C is for Caboose
By Traci N. Todd
Chronicle Books; $14.95
40 pp.; ISBN-10: 0811856437

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

You'd think that at some point, there would be such an overwhelming number of ABC books published that the audience of kids reading them couldn't possibly support one more, and then you find a really fun one that makes your kid's eyes light up and you clear a little more space on the bookshelf, oh, say, like C is for Caboose: Riding the Rails from A to Z.

With text by Traci N. Todd and a dynamic visual style that incorporates a mix of illustrations that include original artwork by Steve Vance, there's lots here to grab and hold the interest of young readers, especially train aficionados. More advanced than a toddler ABC book, this book's likely audience will probably already know their letters; the big draw is the trains.

From the very first page, "'All aboard!' The train is leaving the station," kids are brought along on a trip that touches on history, geography, folklore, and even art as they work their way through the book to the Zephyr trains that made an appearance at the 1933-1934 Chicago World's Fair. J is for John Henry, the man who bested the machine in the quest to build railroad tracks more quickly; G is for the golden spike (paired with a photo of same) that marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S., to S for the school car which afforded learning opportunities for children in rural communities without schools. From the bullet train of Japan to King's Cross Station in London, England, the book's broad scope offers a little something for everyone.

One of the nice things about C is for Caboose is that there's more than one example for each letter; for example, F includes the Flying Scotsman and the 1933 World's Fair, where Canadian Pacific showcased it's trains. In addition, each example is further explained or defined as needed in clear, simple language. Many of the selections are actively about the nuts and bolts of trains, like the knuckle coupler, complete with line-drawn example, defined as a piece that connects train cars. (Which is really good, because if it didn't say what that knuckle coupler was for, I'm not sure I'd have been able to come up with something plausible for my young reader,)

Steve Vance's stylized illustrations are bright and colorful. They complement the text and other accompanying illustrations and the repeating style really unifies the eclectic mix of black and white photographs, vintage posters, maps, train tickets, and more. The page layouts vary with large, clear pictures, good for leaning in and looking very close.

You know how kids are insatiably curious when they seize on a topic they're interested in? This is a great book for kids who love trains, even more valuable in it's ability to offer young readers an intimate view of railroads and their history.