Trains Don't Sleep

by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum, Deirdre Gill (Illustrator)

Puffing, chuffing, never yawning  Climbing hills as day is dawning.     Trains don’t sleep, they  CLANG and HOOT  Cross bridges and canyons, plow through snow, charge down mountains, and meander across fields filled with sheep. And when it is time to rest and dreams are just ahead, never fear—trains don’t sleep so that you can.
With the feel of a classic and vivid artwork that captures the power and majesty of trains, this is a  fast-paced rhyming ode to the locomotive.

Genres: Picture Books, Trains, Transport, Childrens, Poetry, Fiction, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

 
We liked this children's book with the gorgeous painted illustrations that educates little ones about different types of trains and all things related to them, all told in rhyme. Includes a glossary with pictures about the words which might be new to children. I won this copy in a giveaway-- thank you!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has wonderful illustrations. I would highly recommend this one to those who have a soft spot for trains. Well done!

[Boni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this except for the six-page diversion to the circus in the middle that didn't really belong- it took me out of the story, made me wonder if I missed something, and felt forced or added for "child-appeal" or some other such misguided purpose...

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Trains are humming, coming near, coupled cars from front to rear. Rumbling, grumbling, screech and squeal, rolling, trolling wheels on steel.

Premise/plot: Do you have a little one with a one-track mind? If you have a train-loving little one, this is a must. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is exactly a day-in-the-life of a train. But. It comes close to being just that. The book begins and ends with dawn approaching.

My thoughts: This train book reads like a poem. And I mean that in the best possible way! Trains and rhythm almost go together naturally you might say. This one certainly captures a beautiful rhythm which makes it a great read aloud choice.

Puffing, chuffing, never yawning, climbing hills as day is dawning.

Sky-high trestle, canyon sights. Trains are not afraid of heights.

This one includes a glossary which illustrates and defines elements of the story.

Reefer: a refrigerated boxcar that keeps food cold.

Speaking of the illustrations, they are BEAUTIFUL. I loved, loved, loved them.

I will warn you: THERE IS A PICTURE OF A CLOWN within this book. But even so, I LOVED this one and highly recommend it!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10

[Jason Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young train fanatics will love the lovely rhyming text and gorgeous illustrations in this book. As the book opens, two children children meet on a passenger train. The text then introduces the reader to a several different trains and a variety of train cars, while the illustrations take the reader through snow storms, canyons and to the circus. In the end, the two sleepy children depart, but the trains roll on, because "trains don't sleep."

[Diana Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great rhythm and rhyme make this so fun to read. Features everything to love about trains, from bridges ("trains are not afraid of heights"--love that) to interesting cargo. The illustrated glossary in the back is a wonderful bonus.

[Kat Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the sweeping oil paintings from Deidre Gill don't draw you in immediately (they will, though, I promise), Rosenbaum's rumble-tumble of rhyming verse will certainly do the trick. "Trains Don't Sleep" is a picture book meant for the locomotive lovers in your life. The glossary in the back is a great educational touchpoint, too.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freight trains, stock cars, boxcars too, who wants to learn about trains? I do, I do! This lushly illustrated rhyming picture book will be read again and again by children who are fascinated by trains. Those who aren't interested in locomotives will pass this book by and may become disengaged if used as a read aloud in the library. This would be a great resource for primary classroom teachers doing a unit on trains, but I'm not sure that is part of any curriculum. Add it to your collection if you have a lot of train enthusiasts; if not, let it chug on by.

[Margaret]

The tracks are miles away from my home but not so far I can't hear the whistle blow as it speeds by a crossing late at night. As I stand and stroll in my backyard with my canine companion listening to the sound, memories stir. A little girl is putting together the tracks so her new train set can run around the Christmas tree, counting the cars between the mighty engine and the caboose as she waits in the back seat of her parent's green Chevrolet, sitting on the seat of a small train taking her through the local zoo or a jungle filled with parrots in Florida. A young woman is gripping the arm rests as a train climbs through mountains in Canada. As an adult a woman visits the bustling city of Chicago for the first time traveling by train into the famous and now ninety-two year old Union Station.

