The Winter Train

by Susanna Isern, Ester García (Illustrator), Jon Brokenbrow (Translator)

Winter is drawing near, and as they do every year around this time, the cold-natured animals in the forest will catch the train that will take them to warmer lands. Most of them will start to pack their bags, checking if they missed something. Saying goodbye to their friends who’ll stay to spend the winter there will be difficult, but they will meet again soon when summer arrives. It’s time! The train is leaving! Southern Forest, here they go! The trip is going smoothly, but hey, where is Squirrel? A delightful tale of friendship and solidarity, The Winter Train takes young readers on a touching journey that brings out the very best in everyone.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Juvenile, Friendship, Spanish Literature, Holiday

24 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2014

About the author

Susanna Isern Íñigo

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching Picture Book

Beautiful illustrations and a touching story. A caveat I have is that winter animals are traveling south for what reason? And it’s emphasized by a squirrel being the animal accidentally left behind whom they must save. Squirrels are well suited for winter. Who are these animals going South for the winter? Any personification going on?

[createitlibrarian (Amanda)]

The artist gave expectations with the cover of the book. She did not follow through on the expectations inside the book.

At first I thought the book might be great to use with “Meeow and the Little Chairs.” I was wrong. At no point in the inside of the books do you see the creatures building a train with boxes.

I won’t use it for storytime.

[Sheila Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are lovely. The story is quiet and sweet.

[mairead!]

one of the animals is knitting on the train!

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Firstly: Ester Garcia's illustrations are LOVELY.

But besides that... I HATE this story of a group of wild animals taking their annual train trip to warmer lands for the winter. This is just another children's book that is showing "real" animals in the winter and introducing pure fantasy as their way of life but not clearly making it pretend. I wish they'd taken the idea of friendship and included it in a more accurate portrayal of winter migration and hibernation.

Obviously, you and your littles may love this book (especially because of the pictures - so sweet!). But this type of book specifically (fantastical depictions of animals' winter lives, aimed at small children) really bugs me for some reason. The only children's book I recall where it is done "well" (as in, clearly pretend and so it's fun, not confusing) is Jerry Smith's But No Elephants.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this three stars because the illustrations are wonderful, showing many animals gathering to take the 'winter train' to a warmer part of the forest. The only one not going is Owl, and the crisis that happens is that as they're on their way they discover squirrel is missing. They must go back for him! It's a story with a problem that shows problems can be solved if everyone works together. I wonder about the concept that these animals travel in winter because it isn't scientifically correct. To show the concept of which animals hibernate, which change colors because of winter's snow, etc. and then to read this imagined story will be confusing.

[Sharlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

My initial reaction: where's the rest?

On their own, the illustrations couldn't tell you this story.
It feels incomplete because they haven't reached their destination.

The only good point is their 'no-one gets left behind' moral. But they are leaving behind owl who doesn't mind the cold anyway.

Not the greatest picture book.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit wordy, maybe due to translation. I can enjoy fanciful tales about animals, but for some reason I couldn't get past the fact that many of the animals wouldn't be migrating, including the squirrel. The danger of the train getting stuck was not enough reason for any tension.

[Angelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Really cool illustrations, but the story was underwhelming. The choice of animals was a bit weird given the fact that this is a before-winter-migration story, plus, squirrels don't usually migrate.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darling illustrations.

[Lila · Rating 2 out of 5]

cool artwork, so so story

[Global Literature in Libraries Initiative]

Winter is coming to the Northern Forest, and the animals are busily preparing for their annual trip to the Southern Forest: Wild Cat is looking for their toothbrush, Deer needs another suitcase, and Badger reminds Rabbit to turn out the light before they leave. The animals gather at the foot of the oldest tree in the forest, where they will board the train that will take them to warmer climes. Soon they all board, and the atmosphere is jovial, with the different animals-the wolf, the goat, the bat, the bear, and others- playing cards and singing to pass the time...
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To read the full review, visit our website!
https://glli-us.org/2021/01/20/worldk...

[RosaDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful adventure in which all the animals of the northern forest are involved in order to spend the winter a little warmer. Beautiful illustrations!

Iparraldeko basoko animalia guztiak parte hartzen duten abentura ederra, negua apur bat epelago igarotzeko. Ilustrazio ederrak!

Una preciosa aventura en la que todos los animales del bosque del norte se ven envueltos para poder pasar el invierno un poco más calentitos. Preciosas ilustraciones!

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story of friendship and working together. The story follows a group of animals who are preparing to catch the winter train down to the southern part of the forest where it will be warmer during the winter. While on the train they notice squirrel is missing so they must go back to get her but the snow is now falling hard. No spoilers. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. It is a fun read with amazing illustrations.

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a story about friendship and teamwork. It's a snuggly book with amazing illustrations. If you don't like fictional animal winter habits, don't read it. If you can read the story for what it is and enjoy it, then pick it up and snuggle with your little one :)

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book. The animals take the winter train when it gets cold.

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book emphasizes diversity, loyalty, perseverance in the face of despair & teamwork. Lovely pictures.

[Emmy Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book. Will read again.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are so sweet. The story is simple but cozy, perfect for the animal lover.

[Nicoleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one left behind.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Una bella historia sobre la amistad, la solidaridad y la lealtad que nos descubren los animales de un bosque del norte." (http://www.casadellibro.com/libro-tre...)

A variety of forest animals prepare for a winter trip to the 'southern forest.' The animals include a mountain lion, rabbit, barn owl, fox, deer (ciervo--not venado), badger, partridge and hedgehog. The inclusion of these animals raises the vocabulary level of this book above that of many picture books.

The illustrations are calm and go well with the idea that winter is coming and the pace of the forest is slowing.

There are two conflicts in this story that provide for reader participation. What will they do? How will they solve this problem? Perfect for a 'turn and talk' moment.

I am a bit bothered by the whole taking a train to a southern forest concept. I thought these animals hibernated rather than migrated as a means of dealing with the cold. Might be another talking point with readers?

Target audience: gr K/1-3
Connections: seasons, zoology, animal adaptions, --and if we're going to totally anthropomorphize the characters: loyalty, perseverance, and friendship

[Trisha Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this adaptation of weather change. It is cute way to imagine all of the hibernating animals going on a train ride to avoid the winter weather. I thought it was very cute to see all of the animals worried about one of their friends. They were willing to trap themselves in the winter area for months in order to save their friend.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story with rich illustrations, The Winter Train is book young readers will enjoy.

Read my full review here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2014/1...

[Justin Bloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork.

[H. Givens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely art and a good story, atmospheric and wintry, but it feels like a segment of a longer "journey" type story to me, so it's not quite satisfying.

[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations for this quite a bit, HOWEVER, the story isn't really funny or educational in any way.

[Maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanting story with pictures so beautiful and imaginative, you could almost believe in interspecies migration.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations for animals preparing to migrate for the winter, working together to make sure no animal is left behind. Spain Spanish in a few sentences.

[Manidipa Mandal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations was why we chose it. Not the most gripping story, but sweet and enabled many discussions, I Spy games etc.

[ErinTheLibrarian]

charming illustrations but longish text