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Freight Train #1
Freight Train
In simple, powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the rolling wheels of that childhood a train. This Caldecott Honor Book features bright colors and bold shapes. Even a child not lucky enough to have counted freight cars will feel he or she has watched a freight train passing after reading Freight Train . Donald Crews used childhood memories of trains seen during his travels to his grandparents' farm in the American South as the inspiration for this timeless favorite. New York magazine's The Strategist chose Freight Train as one of the "Best (Nonobvious) Baby Books to Bring to a Shower." As The Strategist "T he Caldecott Honor Book is spare and minimal in both art and text and follows the journey of a freight train and all its cars until it rolls off the page and into the distance. It’s a good way to learn all the different names of train cars, too." Red caboose at the back, orange tank car, green cattle car, purple box car, black tender and a black steam engine . . . freight train.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1978
45 people are currently reading
2,920 people want to read
About the author
Donald Crews
48 books48 followersDonald Crews (born August 30, 1938) is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. In 2015, the American Library Association (ALA) honored him with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, recognizing his lasting contribution to children's literature. Common subjects of his include modern technology (especially travel vehicles), and childhood memories. His stories often include few humans.
Two of his works were runners-up, or Caldecott Honor Books, for the ALA's annual award for picture book illustration, the Caldecott Medal.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. He had an older brother, Asa who became Beth Israel Hospital's first African-American intern, and two sisters. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs. For the summers he would travel down to rural Florida to stay with his grandmother, who he called "Bigmama". The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
He graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, and married another graduate, graphic artist Ann Jonas.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New York. Nina is also an award-winning children's book author.
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z (1967). After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with ABC books. One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book.
He created several other books over the next few years, but it was 1978's Freight Train that won him a Caldecott Honor and the respect of other artists in the field. He won another Caldecott Honor the next year for Truck. Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Bus (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995). His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama's and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
Crews and his wife currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.
Two of his works were runners-up, or Caldecott Honor Books, for the ALA's annual award for picture book illustration, the Caldecott Medal.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. He had an older brother, Asa who became Beth Israel Hospital's first African-American intern, and two sisters. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs. For the summers he would travel down to rural Florida to stay with his grandmother, who he called "Bigmama". The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
He graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, and married another graduate, graphic artist Ann Jonas.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New York. Nina is also an award-winning children's book author.
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z (1967). After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with ABC books. One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book.
He created several other books over the next few years, but it was 1978's Freight Train that won him a Caldecott Honor and the respect of other artists in the field. He won another Caldecott Honor the next year for Truck. Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Bus (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995). His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama's and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
Crews and his wife currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 754 reviews
May 2, 2019
A very beginning book. This one is for kids just able to pay attention to stories. It would make a good board book. It is bright and quick and easy to follow. It goes over colors and the parts of a train. The scene is the train track.
This was way to young for the kids. They did think the train with its blurred colors was cool, but otherwise, it was way too young for them. The nephew could read a few words. It was a good book for him to try and read. He gave it 1 star - trains are boring, and the niece gave it 1 star, this was way beneath her.
The artwork was very interesting and I can see why it got nominated. Also, it felt timeless and it was not dated to the 70s, I thought.
This was way to young for the kids. They did think the train with its blurred colors was cool, but otherwise, it was way too young for them. The nephew could read a few words. It was a good book for him to try and read. He gave it 1 star - trains are boring, and the niece gave it 1 star, this was way beneath her.
The artwork was very interesting and I can see why it got nominated. Also, it felt timeless and it was not dated to the 70s, I thought.
July 6, 2020
A wonderfully simple book introducing freight trains with some specific terms and colours. The illustrations are superb, great design, very polished, they reminded me of the London underground map.
Had I read this with a small train loving child this would probably have been a 5 star for me.
Read on open library.
Had I read this with a small train loving child this would probably have been a 5 star for me.
Read on open library.
June 1, 2024
With forceful economy of words, Donald Crews introduces us to the train-less track, clearly missing its soul. But the cars soon come chugging along: a red caboose, orange tank car, yellow hopper car, green cattle car, blue gondola car, purple box car, and a black tender tugged by an ebony engine billowing thick steam. The eight cars are a majestic machine in motion, but we've yet to see it at its most awesome.
The train morphs into a rainbow blur as it picks up velocity, hurtling down the tracks. Through mountain tunnels it races, past sky-high cities that contain nothing stronger than the old-fashioned iron horse, over trestles bridging canyons hundreds of feet deep. The train is in its element wherever tracks can go, certain to deliver its cargo where promised. The cars vanish from our sight as they plow onward toward their destination, the same route taken by engineers for years and years. There's nothing like the atavistic power of a freight train going about its business.
Donald Crews writes well, but his artwork is a phenomenon. The steam pouring up out of the engine car is a wonder to behold, and the blurry train at maximum speed is even more astonishing. It's a treat for the eyes, as fresh as the illustrations in any picture book I can readily think of. Through the tunnel or dark of night, the blur takes on new visual dimensions, and it's impressive. I would rate Freight Train higher than one and a half stars if the story had more substance, but as it is, this a color show that preschoolers who love trains shouldn't miss. You can count on Donald Crews for artistic performances that will tarry in your imagination.
The train morphs into a rainbow blur as it picks up velocity, hurtling down the tracks. Through mountain tunnels it races, past sky-high cities that contain nothing stronger than the old-fashioned iron horse, over trestles bridging canyons hundreds of feet deep. The train is in its element wherever tracks can go, certain to deliver its cargo where promised. The cars vanish from our sight as they plow onward toward their destination, the same route taken by engineers for years and years. There's nothing like the atavistic power of a freight train going about its business.
Donald Crews writes well, but his artwork is a phenomenon. The steam pouring up out of the engine car is a wonder to behold, and the blurry train at maximum speed is even more astonishing. It's a treat for the eyes, as fresh as the illustrations in any picture book I can readily think of. Through the tunnel or dark of night, the blur takes on new visual dimensions, and it's impressive. I would rate Freight Train higher than one and a half stars if the story had more substance, but as it is, this a color show that preschoolers who love trains shouldn't miss. You can count on Donald Crews for artistic performances that will tarry in your imagination.
August 21, 2014
A fun book for really young children (3 or under). Very simple, no real plot but lots of fun sound effects you can make and very colorful illustrations of the train. can be used as a way of color recognition. even the younger children seemed bored of this one fairly quickly. 2.5 stars.
November 12, 2023
#1539 in our old book database.
My rating: Indifferent.
My daughter's rating: Good.
An odd little book to teach colors. The closest I can come to liking it is by thinking of it as a 1970s horror movie trailer as I read it out loud in a deep, ominous voice.
My rating: Indifferent.
My daughter's rating: Good.
An odd little book to teach colors. The closest I can come to liking it is by thinking of it as a 1970s horror movie trailer as I read it out loud in a deep, ominous voice.
June 17, 2013
A wonderful book about trains that I'm glad I picked up. A Caldecott Honor book, it is one of our favorite train books we've read. Bright colorful train cars kept my preschoolers riveted, as well as the different scenery, such as the bridges and tunnels the trains go through. Also, a nice and unusual touch were the pages with the train moving. The illustrations showed the cars as blurred so it looked like a big rainbow moving along. My twins loved that. We just picked it up from the library, and already we've read it several times. Too easy for a level 1 reader, but a great read out loud book.
October 15, 2017
Beautiful illustrations and a short and sweet text.
February 22, 2025
آیا میدانید طبق آمار غیررسمی اما معتبر، خیلی از خانوادهها موقع خوندن کتاب برای بچهها اشک ریختن؟
November 19, 2018
Well, the colors are vibrant in the book. And it's a good way to teach the scale (whatever it's called). Very simple. Could be used with beginning readers. Especially for the car/train lovers out there.
3/24/11 This was wonderful! I wanted to have a book focusing on colors. So I thought how to do this and came up with a brilliant (so say I) idea! I cut rectangles out of construction paper using colors represented in the book. I taped them up around the room. Then I cut out wheels in the colors--two wheels for each train car. I cut out thin rectangles from brown paper for the track. So as I began the book (and I used our BIG book for this), I taped the brown track on my white board. Then as each train car was introduced, I taped up the corresponding wheels. With each color that we worked with, I had the kids look around the room to find the matching color. (It also works having them look around at each other and see if anyone is wearing that color.) With each page turn, we chugged our arms and legs and made "choo choo" sounds. We got faster and faster with each color. It geared them up for the end. Very fun. Though I did note that in the first group they were SO rowdy. I wondered if it was because I stood as I put the wheels on the track. So for the second group I stayed seated and they were MUCH calmer.
11/19/18 SS and SD discovered that I had added the big book version of this to our home collection. And we read aloud to pass the time while waiting for Daddy to come home. SS seemed distracted by all other books around. But SD really liked this one.
