Orphan Train

by Verla Kay, Ken Stark (Illustrator)

Lucy, Harold, and David have recently become orphans and have no family left, no one to take care of them. They are living on the streets, stealing what they need to survive, like thousands of other unfortunate kids in the early 1900s.

Then they get lucky. Lucy and her little brothers are welcomed into an orphanage where they get clean clothes and warm meals. But this orphanage sends groups of children to the Midwest on orphan trains. They are paraded in front of farmers who pick and choose kids they want to take home-and David is taken at one of the first stops, without Lucy or Harold.

Verla Kay's celebrated verse has been called "lyrical" and "rollicking" and Ken Stark's warm, poignant paintings have been described as "as sun-dappled as a happy memory." Together, they make the plight of these orphans both heartbreaking and hopeful.

Illustrated by Ken Stark

Genres: Picture Books, History, Childrens, Family, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Verla Kay is passionate about her writing and she loves cooking, playing computer games that have lots of puzzles in them to be solved and she also plays a lot of board, dice and card games with her family and friends (especially pinochle). She lives in a tiny town in eastern Washington, close to Spokane and the Idaho border with her husband of over 55 years and two long-haired Himalayan cats. Family is very important to her and she has four grown children (one married), four grown grandchildren (two married) and five great grandchildren that range in age from six to thirteen, most of whom live within visiting distance from her. She has previously had eleven historical picture books published, ten of them by Putnam. Wings Forever is her first self-published book and she is VERY proud of it! Visit Verla at: https://verlakay.com

Reviews

[NS- Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of many stories about the many children who were orphaned between the 1850's and the 1930's due to issues of overcrowding, illnesses, and poverty. At first I didn't like the book because I thought it didn't explain why the children were sent away on the orphan train. After reading it a second time I understood it better because I was able to pay attention to the details. The book is written in rhyme, almost like a poem, so it is easy to read it too quickly and lose some of the important details like I did. The story takes you through the many emotions of the children such as fear, exhaustion, wonder, sadness, confusion, hunger, hope, relief and happiness. It makes you wonder if this book is an accurate portrayal of this time and of what happened to so many children during that time. I thought the illustrations as well as the rhyming text really have a strong affect on the reader. By the end of the book I had so many feelings for the characters just because I felt the realism of the events not because I felt like I new the characters. I actually was not impressed with the character development and would have liked there to be more. This is an example of historical fiction that I do enjoy. I think kids could learn a lot from it as well with some teacher support.

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture book about orphan siblings who are sent by train to the Midwest when their orphanage is over crowded. Sad stuff, but would be good for a history lesson supplement for pre-school or kindergarten.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very moving portrayal of children on an orphan train. It uses short poems with great illustrations to show the poignancy of the events.

[Jessica Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This enchanting re-lives the life of Vivian Daly on her journey Westward on the Orphan Train in the early 1900's. Molly Ayer is a troubled teen who was at first reluctant, but later connects with Vivian as she shares her life story. Vivian shares with Molly the struggles she experienced during her adventure west on the "Orphan Train". This story based on a time period in history captures the trials and tribulations faced by children headed west in search for a home.

Review: This is a great read for young children, as it tells the story in the form of a rhyme. This picture books captures the true essence of the struggles faced by young children in the early 1900's and it contains beautiful acrylic illustrations that result in deep discussion and observation.

[Rosebud · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mistakenly requested this book from the library to read for my book club. When it arrived, I saw it was a picture book. I checked and saw that I had picked the wrong book! I decided to read this one anyway, and discovered that it is loosely about a similar topic, that of children who were sent to the Midwest and adopted along the way since they had no one to take care of them. I'm not used to reading children's books, but this one was disturbing in that it seemed it could disturb children with little explanation or understanding of the message it is trying to convey. Maybe it's a topic too complex for young children? It will be interesting to read the adult book.

