Crossing

Rating:
Summary: Sumptuous poetry and illustrations
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating illustrations
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite toddler books
Review: 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.