Steam Train, Dream Train
Jolly animals load a train in this dream of a bedtime book.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Steam Train, Dream Train is another great bedtime book from the team that created Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. It's a rollicking fantasy of a peppy night crew of animals loading a steam train -- monkeys, elephants, kangaroos, polar bears, and more -- that ends safely back in the in the bedroom of a dreaming boy whose toy train set's on the floor below him. A wonderful choice for train lovers, animal fans, and anyone with an upbeat sense of humor.
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What's the Story?
A steam train shoots across an empty landscape in the dark of night and stops at a station for loading by a peppy crew of animals: monkeys, rabbits, elephants, polar bears, dogs, kangaroos, turtles, a camel, and a penguin. They load on cargo and some animals, including a giraffe, brontosaurus and T-Rex! The twist at the end is it appears this was all a dream by a boy pictured sleeping in bed with his toy train set on the floor below him.
Is It Any Good?
This delightful book for the younger set has the look and feel of a classic. It's fun to see the cheerful animals busily doing their job in the inky blue night. The action gets increasingly wacky, as elephants squirt different-colored liquids into tankers and live dinosaurs become part of the cargo. It's a fun fantasy that ends safely back in the bedroom of a sleeping (and presumably dreaming) boy, whose train set rests on the floor below him. A wonderful choice of bedtime reading for train lovers, animal fans, and anyone with an upbeat sense of humor.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why stories about trains are so popular with kids. Why do you think that is? What are some of your favoirte train books, movies or TV shows?
Have you ever had a dream as crazy as the one in this book? Do you remember your dreams?
What are some of your favoirte bedtime books? What do you like about reading right before you go to sleep?
Book Details
- Authors: Sherri Duskey Rinker, Tom Lichtenheld
- Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Trains, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Publication date: April 16, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 6
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 13, 2018
Our Editors Recommend
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Freight Train
Young train lovers will be intrigued.
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The Big Book of Trains
Draws in railroad buffs and reluctant readers.
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Mr. Putter & Tabby Take the Train
A well-written chapter book filled with humor.
For kids who love picture books and animal stories
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