3/24/11 This was wonderful! I wanted to have a book focusing on colors. So I thought how to do this and came up with a brilliant (so say I) idea! I cut rectangles out of construction paper using colors represented in the book. I taped them up around the room. Then I cut out wheels in the colors--two wheels for each train car. I cut out thin rectangles from brown paper for the track. So as I began the book (and I used our BIG book for this), I taped the brown track on my white board. Then as each train car was introduced, I taped up the corresponding wheels. With each color that we worked with, I had the kids look around the room to find the matching color. (It also works having them look around at each other and see if anyone is wearing that color.) With each page turn, we chugged our arms and legs and made "choo choo" sounds. We got faster and faster with each color. It geared them up for the end. Very fun. Though I did note that in the first group they were SO rowdy. I wondered if it was because I stood as I put the wheels on the track. So for the second group I stayed seated and they were MUCH calmer.
11/19/18 SS and SD discovered that I had added the big book version of this to our home collection. And we read aloud to pass the time while waiting for Daddy to come home. SS seemed distracted by all other books around. But SD really liked this one.
July 7, 2013
My son told me a story about a train book that he was reading to a dinosaur that turned into a robot. Freight Train was the train book. Our copy is an English/Spanish edition. I bought this edition because the text is so simple it seemed a great way to introduce my son to a language besides English. I've done this with a couple of other books (e.g., Goodnight Moon), and it's been pretty successful.
Freight Train does have very simple text. The text is also large and easy-to-read. My son can't yet read, but he can recognize some words, so when he was reading this story to the dinosaur (from another book), he was doing a pretty good job. Gateway books -- books that transform children from active listeners to readers -- are vital in developing young readers. I'm pleased that Freight Train is a gateway book for my little boy because, although the text is simple, it is not dull.
The illustrations in Freight Train are beautiful, bold, colorful and perfect. The train is clearly a train. Each car can easily be distinguished from the next, but without being overly detailed. The two-page spread where the train crosses a trestle is a gorgeous study in geometry.
Freight Train does have very simple text. The text is also large and easy-to-read. My son can't yet read, but he can recognize some words, so when he was reading this story to the dinosaur (from another book), he was doing a pretty good job. Gateway books -- books that transform children from active listeners to readers -- are vital in developing young readers. I'm pleased that Freight Train is a gateway book for my little boy because, although the text is simple, it is not dull.
The illustrations in Freight Train are beautiful, bold, colorful and perfect. The train is clearly a train. Each car can easily be distinguished from the next, but without being overly detailed. The two-page spread where the train crosses a trestle is a gorgeous study in geometry.
February 7, 2019
This picture is very simple, and very accessible to children. I believe that this would be more appropriate for pre-k and kindergarten students, as the highlight of the book is the colors of the train. Additionally, the illustrations highlight different views of color in the light, and different perspectives as the train moves quickly or slowly. The illustrations overflow the page so that the reader is completely engrossed, and the stark background highlights the bright colors of every moving piece. The words are simple, and don't take up too much space on the page; therefore, the reader is truly focused solely on the train itself. This would be good for teaching colors to younger kids. I could also see a practical use in teaching shades of colors in an art class with this book as well.
This book can be found in the local library as a Caldecott Honor recipient.
This book can be found in the local library as a Caldecott Honor recipient.
August 30, 2018
First sentence: A train runs across this track. Red caboose at the back. Orange tank car next. Yellow hopper car.
Premise/plot: Freight Train is a concept book teaching colors, a train-themed concept book teaching colors. It received a Caldecott Honor in 1979, I believe. If I had to guess the most memorized picture book ever, I bet it would be Freight Train or Goodnight Moon. What do you think it would be?
My thoughts: What's not to love about this children's classic? It wasn't the first train book, it certainly won't be the last. What is it about kids and trains?!
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
Premise/plot: Freight Train is a concept book teaching colors, a train-themed concept book teaching colors. It received a Caldecott Honor in 1979, I believe. If I had to guess the most memorized picture book ever, I bet it would be Freight Train or Goodnight Moon. What do you think it would be?
My thoughts: What's not to love about this children's classic? It wasn't the first train book, it certainly won't be the last. What is it about kids and trains?!
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
August 12, 2018
This is a simple book about a freight train that contains simple text, bright colors and an object that generations of children find fascinating-trains. The book itself can be used in a variety of themed storytimes, as it encompasses colors and movement just to name a few themes.
Find Freight Train at the Westminster Public Library!
Find Freight Train at the Westminster Public Library!
November 23, 2017
This book was very simple in its narrative, It is intended for a very young audience. Beginning readers would be the primary audience. I can also picture Parents reading this book to toodles. The Colors are very vivid. We see the journey of this train and as you flip the pages you can almost feel the movement of the train. If you use your kindle instead of the book the movement becomes come fluid. I would recommend this book to parents of young readers and early childhood educators.
March 19, 2017
Cute book!
January 1, 2018
My nice loves this book, the colors are great, perfect for toddlers.
