My Subway Runs

by James Gladstone, Pierre Pratt (Illustrator)

For a young child, a subway journey is an eye-opening city-life experience. A story-poem from award-winning creators James Gladstone and Pierre Pratt.

The journey begins with the roar of the subway from the street above, as the child and their mom descend to the dilapidated platform below. The child feels a rush of air as the train pulls in, people stepping on board just in time! Sights and sounds include the dark tunnel and screeching wheels, then the train suddenly breaks out into bright daylight high above the city. All the while, the child takes in the passengers around them ― people on their way to work, kids going to school, and “the sleeper,” whom no one else seems to see. At Union Station, the child accompanies their mom from restaurant to restaurant as she looks for work, before they journey home.

Author James Gladstone’s lyrical story-poem and Pierre Pratt’s illustrations, rich in detail and humor, make this companion book to My Winter City (illustrated by Gary Clement) at once delightful and thought-provoking.




Key Text Features

illustrations




Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1

With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1

Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3

Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Genres: Picture Books, Transport, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

James Gladstone is an editor and writer of school and trade books for children. When Planet Earth Was New is his first book with Owlkids. James lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Subway Runs is a TALL book with jam-packed pictures alive with the hustle and bustle of the subway. Readers go from the sidewalk above to the tunnels below with a young boy and his mom. Our young subway rider sees so much on his trip—whether he’s looking down at drips and puddles in the station or pressed up against the glass of his window—he sees the life around him. And you will too! You’ll see people with smiles or frowns, short or tall, and all with a story of their own to tell.

“My subway runs past the bright lights of the dark tunnel. That’s when my eyes open wide and stare.”

And the art? The art moves! It moves with wind and rush and excitement. I loved every single page. Some of my favorite people on the page were the bespectacled twin ladies and the stretched-out length of the business men with briefcases and hats running for the sliding doors. I find myself searching the pages for new little details and quirks every time I read it.

But my absolute hand-over-heart joy in this story was the boy’s concern for the “sleeper” on the train. Long after leaving the train, the ride and who and what he saw there still remained in his head and heart. I hope it inspires conversations galore for readers of all ages.

Highly recommended. Go jump on a subway and find it!

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy with brown hair and light colored skin uses a first person voice to introduce us to the subway in his city. This story-poem uses lyrical language and oversized, vibrant acrylic gouache paintings to immerse readers in the wonders of mass-transit: how it feels, smells, and looks. The train “runs under the tumbling city”, shown in three long horizontal strips as we go from the sidewalk to the station, and then down another level to the train. The boy and his mother, who wears a long, red coat that serves as a location beacon, stand close together as the train “runs fast, pushing wind through the station, blowing wild all the passengers’ hair,” which climb upward into crazy bouffants. Everything is seen through the child’s point of view and what adults may see as mundane or even problematic, he perceives with wonder: a gray puddle caused by ceiling drips, a sleeper “who no one seems to look at, and nobody ever goes near”, and the burst of light as they drawn near their destination – Toronto’s Union Station. They’re there so Mom can look for work and the child quietly looks at a book while she approaches the various restaurant counters before returning home to their modest apartment, with the subway running through the night, a comforting presence.

This book has a strong nostalgic and retro vibe, with its diverse crowd of riders wearing slightly dressier clothing than we might see on a subway today. There’s so much to look at on every page: a tall barefoot monk hunched over a book, a man in a wheelchair peering up at the arrivals’ board, a busker with an electric guitar, or an artist with a portfolio tucked under her arms, among many other fascinating riders. My Subway Runs will reward readers who’ll want to pour over its gorgeous artwork again and again. City kids can see their way of life reflected here while those who’ve never ridden on mass transit will get a virtual visit to another world. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each scene comes to life and lets the reader realize how interesting a ride on a subway can be.

A little boy heads out with his mother to take the subway as she searches for a job. He pays close attention as they wait for the subway to arrive, enter it, and ride it through the city and over the landscape beyond.

This is a straight-forward read on the plot end and doesn't hold any twists and turns...outside of the subway's path, that is. But this is by no means a boring read. From the very first scene of the boy putting on his coat to him entering the subway with his mom, every moment draws in and captures the attention. The illustrations are busy and allow the bustle to come across in its chaotic bliss. At the same time, this allows the details of each individual and situation to seep through. Listeners/readers are invited to let their eyes search and roam as they pick up daily details here and there. There's personality, diversity, quirks, and curiosities which fill life but are often overlooked, since we can't, usually, take snap-shots and let each moment completely sink in. These pages open up to a little more mindfulness and hold wonder as well.

The illustrations carry a distinct, artistic flair, and this also helps open them up with a hint of imagination while staying planted in reality. (I had to smile at the very winded hairstyles whenever the subway pulls in or leaves.) The text works its way in and around the scenes with just a few lines each time to make it clear what is happening. For adults using it as a read-aloud, it might be helpful to glance through to see where the text is beforehand, but it does flow nicely and keeps listeners' attentions the entire way through.

It's one of those picture books, which invites to gazing and offers tons to discover along the way.

[David Carriere]

My Subway Runs captures the poetry of ordinary city life through a child’s observant eyes. James Gladstone’s lyrical text transforms a simple subway ride into a layered emotional journey filled with movement, wonder, and quiet social awareness. Pierre Pratt’s illustrations add warmth and humor, offering rich visual moments that reward careful attention and invite discussion. What makes this book especially compelling is its balance between innocence and reality, showing the rhythms of urban life without explanation or judgment. It is a picture book that respects young readers’ intelligence while offering adults space for reflection. Gentle, observant, and deeply human, this is a story that lingers well beyond its final stop.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally always love picture books with children in urban settings and using public transportation. This book is rich with sensory details and an observant little protagonist. The large trim size is a lot of fun as well. The story itself is a little humdrum, but the large scale will make this book still popular.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The formatting of the ebook made it hard to read because some of the words were put together. I am sure we could have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t struggled to decipher it.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Themes: cities, subways/transportation
Ages: preK-2nd grade
Pub year: 2026

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the pictures of city life. not the most exciting story, but will be relatable for some readers.

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. So much to see and notice.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mundane story nicely uplifted by its quirky illustrations. May be more suited for a mature reader's sensibility. A weak 3 stars assigned (instead of 2 - mostly because of the enjoyable book design).

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! The illustrations are gorgeous, and I was charmed by the lyrical text and the experience of a young child riding the subway. I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I do!