Book Description

The Big Book of Trains is setting off on a journey to explore the fastest, heaviest, longest, and most fantastic trains in the world. Features more than 50 of the world's most amazing trains, from the Bullet train-the fastest-and the Rocket-the oldest-to the Trans-Siberian Express, the longest scheduled train. Explained in simple language and packed with enough fascinating facts to satisfy every avid young enthusiast. Stunning, specially commissioned photos are reproduced in large format. Detailed annotation highlights the unique features of each example from this incredible international collection. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a big disappointment
Although I am a huge fan of DK books, and my two boys are huge train fans, this book was a big disappointment. Our family owns many train books for children and I am sorry to rate this the poorest of the lot. I feel this is too high of a price for this book.

The title says it is a big book but what that means is the page size is large and the photos are huge. The huge page size makes it hard to hold up to read aloud to, it works best to lie it flat on the floor or the bed and sit beside it to read it aloud. Many of these photos are published in other/better DK or Eyewitness published books on the subject of trains and railroads (see below) so if you own those books already then this one will be a repeat. (Also note that the DK board book on trains has some of these same exact photos in it.) Many times the photos are gigantic, covering one entire page-and they are ineffective. For example, why would we want to see this huge ½ of the front of a diesel engine? I'd prefer to use the large size of the book and/or the fold out pages to show the full length of the engine (rather than parts of one car) and to show the tender (if applicable) or perhaps use the long page length to show a full train of many cars that are all coupled up to each other.

There is not a lot of text to go with the photo spreads, the font size is rather large. In other words, there is not a lot of text to go with the photos; there are simply large font words with gigantic and large photos. Also note that this book is 32 pages long, so this is not a big book in the sense of containing many pages. Some of the pages fold out for really long and large pages but since these are regular paper stock, our copy quickly was bent and a mess. I feel that any children's book with fold out pages, for the age range of 4-8 should be constructed of heavier stock paper so it will last longer.

I highly recommend meatier books rather than this one, such as DKs "See and Explore Trains and Railways" and "Eyewitness: Train". "Eyewitness Train"... is 64 pages long, has more illustrations and more text. It is a bargain to get so much more in a book that is only a [little] more than DK's Big Book of Trains. Although the publisher states this is for ages 8-12, my two-year old son loves this book and I can partially read aloud from the pages until he wants to turn to another page. I find these books for older children are definitely enjoyed by the younger children. Not only do they contain more text but they contain more images. I also enjoy these more comprehensive books as I can read them myself to learn about the trains and I am prepared to answer the many different questions that my children ask me to answer. It is nice to have these more comprehensive books that are not "dumbed down" and that the children can grow into.

If you have a train lover in the family, you need this book!
This is the first fact-filled non-fiction book my 5 year old ever listened to EVERY word of, including all the many captions! He learned a great deal from our many readings. The pictures are wonderful, and the information given interesting enough that a non-train lover (me) could stand to read it quite a few times. My son loves to amaze people by telling them about the train of the future with no wheels, which he learned about here!

A sterling train guide for all ages.
The "Big Book of Trains" introduces us to 50 of the world's most captivating trains.

From the super-heavy steam locomotives of the early 1800s to the futuristic Maglev ("magnetic levitation," which can move a train as fast as 341 miles per hour), this sterling and oversized volume has them all.

The color photos are large and crisp, and the captions are both informative and dramatic.

Interior shots of, say, the new Italian ETR 500 (which speeds to 190 mph) or one of Japan's renowned Bullet Trains would have been welcomed. (Nearly all of the volume's photos are exteriors.)

Still, this introductory train book is not to be missed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Informative and Easy to Understand
My 5-year-old son loves trains and this book has been his favorite library book since he was 3. It is very informative, yet easy to understand for preschoolers through first-graders. I was so happy to find it on Amazon.com so that we can add it to his personal library!

Good Value for the Money
Very neat little book for the buck. Great pictures, which appeals to my 2 yr old now, as well as informative text that will keep him interested as he gets older. A definate plus for the library of a little train lover. ... Read more

Book Description

All aboard for a riveting ride along the rails! Tracks and smokestacks, signals and steam trains, engineers and diesels - all the details that thrill young train enthusiasts are here in this information-packed picture book.With its action-oriented text, detailed, full-color spreads and step-by-step illustrations, this book takes a trip aboard trains from all over the world, and every period of railroad history. Realistic art shows the fascinating detail behind the steam engines of the past, and the sleek outlines of the modern, high-speed French TGV and Japanese bullet trains. A cutaway drawing helps young readers imagine life in a dining car. A reference section at the back of the book includes an illustrated glossary and an index to encourage reference skills and stoke the imagination of any future Casey Jones. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Clear, colorful book at a great value
ordered this book for my almost-3 year old boy who just loves trains- he loved looking at all the pictures! the book is good for children 3 and up, due to it being a fact-based/reference book. my boy will "grow on this" book which is great- that is the purpose of books- have lasting use! very colorful book with big, clear, appealing pictures, much like those from DK Publishing. ... Read more

Book Description

All aboard for a history of America's trains! The hissing steam, billowing smoke, and sleek steel engine of the train have long captured the imagination. In this informative book, a young boy looks back through time to give a guided tour of his family's history on the railroad. Each generation is introduced by a detailed illustration of a train of the era. Facts and anecdotes about trains and the people who make them run follow each showcased locomotive. Discover how steam engines work, learn why a brakeman's job is so dangerous, and even witness a train robbery in this tribute to that nostalgic, enduring, and fascinating mode of transportation--the train. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Trains,Trains,Trains
I checked this book out at the library, and now have to purchase it for a nephew who loves trains. It is a great book that details the history of trains, but adds in a story (a family with many generations working on the trains) to keep the interest of children. Beautiful illustrations with a cat on every page my kids had to find. ... Read more

Book Description

-Ideal for babies and toddlers.-Stuffing large format brings images to life.-Essential for all tiny train enthusiasts. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great & Awesome book BUT.........
My son loves this book to no end!!! However, I was disturbed to see advertising for cigarettes on one of the trains pictured. I just don't think that is appropriate for a children's book to have that and would have preferred either that picture being left out or finding another train w/o that advertising on it. ... Read more

Book Description

Informative books plus sticker fun. Create your own picture book! This new addition to DK's best--selling Ultimate Stickers series focus on the exciting subject of Trains. Each sticker book contains more than 60 full--color stickers and a fact--packed 8--page booklet for special insight into the wonderful world of trains. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Marvelous !!
I'm rekindling my fascination with steam locomotives again. I had read this book about 10 years ago and came across it again on my bookshelf. I'm re-reading it with the same joy/fascination I did the 1st time ! (and I'm no kid at 42 years old - would be nice to have a son to share it with!!) I'm glad I haven't lost that child-like wonder at these huge machines of yesteryear. I feel like I'm the young apprentice in the book, ravenously learning the complexicities of designing and building one of the magnificent monsters !

Can't recommend it highly enough for steam loco-fans of all ages !!

A Fascinating Look at a Magnificent Machine
David Weitzman has a love of technology and history. This can be demonstrated by observing the names of books he authored, including titles ranging from "Traces of the Past: A Field Guide to Industrial Archaeology" to "Underfoot: An Everyday Guide to Exploring the American Past." This fortuitous blend of history and technology is the underlying theme of this book.

For those of you who may be expecting a typical 'picture book' about a steam locomotive, this book will definitely come as a surprise. Although well illustrated, there are no photographs. This omission is more than compensated for by the line drawings that are precise and informative. The text is educational and interesting; the text and the line drawings compement each other very nicely. The combination is such that the reader is virtually transported by osmosis back to the year 1925 and to the dark and dingy backshops of the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio, in order to not only personally witness but to actually physically participate in the birth of this magnificent machine, the first 'Super Power' steam locomotive ever.

Another pleasant surprise in this work is the interaction of man and machine, the creator and the fruit of his labor. Too many books about the locomotive ignore the human role; here the combination of man and machine is a symbiotic relationship.

This book is both easy to read and educational, and it is designed to appeal to anyone in age from beginning high-schooler to adult. Anyone possessing an interest in the mechanical world should obtain a copy of this book.

A must read book for anyone who loves trains or technology
My 10 year old son and I read this book together and loved it. We are both train and locomotives fans but despite what we knew we both learned more. This book is expecially good for kids since it is told through the eyes of an 18 year old boy, but is equally interesting for adults.

