Locomotive
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 4–10 · 2013 · Est. 21 min read-aloud

Locomotive

Written & illustrated by Brian Floca

The story of the construction and journey of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

4.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 6,217 ratings
64 pages· 2,616 words· Est. 21 min read-aloud
$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In the summer of 1869, embark on a thrilling journey across America on the new transcontinental railroad. Feel the power of the mighty locomotives as they race from plains to mountains to ocean. Discover the intricate work behind the scenes and the vibrant landscapes that blur past. This sensory adventure invites you to hear the steam's hiss and feel the engine's heat as families and crews traverse the young country. Will the journey be as smooth as the tracks laid before them, or will unexpected challenges arise? All aboard for an unforgettable ride!

"Up in the cab--small as a closet, hot as a kitchen, it smells of smoke, hot metal, and oil."

— from the book

From the publisher

All aboard! From the creator of the “stunning” (Booklist) Moonshot, a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America’s early railroads. It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean. Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country!

Awards

Caldecott Medal (2014)The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (2013)Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor (2014)Orbis Pictus Honor (2014)
At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
64
Words
2,616
Reading age
4–10
Audience
Picture
Lexile
640L
Themes & topics
Books about trainsBooks about vehiclesBooks about AmericaBooks about historyBooks about 1800-1849
What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

4.3

This book is beautiful... but it's just SO long, and there's not much story to it, just a very detailed account of how a train ride would be from one end of the line to the other.

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

5.3

There are a lot of words in this book, and that's usually a big turn-off for me (my kids are pretty little and have correspondingly little attention spans), but it's not a problem with this book. The artwork is incredible, and even if I need to skim through the words, it's still a great read.

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
4.7
F&P level
~P
Scholastic level
O
AR points
0.5
AR interest level
LG
AR quiz
160657
Publication
Published
September 3, 2013
Edition
Language
English
Type
Picture Book
Text details
The text for this book is set in Scotch Roman MT.
Illustration details
The illustrations for this book are rendered in watercolor, ink, acrylic, and gouache.
Identifiers
ISBN
9781416994152

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