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The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II
An impeccably researched, touching true story of the kindness of strangers around the world following World War II from a bestselling author and award-winning illustrator.
On one side of the ocean, a war had ended, leaving many in Europe without enough food.
On the other side of the ocean, Americans asked, How can we help?
The need was too great for any one person to fill-but what could people do if they joined together?
The answer was the Friendship Train, which ran from the West Coast to the East collecting good food for hungry bellies. Americans of all ages gave what they could. Especially children! They donated their allowances, sold newspapers, collected food from neighbors, loaded packages onto trucks and boxcars-all for strangers across the sea.
And in return, those strangers asked themselves How can we say "thank you"? Still recovering from the war, they didn't have a lot to give, but they found a way-their own train full of ways-to express their gratitude.
This heartwarming nonfiction picture book from Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov shows how small acts of kindness can grow, healing lives and helping turn strangers into friends.
Check out The Friendship Train if you're looking
-A hopeful, age-appropriate introduction to the aftermath of the Second World War
-A story about kindness, helping, and healing during an important moment in history
-A true story steeped in primary source research
-A book from an award-winning author and illustrator
An author's note gives additional context about the Friendship Train and the war, along with more detail into the author's impressive primary source research.
On one side of the ocean, a war had ended, leaving many in Europe without enough food.
On the other side of the ocean, Americans asked, How can we help?
The need was too great for any one person to fill-but what could people do if they joined together?
The answer was the Friendship Train, which ran from the West Coast to the East collecting good food for hungry bellies. Americans of all ages gave what they could. Especially children! They donated their allowances, sold newspapers, collected food from neighbors, loaded packages onto trucks and boxcars-all for strangers across the sea.
And in return, those strangers asked themselves How can we say "thank you"? Still recovering from the war, they didn't have a lot to give, but they found a way-their own train full of ways-to express their gratitude.
This heartwarming nonfiction picture book from Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov shows how small acts of kindness can grow, healing lives and helping turn strangers into friends.
Check out The Friendship Train if you're looking
-A hopeful, age-appropriate introduction to the aftermath of the Second World War
-A story about kindness, helping, and healing during an important moment in history
-A true story steeped in primary source research
-A book from an award-winning author and illustrator
An author's note gives additional context about the Friendship Train and the war, along with more detail into the author's impressive primary source research.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published June 3, 2025
1 person is currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 4, 2025
I could barely see to read this for all the tears I had in my eyes.
August 9, 2025
Right after WWII, the people of Europe were feeling the effects of hunger. Farms had been destroyed, and the cold weather was setting in, no time to grow food for the winter. A journalist named Drew Pearson challenged Americans all across the country to help. He organized a "Friendship Train" starting in California and heading across the country to gather food to send to Europe. It was much more successful than he expected.
The Friendship train is an inspirational story, I loved the illustrations of children helping however they can. Includes an extensive author's note - apparently, Pearson wasn't demonstrating his generosity, he had an ulterior motive, he was pro-Democracy and anti Communism and was demonstrating that the US system was better. This is not addressed at all in the text, so the story itself isn't political. Includes a bibliography, sources and some websites to learn more about the Friendship train.
The Friendship train is an inspirational story, I loved the illustrations of children helping however they can. Includes an extensive author's note - apparently, Pearson wasn't demonstrating his generosity, he had an ulterior motive, he was pro-Democracy and anti Communism and was demonstrating that the US system was better. This is not addressed at all in the text, so the story itself isn't political. Includes a bibliography, sources and some websites to learn more about the Friendship train.
June 4, 2025
Children in Europe following World War II were going hungry after war decimated their countries. In the US, one man asked how he could help and soon Drew Pearson was thinking big. He dreamed of a Friendship Train that could cross the nation gathering donations from people across the country to send to Europe. Pearson made the suggestion in a national paper and soon he got lots of letters in return. Children wanted to help. Soon the plan grew bigger and bigger, as everyone worked together to make a difference for people they had never met.
An important story of children’s impact as they worked together to help others and the man who created an idea that grew and grew to meet what children accomplished. Just the empowering nonfiction we need about thinking of others, seeing everyone as human and working to make change.
Appropriate for ages 5-10.
An important story of children’s impact as they worked together to help others and the man who created an idea that grew and grew to meet what children accomplished. Just the empowering nonfiction we need about thinking of others, seeing everyone as human and working to make change.
Appropriate for ages 5-10.
August 14, 2025
I never knew this, but really nobody should be surprised ... After WWII, people in Europe, especially France and Italy were starving. Besides their cities / buildings, much of their farmland had been destroyed. As recovery began, the European's ability to grow food [especially with winter coming] was impossible.
It was made known that Europe had a food problem. In this story the idea of a "Friendship Train" was spearheaded by Newspaper Journalist, Drew Pearson. In real life, people like President Harry Truman encouraged adults & children to share food.
This is the story of what occurred here in the U.S., and then after.
An inspiring story all around!
It was made known that Europe had a food problem. In this story the idea of a "Friendship Train" was spearheaded by Newspaper Journalist, Drew Pearson. In real life, people like President Harry Truman encouraged adults & children to share food.
This is the story of what occurred here in the U.S., and then after.
An inspiring story all around!
August 31, 2025
Precious books like this prevent our nation from losing stories like this from disappearing. After the horrors of World War II, one man decided to assist the starving war victims in Europe much faster than our federal government was able to. The heart-warming Friendship Train became a mammoth event sending 200 railcar’s worth of items overseas to assist with scarcity and starvation in war-torn France and Italy. Those countries’ reciprocal gifts of gratitude were distributed across America. Thank you for reviving and memorializing this amazing effort of kindness.
August 10, 2025
What a wonderful story! The French sent a Merci Train of 49 cars to the US after they received the Friendship train, and one car was given to each state. A lot of the cars still survive. The car for South Carolina is in Bishopville, which we're planning to visit, and the one for Maryland is in the B&O Museum in Baltimore. Excellent book, Ms. Levy!
June 24, 2025
This story touched my heart knowing there were so many compassionate people in the U.S. willing to help feed those who were desperately needing food in Europe after WWII. Hopefully we embrace this philosophy again.
July 10, 2025
Never knew this story about a train that went across USA collecting food for children in word torn Europe after WWII. Then France sent back boxcars of gifts to say thank you.
July 24, 2025
A touching true story of kindness and sharing.
Great book!
Great book!
June 21, 2025
Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!
Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a post-it note with the book.
Started June 10th, 2025.
Finished June 10th, 2025.
June 10th, 2025 (after midnight): read entire book in physical form.
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!
Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a post-it note with the book.
Started June 10th, 2025.
Finished June 10th, 2025.
June 10th, 2025 (after midnight): read entire book in physical form.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews