Locomotive

For train-enthusiasts, Locomotive is a beautifully written and illustrated book about the early beginnings of the cross-country railroad.  With beautifully illustrated pictures that really show the details of early trains, to the rhythmic text that reminds you of a train racing down the train tracks – this is the perfect book for information about trains as well as for little ones who can’t enough of trains.

Brian Floca is known for his informative picture book texts and Locomotive does not disappoint!  What I really enjoyed was that Floca was able to integrate information into a beautifully woven story about a family traveling from the east to the west coast.  And I as said, the text read very much like a train on the tracks, with a rhythm that is not easy to recreate.  The text also used design to create the onomatopoeic words used for the sounds of the train, making these words jump off the page!

For more information about Brian Floca and his work, check out his website!  I can’t believe that he was just visiting a local bookstore and I completely didn’t know he would be around!

Title: Locomotive
Author/Illustrator: Brian Floca
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2013