Locomotive

Synopsis

Distilling something as complicated as a locomotive to a book that anyone can understand is a difficult feat, and Brian Floca has done it. Locomotive follows a 19th century train from the east coast to the west coast, and points out many things along the way: the environment, culture, and mechanics of early trains, just to name a few. Highly-detailed illustrations capture the beauty and the industrial marvel of the time. Supplemental materials give more detail into the inner workings of trains, and add valuable context to the story. A thorough reference list provides great direction for future reading. This book is a winner for teachers looking for a great read-aloud, or a research project.