October 16, 2018
Very, very simple text. A little boring for my kindergarteners.
May 26, 2021
Super simple and to the point. Freight train lists out the parts of the train from the caboose to the steam engine and then it’s off on its way through trestles, cities, etc. The illustrations are simple and spot on, but how you choose to narrate this book as a parent is the make or break element in its success. I guess my fiancé and I did a pretty fine job reading the book to our daughter because now she’s a toddler train enthusiast. Highly recommend for little tykes.
September 6, 2019
This was a cute book. I loved the illustrations, especially the pictures of the train in motion.
December 1, 2020
Every kid should know what a trestle is.
January 10, 2021
A wordless picture book that will liven up story time by allowing children to develop the narrative by looking at the pictures and details.
July 6, 2021
Me: simple but colorful and artful intro to train terms.
Alex: I LOVE TRAINS!!
Owen: YASAAAAASSAAAAAAAAAA TRAINS!!!!!!!
Alex: I LOVE TRAINS!!
Owen: YASAAAAASSAAAAAAAAAA TRAINS!!!!!!!
January 20, 2023
#97 - 1001 Children's Books To Read Before You Grow Up
Read
November 22, 2024Better than Truck, but I don't think I like Crews books overall.
August 7, 2019
A favorite book for my cousin
May 6, 2022
A colorful counting book for train lovers at the most basic level of reading comprehension, which is probably why it would work better as a chewable board book.
February 21, 2020
Crews, Donald. Freight Train (1978). The bright multi-colored train moves through a variety of locations. The train moves to discover and explore the different environments that it faces in its travels. The book contains the proper names of the railcars with its corresponding color. The train then disappears only to leave the audience questioning and inferring about its whereabouts.This wonderful description of a colorful moving train and it’s cargo conveys a encouraging message of progress and diversity through the train’s movement and variety of sharp colors. Winner of the Caldecott Award and Honor Books (1979); "Top Children's Picture Books" by School Library Journal (2012). Target audience: Ages 2-8.
October 5, 2017
I’ve read this book with kids so many times, I’ve stopped really looking at the pictures, but they are definitely brilliant. Donald Crews does such interesting things with color, motion, and light, and this book is as close to perfect as any picture book gets. It’s a concept book, which teaches colors, a vocabulary lesson, teaching new words for the different parts of the train, and a story beloved by train-loving little boys everywhere. The plot and text are so simple, and yet so emotionally satisfying. I especially love the empty train track at the beginning and end of the book, and the way the colors on the different cars blur together when the train is in motion.
Read at Baby/Toddler story time on 1/25/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby Lap Time on 2/8/12 & 2/9/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby Lap Time on 5/3/12 & 5/4/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 9/18/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at drop-in story time on 5/7/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby/Toddler story time on 1/25/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby Lap Time on 2/8/12 & 2/9/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby Lap Time on 5/3/12 & 5/4/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 9/18/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at drop-in story time on 5/7/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
February 20, 2011
This book would be a great book to use for pre K-first or second grade. For younger kids it is an excellent tool to use to teach colors to the children. A teacher could read the book, and ask the children to name the colors of the different parts of the train. After reading the book the children could then paint pieces to their own freight train. For Kindergarten to First grade this book could be used to introduce the parts of a train. Before reading the book the teacher could ask the students what pieces make up a train. This would build on the prior knowledge some of the students have about trains, it would also build on some of the prior knowledge students have of the book. Because most kids love trains this book should spark an interest with most of the students. For first grade this book could be used in small reading groups or be read independently. Because the text is simple this could be a book that is used as an assessment tool to see where different students are with their reading ability.
March 25, 2014
Freight Train is a perfect book to learn about transportation and trains. This book is for the younger readers, most likely preschoolers and kindergarteners. The book does not contain many words, but it is knowledgeable, as for it teaches the children all about the different parts of the freight train and the colors that it associates with. For instance, the illustrations show a “purple box car”.
Children will have a great time naming all the parts of the trains and calling out the right colors. Teachers will be able to teach children that trains play a big part in transportation, too and not just the typical cars that people drive in every day. There are no people in this book, so there is not much diversity; however the freight train travels through towns, cities, mountains, and near bodies of water. This realistic fiction picture book will show children that trains travel everywhere.
Children will have a great time naming all the parts of the trains and calling out the right colors. Teachers will be able to teach children that trains play a big part in transportation, too and not just the typical cars that people drive in every day. There are no people in this book, so there is not much diversity; however the freight train travels through towns, cities, mountains, and near bodies of water. This realistic fiction picture book will show children that trains travel everywhere.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 754 reviews