You learn more from this great book than history.
This book is amazing on so many levels. It teaches you how trains are designed and built, how math is applicable in the real world, how people get along, how some people are better suited to different, but equally important jobs, engineering, give and take (compromise). But it doesn't quite teach you, it intigrates these lessons in the oral history it is presenting. Superpower could be about anything and you would still learn SO much about life. I recommend this book to anyone, any age. It will change the life of a boy though, guaranteed. It will inspire him to study more at the very least.

Wonderful Book.
I'm an owner of the first edition second printing of the book. I'm a steam engineer by trade and a fan of good books. This is one of the best. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Ed Emberley can show any one how to draw anything, and in one of these two big, colorful volumes he shows us all how to draw trucks and trains that are full of energy and power.Previously published more than twenty years ago in four small, two-color formats, the books now take on new vitality in these large full-color formats.Both children and adults will find Ed Emberley's "vocabulary" of shapes and letters easy to use as they employ his step-by-step method of constructing a drawing.These two books join the popular library of Ed Emberley's drawing books and they will be welcomed and used by novice artists both at home and in school. ... Read more

Book Description

Big Trains, small trains, old trains, and new, rattling and whistling -- Choo, choo, choo!Preschoolers will chuckle as a wacky animal crew toots the whistle and treats them to the delights only a train journey can offer. Clickety-clack, whizz down the track, slow to a railroad crossing, rumble through a tunnel, and finally pull into the station where passengers await the fastest holiday flyer of them all! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A favorite gift
I first got this book for my son two years ago and we've been giving it as a gift ever since. The rhyming text and colorful pictures hold their attention and the special train info in the back is cute also. My son loves the other 3 titles in the series: Dazzling Diggers, Roaring Rockets, and Flashing Fire Engines. Great price for a hardcover book!

"I want it NOWWWWW"
A must-have for the young train enthusiast, this book's cadence is charming and infectious. Its pictures are simple yet engaging. I have just ordered a replacement copy for my 3-year-old, who is heartbroken at the loss of his original copy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's one of childhood's most time-honored pursuits: counting cars whilewaiting at a train crossing. Celebrated poet Philip Booth has captured itsappeal and unmistakable cadence with precision and wit, backed by the vibrant,nostalgic illustrations of Moscow-trained first-timer Bagram Ibatoulline.

The poem "Crossing" first appeared in Booth's 1957 debut collection, Lettersfrom a Distant Land, so parents and grandparents might have an easier timethan kids recognizing some of these freight carriers: "B&M boxcar, / boxcaragain, / Frisco gondola, / eight-nine-ten, /Erie and Wabash, Seaboard,U.P., / Pennsy tankcar, twenty-two, three." But the rhythms remain thesame, and even if the automobiles stopped at the crossing look like they hailfrom Havana, kids still won't be able to keep from counting the tankers andboxcars on this old-time steam engine.

Booth still lives in his childhood home, and he's clearly hung onto thatwide-eyed perspective in his fast, loose language. Lucky for us it's beenpreserved and revived--and even enriched, thanks to Ibatoulline--in this sweetand well-executed adaptation. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sumptuous poetry and illustrations
I love it when I find a book that my 3 year old son and I can agree on. We stumbled on to this one at the library and are about to buy our own copy. The book features a short poem about waiting for a train to go by at a crossing. The illustrations evoke a 1940s or 1950s era and are meticulously done. It doesn't take long to read the words on each page, but your eye is drawn into the pictures and you will want to linger a bit before turning the page.

Although the poem is about counting train cars, this is NOT a counting book for children. The sequence is forshortened so that you reach the 100th car (the caboose) within a few pages. The illustrations are photographically (and historically) accurate and show some of the different types of cars (gondola, box car, tanker car).

As a mother, I was slightly dismayed at the illustrations of children playing near the tracks in one scene, so I have used it as a reference point to discuss what isn't safe around trains. But this shouldn't be taken as a flaw in the book. All around, this is a fantastic book and I'm pleased to see it's due out in paperback soon.

Captivating illustrations
My two year old son is nuts for trains. This book is beautifully illustrated and the poem is a wonderful change from the usual toddler book prose. My son and I like this book so much that I have taken the time to write a review! You will be glad you added this one to your child's library.

