Trains

As in previous works ("Brooklyn Bridge"; "Skyscraper"), Curlee illuminates a single subjectthis time trainswith stunning, clean-lined illustrations and informative narration. He opens with a romantic reminiscence about the mighty engines that rumbled through his North Carolina hometown. We listened to the rhythmic "clickety-clack" of their steel wheels against the rails and the plaintive echoes of their whistles dying away as the trains sped through the night. Launching into a chronological account of the evolution of the iron horse, subsequent pages highlight major developments in (mostly American) railroad history, from the first steam engines to run on rails to the high-speed trains of Europe and Asia. Flatly styled and employing limited color palettes, several of Curlee's acrylic paintings will impress and awe readers with ground-up perspectives of trains set against broad expanses of sky or mountain ranges and sometimes put into historical context with people in the foreground. The author leaves readers to ponder whether modern trains, more efficient than their predecessors, may offer a highway into the future for a nation built by the railroads. All ages. (May)

Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission

Gr 46A readable overview of the growth of rail transportation. Beginning with a discussion of how railroads impacted his hometown of High Point, NC, Curlee turns to a description of the steam engine's evolution, followed by a look at how those engines were replaced by diesels. The smoothly flowing text is peppered with interesting details and explanations of how historical events shaped train technology. Some background knowledge in American history helps in understanding the material. Emphasis is on the emergence of American rail transportation, but when appropriate, mention is given to other countries. Curlee concludes by noting future train travel possibilities through "magnetic levitation" and suggests that upgraded rail transportation could be important in light of world energy problems and global warming. The lengthy pages of text are divided by occasional headings. Full-page color acrylic paintings with representation of different trains and historical time periods are the hallmark of the work and set this informational book apart from other titles on the subject. A few handsome spreads are sprinkled in among the other high-quality illustrations. Costumes worn by characters in the paintings nicely convey the changing eras. An appended diagram shows how a steam engine works; it's unfortunate that it wasn't placed closer to the pertinent passages in the text. Nonetheless, this is another solid addition to Curlee's body of work. - Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission