William and the Night Train

by Mij Kelly

a great book to read

Genres: Picture Books, Trains, Childrens

Paperback

First published November 16, 2000

About the author

What could be more beautiful than the laughter of children? That's why I write. You can find out more about me and my books, and read essays for children - and adults - on imagination and the craft of writing at my website.

For notifications, give-aways and competitions, like "Mij Kelly's children's books" on Facebook.

Look out for The Bump, which will be published on 6th October. I wrote it when my daughter was expecting my first grandchild - now four years old and starting school! I was so aware, when I was writing it, of what a journey pregnancy is, and how women throw their all into it to help their babies grow. It seemed to me that the boundless love and hope and courage of the mum-to-be wasn't very often celebrated. So that's what I set out to do. But I've got to say, words aside, Nicholas Allan's illustrations make this book. They're so soft and sweet and funny. He hits just the right note.

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. Certainly will have appeal to parents and children facing bedtime/sleeping difficulties. Attractive and creative, it reminds me very much of books from a simpler time. It has the feel of a classic.

[Swarna Ramnath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice rhyming story about a boy named William who doesn’t want to sleep but eventually ends up sleeping next to his mom.. it’s a night train and he wants to be wide awake and see tomorrow.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

SOMEONE WRITE A GOOD TRAIN BOOK! My son liked this and requested it repeated times, but I thought it was BORING. How many times do we have to have the SAME IDEA in kid's train books. NOTE TO CHILDREN'S AUTHOR'S: the imagined train ride and the train ride to dreamland have both been done. Please, save us from the monotony and come up with something else!

[8feetahead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up for my train-loving son. While, I loved the whimsical illustrations and writing style, he quickly grew bored with it. Perhaps we've just read too many 'train to dreamland' type books.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the illustrations were dream-like in their perspective and scale--and the story had moments of sweetness---as an example, "When she cuddles him close, he can hear her heart and a soft, sudden whoosh as the night train starts.", I was overall underwhelmed.

[Rheta Thola · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a fun take on combining a "train book" with a "bedtime book". The only thing that seemed to not really resonate were the illustrations. Not very interesting for a toddler even though she loves trains.

[Katie Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whimsical bedtime story of a night train. Love Alison Jay's illustrations--her style is one of my favorites. The pictures extend the textual narrative and fill in gaps--giving reader more information than what is on the written page.

[Jessica silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

An immediate favorite and practically impossible to find a good copy used (for less than $50!)

[Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both kids really enjoyed this book!

[Kiddo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical fun!

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone sleeps on the night train to get to Tomorrow. But William is so anxious to get to tomorrow he doesn't think he can go to sleep.

Nice illustrations.