 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Big Book of Trains
- By Christine Heap
- Genre: Transportation
Common Sense Media says
Draws in railroad buffs and reluctant readers.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that a good balance of need-to-know facts and astounding tidbits will keep older readers (including parents) interested.
What's the story?
Huge photographs, a big-book format, and some of the most powerful or unusual trains to be found will draw young railroad buffs--and reluctant readers--into the realm of the locomotive. There's a lot covered here: record-breaking engines, workhorse locomotives, and trains of the future; electric, diesel, and steam varieties; and a grab bag of facts and figures.
Is it any good?
What better way to convey in a book the majesty of a train than a huge 13-inch-by-10-inch photo of one? Even readers who aren't train buffs will enjoy examining these pictures over and over again. The size of the photographs and the book itself are especially appropriate for kids 7 and younger, but older children are more likely to enjoy the text details.
For older kids, a few questions yearn to be answered in the next printing. The section on monorail trains mentions that most have only two cars, but one child immediately asked why that was true. Another wanted to know whether most steam trains ran on both steam and coal, or just coal, after the text pointed out that both configurations existed. But these are minor quibbles -- overall, this is a great book for curious kids.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the different types of trains. How have trains evolved over the years?
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| Author: | Christine Heap |
| Book type: | Non-Fiction |
| Genre: | Transportation |
| Publisher: | DK Publishing Inc. |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1998 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Hardcover price: | $14.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
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