There never seems to be a time of day when a train is not moving along the tracks, destination known. Trains Don't Sleep (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 2, 2017) written by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum with illustrations by Deirdre Gill is a soothing, sensory journey with trains designed for a variety of functions. It's a tribute to this fabulous form of transportation.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosenbaum, Andria. Trains Don’t Sleep, illustrated by Deirdre Gill. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. $16.99. Content: G. PICTURE BOOK.
Beautiful descriptive language and excellent rhyme and meter make this train book steam ahead of the rest. A great book to read aloud with sentences like, “Rumbling, grumbling, screech and squeal, / Rolling, trolling wheels on steel.” The train reaches the station in a busy city and a little girl in a yellow dress climbs aboard. The train travels far over the tracks through forests, canyons, and even snow until it reaches the circus. Then the train begins its journey back home underneath the stars and the little girl in yellow gets off the train in the city. A glossary is included at the end of the book to define train lingo, such as “boxcar” and “caboose.”

The illustrations are simply gorgeous and have the same feel as The Polar Express (another excellent train book). Each two-page spread is its own nostalgic painting of the past. Highly recommended.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -ESSENTIAL. Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Kathryn (Dragon Bite Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog, Nine Pages .

This was the surprise winner of our story time, my favorite for that week (which included The Napping House and two Margaret Wise Brown books) and the favorite of one the little girls who is one of my regulars. The story is rhythmic, musical, rhyming. The illustrations are beautiful, reminiscent of an older style of travel poster, soft and pastel but with contrast and creative angles. The book mentions different types of trains and train cars without overtly drawing attention to its educational bent. In the back it has more information on each of the cars mentioned, a smaller copy of the page on which each appears with a paragraph beneath. The story ends with a goodnight for readers, for travelers on the rails, though one last page emphasizes that trains don’t sleep. Seriously, I don’t love trains, but I’d like prints of these illustrations (coincidentally, they are available on Etsy).

[Ms.Gaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

My SLJ review: Trains roll by throughout the seasons, at night and during the day, and set against backdrops that vary from nature scenes to urban settings. In the beginning, viewers see a passenger train followed by a freight train, a steam train, and even a circus train. Holding the random scenes together are a girl and a boy getting on at different stops, befriending each other during the ride, and waving goodbye as they part. The rhyming text is rich and rhythmic-"Rumbling, grumbling, screech and squeal,/Rolling, trolling wheels on steel." The softly hued images in oil on paper are uncomplicated and inviting, ranging from close-up scenes to wide landscapes, set during the early to mid-20th century. A simple, illustrated glossary is appended. VERDICT Sure to be a hit with train fans. Best shared in small groups or one-on-one. Ages 3-6

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

For train lovers, this is a great read. Rhythmic, rhyming text, big vocabulary words and gorgeous oil paintings - this train concept book can appeal to toddlers, preschoolers and elementary students.

The one thing that I think could have been done differently is the circus part - circus animals are disappearing from circuses and the inclusion of elephants, tigers and bears could make this book seem a little dated in a few years. However, as the circus is not the main focus of the book, I think kids will continue to enjoy it in the future.

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

All Aboard! Young train fans will love reading this cross country express, featuring a variety trains doing various jobs. It's no wonder trains don't sleep. From cargo trains to passenger trains, trains are always on the go. TRAINS DON'T SLEEP is perfect for train lovers young and old. Also included in the back of the book is an illustrated train glossary. With rhythm, rhyme, and beautiful illustrations, this book is sure to be a bedtime favorite. Highly recommend picking this one up!

FULL REVIEW
http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2017/0...

[Gps · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is perfect for a train enthusiast, and fun for a read aloud book for all.

I like the poetry, which seems natural, not forced; the illustrations form an excellent background and also tell a bit of a story.

Many aspects of train travel are introduced, and there is an excellent sample of new vocabulary, such as trestle, canyon, trudge.

and a bonus, a bit of a "good night, time to go to bed." book

overall, a fine addition to a library, but especially for anyone who loves to read, or ride, trains. .

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming text describe a variety of trains, soft illustrations show the trains in a variety of settings such as country, rural, and city.
Provides lots of opportunities for discussion about how important trains are in many different ways.
Original glossary uses pictures and brief text to explain various trains and associated words, such as trestle and yard.
I wonder if there are any circus trains anymore, though!

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the tale of the work of trains. Through rhyme, Andria Rosenbaum shares the travels of different types of trains. I love the way TRAINS DON'T SLEEP shows a variety of landscapes and destinations for trains. The last page is a picture glossary listing train vocabulary. Young readers will LOVE this book (and learn a bit while they are reading it)!

[Aliza Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeously painted illustrations on canvas made me want to reach out and touch each page. Vehicle loving kiddos will enjoy each train's adventure. I wish the circus trains had not been included, or at the very least, not glorified the circus life of animals, especially since elephants have been retired and Barnum & Bailey is closing down.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Trains Don't Sleep with my nephew. He loved the rhythm and illustrations. We both learned thing about trains. I highly recommend this book for youngsters, whether they read it themselves or it is read to them. I look forward to more books from this author. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of Trains Don't Sleep.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for little train lovers, featuring a rhyme scheme that imitates the clickety-clack of the locomotives, beautifully rendered illustrations of various types of trains in a variety of settings, a helpful glossary of railroad terms, and a bonus bedtime-story ending; the odd circus tour digression briefly derails the story, however, subtracting a fifth star.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm tough on train books because Mister is such a fan; I think we will have a struggle when this is read to him. The illustrations are lovely (set in the 1950s? definitely not the here and now), the rhymes are okay, the interlude with the circus feels forced and a tiny bit strange, and the glossary at the back was a nice touch. All in all though I couldn't make myself bump it up to 3 stars.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations by Deirdre Gill take the reader on a beautiful journey. Andria Rosenbaum's describe each train's type, where they go, what they carry. For a book published in 2017, I was surprised to see a circus of animals on one of the trains. I'm pretty sure traveling circuses are few if they even exist any longer.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trains carry freight and passengers across short and long distances during the day and the night.

"Trains are humming, coming near / Coupled cars from front to rear. / Rumbling, grumbling, screech and squeal, / Rolling, trolling wheels on steel."

As someone from a former circus town, I appreciated the inclusion of a circus train.

The illustrations were done in oil on paper.

[Shellie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book!!! It actually teaches kids about different types of trains and cars and their purpose. A great learning tool with beautiful illustrations and a cute rhyming story to go with them.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhythm of the text makes you feel like you're reading on a train. The illustrations capture each mood perfectly. Glossary at the end of the book gives more information about train related vocabulary for the train novice.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an engaging story that told the uses and parts of a train by using a fun rhyme scheme. There is a helpful glossary in the back for readers who aren't as familiar with trains. The illustrations are beautiful too.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young train lovers will enjoy this book! The illustrations are wonderful and full of little details. Parents or care givers can go to last page of book and point out train cars the child will be interested in learning about, too. Then re-read the book and look for those cars! So fun!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will have to read this one again before I review it. I don't remember much about the story and my son didn't seem impressed enough to read it again. I'll read it before I send it back to the library and edit my review if necessary.

[Emily Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For children that are train lovers this book is a must have! This book includes lots of different facts about trains in a fun, whimsical, and not overly instructive way. The pictures in this book are gorgeous. I gave my nephew this book and he wants to read it over and over again.
Picture Book

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In rhyme, the story is told about trains that run day and night carrying people, animals, cargo, from place to place. On the last page is a glossary to explain what each train or its car is for. Nicely illustrated.