June Sobel

While this book does not carry as cargo a profound message, nor does it have the world's most intricate illustrations or elegantly-crafted language, this book is on my shelf because it represents an experience. Books and reading--surprise, surprise--have always been so important to me. Because of this, I have been so committed to introducing my children to literature at a very, very young age.

I started reading to both my son and my daughter before their eyes could even focus on the pictures show more adorning thick, cardboard pages. This book was one that I read night after night to my son, my firstborn, as a baby. It was perfect for him because he loves trains and he loved all the train sounds and the lyrical quality of the rhyming couplets that comprise the story line. And me? I loved holding him in my lap and reading to it to him, mimicking every train sound with enthusiasm. I loved that at the end, when I read the last lines, "Goodnight, train, goodnight" and added a "Good night, Carter, good night," he always knew it was time for sleep and would hop down, once he could, from my lap and toddle over to his bed, lift up both pudgy arms, and wait to be lifted into the crib.

him, this book represented comfort, love, and safety. For me, this book represents all of those experiences, but also the start of learning and the beginning of a life-long relationship with reading. It also represents the way in which reading can be not just an experience, but a shared one. Reading allows us to connect with our loved ones in such a special way. So this book on my shelf represents an invaluable parenting experience for me. And years from now, when my son's little body has stretched tall and he can no longer climb into my lap, I will see this book on the shelf and remember the baby and the little boy he once was. I will think about how, even though it will have become a distant memory, these experiences, and this simple, cardboard book about a train riding off to sleep, will have helped to shape the young man he will have become. show less

This book is about the crazy and unsettling emotions that come from starting school. It goes through the day and subjects that come with school and emotions they bring. I would use this story as a read-a-loud on the first day to welcome students and encourage some of the positive emotions that school can bring. I noticed that the illustrations are diverse and colorful which can make the students be comfortable and gives each person someone they can relate to in the story. One strength is the show more accuracy of the depictions of the separate subjects because it highlights real every-day experiences students may have. show less

If I taught a first grade class, I would definitely have this book in my classroom library. It’s a great concept book that emphasizes the importance of construction, and allows students to match letters of the alphabet with a construction tool, object, person, or action. First, I like how the book goes through each letter of the alphabet. For example, B is for Bulldozer and C is for crane. It goes through the alphabet in order to not confuse the students reading. I also love how this book show more rhymes. It makes it more fun and enjoyable to read, especially for children at such a young age, who are just beginning school. For example, I and J go “I spy an I beam made out of steal, and a jackhammer making a noise you can feel”. The author seems to know what attracts young readers. The illustrator seems to know that too, and that’s the last thing I like about this book. The images with the descriptions really allows children to paint a picture in their mind, and actually allows them to imagine being in that situation. The example I gave above had a great description, and gave children a chance to wonder what it’s like hearing something so loudly that they can feel it too! It also gives them knowledge about the subject matter that will most likely stick with them. Overall, this book is great, and well written. I recommend this to anyone with young children. show less

Delightfully illustrated with a crew of animal pirates, the rhyming text in this book details the pirates’ search for letters other than “R” so that they can be tough! And just to make sure that this bumbling crew follows his orders, the pirate captain decrees they’ll walk the plank if they don’t find every single letter.

Young readers will delight in the antics of the pirate crew as they learn the alphabet. The illustrations are a perfect companion to the text, making this show more adventure pure fun for pirate-loving readers of all ages.

Highly recommended. show less