One of my favorite toddler books
Our son (2.5 years old) loves this book. The cadence of the poem is engaging and the art is stupendous. The style wonderfully evokes the times of steam rail and the colors are gorgeous. This one is truly beautiful. If your child loves trains, this is a must-own.

Amazingly detailed artwork
"Crossing," which combines a simple poem by Philip Booth with artwork by Bagram Ibatoulline, is about a rairoad crossing. Here are some sample lines: "warning whistle, bellclang, / engine eating steam, / engineer waving, / a fast-freight dream." As the train passes we see the various types of cars (boxcars, a cattle car, etc.). What makes the book special is the artwork: vibrant, realistic, and packed full of intricate details.

Great illustrations but no story...
My 5 year old son loves trains and train books but says this book is "boring" (and I have to agree). I think he finds it confusing. Rather than a story (with a beginning, middle & end) this book lists train car names one page says "Phoebe Snow, B&O, Thirty-four, five". ... Read more

Book Description

The Iron Horse was coming...Thundering and panting and breathing black smoke, it was a fearsome thing. The Cheyenne people had never seen a steam locomotive before, and it terrified them. Would it come right over the hill, into their camp, just as the relentless soldiers and white settlers had done before?

Powerful words and pictures tell the true story of August 7, 1867 -- the only time an "Iron Horse" was derailed by Native Americans. It is a tale of courage and pride and of a people caught up in an unequal struggle to preserve their sacred way of life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A moment of triumph
Illustrated by Mr. Goble's usual beautiful pictures, this is the dramatic story of the time that a group of plains Indian warriors fought against the invasion of the "iron horse", or steam train. ... Read more

Book Description

With 75 full-color reusable stickers, inviting scenes to decorate, and appealing, high-interest subjects, it's no wonder kids are stuck on Sticker Stories!Climb aboard! These passenger and freight trains are ready to go-speeding down the tracks, running through the city, climbing up mountains, and chugging back into the station! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good for one time use only -- but still fun for a low price
Sticker Stories Trains

By Edward Miller
This paperback book tells a little story about trains (well, a loose story). There are 75 "reusable" stickers showing cartoon-like trains. There are all different trains, coaches, box cars, diesel engines, subways, steam engines, etc. The text is vague so the child can use their imagination and their own creativity to create their own trains and I think that is great. There are lots of different scenes that the children then paste the train cars onto the rails.

My complaint is that these stickers are not really re-usable. Even when we tried removing a sticker within minutes of putting it on the page it curled up onto itself, got all stuck, and had to be thrown away. Other times when we tried to re-stick it to the paper, it simply would not stick fully and peeled up by itself and made a mess. I really resent the marketing of these so-called reusable stickers (by this company and other publishers) when really they are not reusable. Also my 4 year-old son got very frustrated with them rolling up and getting ruined when he did not cause the problem! He wanted me to "fix it" but I simply could not.

Once the stickers are in place the book can be re-read and browsed as a completed book which is great.

Overall my children have played with this enough to have gotten good use of the 75 stickers for the low price... so I am granting it a 3 star rating. Other books with similar issues charge a much higher price and/or don't allow as much creativity as this book. This would make an excellent project for long car trips or air flights.

Great, realistic illustrations & tons of stickers!
My four year-old son LOVES trains, and this book is fantastic. Tons of realistic stickers that can be placed on various landscapes. He absolutely loves this book. I highly recommend this book and any others in this series. They are an excellent value! ... Read more

Book Description

The New York City Subway system celebrates its 100th anniversary on October 27, 2004, but you can bring the romance of the old subway alive today with the Subway Punch-out Book. The book includes 15 easy-to-assemble punch-out train cars that are modeled after the historic old trains from the New York Transit Museum archives. The cars are printed on full-color laminated paper, with identifying historical information printed on the bottom of each. It's a fun book that sneaks in some fascinating history of America's first subway system, and it's the perfect gift for any New Yorker or New York-a-phile you might know!

Ride the subway down memory lane with pictures of cars such as:

o The classic R32/R38, also known as the Brightliners

o The traditional New York Subway Car that ran on every part of the IRT subway and was known for its speed and reliability

o The famous BMT D-Type, the best-loved and most fun to ride BMT car with its distinctive appearance inside and out

The New York Transit Museum is home to more than 100 years of transit lore and memorabilia. The museum's central facility is housed in an authentic 1930s subway station in Brooklyn Heights. ... Read more

Book Description

Seymour Simon's exploration of these very different trains and their uses, combined with his characteristically eye-catching full-color photographs, captures the beauty and power of steam trains, diesel trains, electric trains, and more -- all at work!

Reviews (1)

An exceptional train book for youngsters
My 3 year old, like many others his age, is obsessed with trains. We regularly go to the library to check out books about trains. We found this one on a recent visit, and it stands heads and shoulders above many of the others I've seen because it is a great balance between the picture books that preschoolers and older children love and non-fiction books that can sometimes be too detailed for children.

Every other page has a photograph of a type of train or part of a train, and the facing pages provide a small amount of text about the subject. There is just enough text to provide basic information plus a little more, but the text is short enough that the entire book can be read aloud to a child in about 5-10 minutes. All types of trains (steam, diesel, and electric) are shown as well as different types of cars.

The photographs are bright, clear, and coloful, so much so that the images approache coffee-table book quality. This book would make an excellent gift. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the story of railroads -- from the days of steam to the high-speed, sophisticated trains of today.

Here is a spectacular and informative new look at the fascinating world of trains. Stunning real-life photographs of steam, diesel and electric locomotives, freight and passenger cars, engines and signals offer an "eyewitness" view of the history and development of railroads. See the oldest steam engine in existence, Queen Victoria's royal carriage, the fastest steam train ever built, a traveling post office, and train tickets from all over the world. Learn how a steam engine works, how early engineers avoided collisions, how railroads were built, the difference between narrow, standard, and wide gauge. Discover the longest railroad in the world, how trains climb up steep hills, which train has no wheels, how the railroads crossed American, how subway systems are built, how a driverless train works, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Fascinating Look at Trains
My four-year-old son and I checked this book out from our local library. The colorful pictures held his attention while I read the interesting facts and figures. The book is arranged so that readers of various ages can all enjoy the wonderful world of trains. We've decided to add this book to our family library. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Eye Candy for Train Lovers
This book is excellent for a toddler or young child who loves trains. It is also a pleasure for adults to read. The illustrations are sumptuous, and almost seem to glow. The text is simple and makes comparisons between trains ("This train is going uphill. This train is going downhill"), but don't let the simplicity put you off. It's exactly the kind of thing that pre-readers and early readers enjoy the most. New concepts are introduced on each page with rhythmic repetition.

The frontspiece of the book contains labelled illustrations of various trains in a more realistic style. I've tried to see if each of these trains is featured in an illustration of the book, but I don't think they all are. My 3 year old enjoys pointing to these labelled trains and having me read the captions as much as he enjoys the text of the book itself. Both sets of illustrations complement eachother and increase the appeal of the book. Babies and toddlers will enjoy the simple text and bright illustrations. Older children may show an interest in the individual trains and their names. This book is one of those rare finds that children will want to hear over and over and that parents won't mind reading to them.

Wonderful illustrations
My 3 year old son LOVES this book! I had to purchase it for him last year after renewing it several times from the library. Wonderful illustrations and simple prose. My son "reads" the book himself. Highly recommended for those children who love trains.

All aboard This Train
I picked this book up at my local library, and my 2yr old has carried it around ever since, he's had me read it to him several times a day. Even my 5yr old daughter finds it a great book to learn to read, with it's simple sentences..."This Train is old, This Train is new." I couldn't think of any better starter book for children than this one. It just so happens to be my sons favorite subject...."Trains"!

Very simple text with very interesting and detailed pictures
This book caused a tantrum at the library! My younger son found it there, and we read it through a few times, but forgot to take it out. When we got home and he realized this, he was so upset! He had instantly fallen in love with it, and we wound up buying it. The text is as simple as it can be---each page just says something like "this train is long" or "this train is short", but the pictures are detailed and colorful and the kind true train lovers can look at for hours. His favorite is the LONG, LONG train. This is the kind of book that young kids can memorize and "read" easily, which they love to do. I'd certainly recommend this for any member of the train loving set.

Great Book
We got This Train out of the library for our 2 year old son, and are now buying it from Amazon.com, because he refuses to give up the book to the library! After having it read to him for one day, he picked up on the short descriptions under each vivid picture and was "reading" it back to me. It has become his favorite bedtime story book. ... Read more