book it shares more information on the history of these trains that were dropped along the east coast and I had no clue.

For kids this opens up great conversations on re-use and helping protect the environment.
You are also able to download a free educators guide over at thecircletales.com with more fun info and activities!

I’m really excited to see what book is next in the series!

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🚊 love riding the subway
🌊 wish you could live under the sea
👧🏻 have young children
🌎 want to protect the earth

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

C Train is about a New York City subway train that finds a new home thanks to an old friend. The city sidewalks are alive with people hurrying to their homes, work, and school. Underground, C Train is busy taking people to these destinations. Her favorite passenger, Maya, a Latinx girl with a star barrette, shares magical stories about marine life. The subway train loves Maya’s marker masterpieces of the ocean and marvels at the sea creatures and where they live. As Maya grows up and pursues her dream career in ocean engineering, C Train grows older, and winds up stuck in the rail yard. When Maya visits her old friend, the two embark on a new journey to find C Train A new home, far from the subway rails!

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a cute read, and I loved that it was based on true events. I had no idea that subway trains were refurbished and transported to the ocean to make reefs for fish and sea life! The pictures also really helped bring the little subway to life in a fun way. I wanted to be her friend, too! Your littles will love rooting for C Train in this magical story!

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this tale of the relationship between Maya and her beloved C train that always brought her home.

I loved the theme of this book and the C train was repurposed as a home to sea creatures. The story of their relationship is magical while teaching young readers the value of giving old, discarded item a new and exciting second life full of purpose! 💜

I look forward to reading more from f this series. The illustrations are gorgeous and bring the story to life! 👍🏻

[Kris Reguera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful in many layers

Inspired in a true story I didn’t know about, and the stories of many repurposed trains. The illustrations make this story magical! A story of friendship, of beauty, of time and repurpose.