Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Jolly animals load a train in this dream of a bedtime book.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
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 :
- Illustrator : Tom Lichtenheld
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Transportation ( Trains ) , Animals ( 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, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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