[White House Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations bring this story of three siblings who wind up on the Orphan Train in the early 1900s to life. With short, rhyming lines, readers can experience what it was like to grow up in the United States during this time period. The pictures especially help to portray the hard times that Lucy, Harold, and David had to go through. The author includes an author's note at the beginning of the story explaining Orphan Trains and what life was like once an orphan was adopted. While she does mention that some children were unfortunate in being adopted into unloving families, she shows us the other side of the story showing us how Lucy and Harold were adopted into loving families.

[ConnieLettow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few people know or remember that between 1854 and 1929 up to 150000 children from overcrowded East Coast cities wer loaded onto trains that took them west to farming communities. The children were paraded in front of the townsfolk on train station platforms and picked by farmers for various reasons. Some were treated as valued members of the families, and some virtually became slaves. This is a simple, sweet story for young children that introduces the story in a way that young children can relate to. I loved the story for all the rabbit holes I could go down researching the Orphan Trains that ran for over 70 years in the United States.

[Salsabrarian]

Sparse rhyming verse ("Months of waiting, Orphans clean. Benches crowded. Scrunched between.") relates the story of three children orphaned during a typhoid epidemic. David, Harold, and Lucy run the streets stealing food and sleeping in doorways until they are taken in to an orphanage. Later they journey with other orphans on the Orphan Train, paraded in towns along the way to be picked for adoption. Harold and Lucy are reunited at story's end but David's whereabouts are still unknown. Ends hopefully but conveys the hard reality of the Orphan Train's history.

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story told in verse of Lucy and her brothers becoming orphans, taken in by the orphanage, and then finally sent west on the Orphan Trains. Enough information given for children to understand the idea of Orphan Trains but not so much information as to overwhelm the reader. There is a forward that discuss the Orphan Train movement and the less than ideal situations that some children found themselves in as a result.
The illustrations, doing in acrylics, provide so much more detail if when you take the time to really explore them.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of orphans removed from the east coast after an outbreak of illness kills their parents. They are taken on a train to the midwest to live with farmers and country folk, many taken in only to work. Siblings were parted, never to see each other again. It is written in poetry form. The story is gripping and the pictures are beautiful. The illustrator is Ken Stark. This book is based on true events.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from a charming perspective without downplaying the reality of this occurrence in history, this is a quality picture book. I would be careful about sharing this story with foster kids or adoptees. It would be important to structure the discussion following reading this book to note the similarities and differences from a students’ situation and theirs.

[Raving Redcoat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming little book that tells the story of three East Coast orphans who find new lives as they are transported on one of the so-called "Orphan Trains" in the late 1800's. The illustrations are beautiful, and give a sense for what those kids went through.

[SKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dudes, I totally cried when I read this book to my nieces. Beautifully illustrated too. But seriously, it will choke you up.

[Laurie]

This book uses as few words as possible to get the point across, yet you still feel all the emotions meant to be relayed. This will make a great teaching point for a writing lesson someday.

[Janas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book telling an important story.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Orphan Train" by Verla Kay is a poignant picture book that tells the story of a young girl named Liza who is sent on an orphan train from New York City to the Midwest in the early 20th century. The book provides a glimpse into the experiences of orphaned children who were part of this historical movement. A historical movement many young Americans know nothing about. Through Liza's journey, readers see her hopes and fears as she travels to an uncertain future, seeking a new family and a place to call home. Illustrated by Ted Rand, the pictures are captivating and clearly show a range of emotions.

Teaching Idea: This book is ideal for grades 3-6, particularly in social studies or history units focusing on early 20th-century American history. Teachers can use the book to introduce students to the Orphan Train Movement and its historical significance. An effective activity might include a role-playing exercise where students create diaries from the perspective of an orphan train rider, exploring themes of displacement and hope. This activity helps students empathize with historical experiences and enhances their understanding of this significant period in American history.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to preview it for my granddaughter. It is sad but ultimately very rewarding to read. It has made me interested in the orphan train experience in the early 1900’s. My ancestors in the south were fortunate to live on farms and have thriving families but from the stories I heard the boys worked extremely hard on the farm like the orphan train boys. This was a good little book with beautiful illustrations.