The Littlest Train

Having gone big in Dinotrux and microscopic in NanoBots, Gall does a bit of both, sending a tiny train on an enormous adventure. After being accidentally knocked off a tabletop town of crisscrossing wooden tracks ("It was the only neighborhood he had ever known"), the train travels through a mouse hole "tunnel" to the outside world and meets life-size trains of all kinds, including a steam locomotive, cog railway engine, rotary snowplow train, and commuter train. Gall lightly anthropomorphizes the trains, giving them bright eyes, friendly grins, and names such as Mighty Max and Chloe Cogs. Working together, the toy train's new friends deliver him back where he belongs: "At one hundred and fifty miles per hour, we'll get you home lightning quick," boasts Sara Speedster, a bullet train. Boldly colored and textured with crisp, engravinglike lines, Gall's epic panoramas highlight the grand scale of the train's journey through hilly green farmland and craggy golden canyons. Train fans getting ready to graduate from Thomas the Tank Engine will enjoy getting to know a new crew in this feast for the imagination. Ages 4-8. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--Railway lovers will relish Gall's latest offering. A little train, who has known only the "tiny town" he has spent his days circling, sees his world derailed when Mr. Fingers arrives, demolishing all he has ever known. After getting knocked over by a crane, he tumbles "down, down, down and into a brand-new world." The little train meets a variety of big trains who take him on many exciting adventures with myriad new sights to take in. The digitally created artwork's use of bold lines, bright colors, and expressive faces brings the trains to life, letting them burst with personality. A mix of oblong paneling and full spreads captures the energy of each train and the rich worlds they inhabit, propelling the narrative forward. Several spreads, with minimal to no text, of vast landscapes will absorb readers. The tale ends on a satisfying note as the little hero makes it home to find his tiny town is now an expanded world with new train friends and more tracks to explore. An author's note with information about the trains will appease young train buffs. VERDICT A must-buy for all libraries where train books are in demand. A perfect choice for storytime or one-on-one sharing.--Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR