Listen Up! Train Song

In Listen Up! Train Song, various train cars in whole or part are depicted photographically with an accompanying text describing how the reader can make multiple sounds related to trains. Shown are sleek trains moving fast through a city, trains with plenty of cargo moving slowly through the countryside, and even an old steam engine with passenger cars rolling through cornfields. Close-up photos of brakes, a horn, and a train crossing sign add variety. Children are invited to learn the vocabulary related to trains within the song lyrics, words from “chime” to “engine” to “metro”, the latter of which may be unfamiliar to many Canadian readers. The final pages provide instructions to parents on how to enhance the experience of the book by encouraging readers to create their own train songs and sounds, describing what a rhyme is, and explaining how to clap a rhythm.

The physical hardiness of the book is noted, including a hard, padded cover and rounded corners, and extra-heavy paper, making it robust enough for frequent use by young library patrons. The title is well-suited to reading out loud in storytime settings as the text is rhythmic and repetitive, yet there is enough variety to interest young listeners from page to page. Onomatopoeia is frequently utilized in words such as “hisssss!” and “screeeeech!” which add an exciting and interactive quality. The text is greatly enhanced by the full-colour photographs which are rich in detail and successfully depict movement. Some seasonal variety of outdoor scenes would enhance the overall impression of this title as all the outdoor photographs showcase trains under partly cloudy skies in the fullness of summer or very early Autumn. Nevertheless, Listen Up! Train Song is a delightful and fun book that will be of great interest and entertainment to very young children.