William Bee's over-the-top, almost macabre sense of humor makes a completely unique addition to the wide world of children's books. Bee's style is completely his own, and that's why I adore this author from across the pond.
I first came across Bee's wickedly funny book
Beware of the Frog about a monster-eating frog who stands sentry at the front door of poor Mrs. Collywobble's house. I instantly fell in love with
Beware of the Frog, but since this is a story time blog, I have to warn you that it is so completely over the top, it might frighten young children. Today's selection by William Bee is
And The Train Goes... and though true to Bee's humorously subversive style, there is nothing at all frightening about it.
And the Train Goes.. is a little train book with detailed line-drawing illustrations, flamboyant circus colors--green apple meets eggplant--and roll-off-your tongue prose. In fact, I think the pacing is just perfect. And this time, there is no sting at the end of Bee's little tale. Since this book still has a pinch of Bee's subversive sense of humor, toddlers will be mesmerized by the read-out-loud prose, AND parents will be chuckling along at the busy conductor and the sights and sounds of the train station and the train's passengers.
In this book you will find ladies eating cakes ("Lovely cake, Doris, Lovely Tea Mabel"), a muttering fireman shoveling coal, soldiers on parade, and children on a class trip ("Please, sir, please ma'am...are we there yet?"), businessmen shouting "Time is money, Time is money!", and even a guard sleeping on the job.
All the while, the train goes, clickerty-click, clickerty-clack, and chuff-puff, chufferty puff.
What's not to like?
So give this book a try. The illustrations have an almost hippy sensibility to them. The apple greens and tomato reds and eggplant purples in this book are wonderfully British, and full of humorous detail. Look for spitballs on the school children's train cars, and notice the businessmen are eating the eggs as quickly as the hens headed to market can lay them.
This book is a quick read and I would read in a toddler story time or preschool story hour.
More Recommended Train-Themed Books
- Trains Go by Steve Light
- Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Kevin Lewis
- The Goodnight Train by Susan Sobel
Getting Kids Involved in This Book
- Divide your group into three parts. Each should say one of these lines. Then have them help you read the story.
- Clickerty-click, clickerty-clack
- Chuff-chuff, chufferty chuff
- Puff-puff, pufferty puff
- To keep things simple, you could have all of the kids join in on the line "clickerty-click, clickerty clack"
- Form wiggly preschoolers into a human train. Invite them to line up, and make sure you have a few adults to help. Make sure to point out that the front is the engine and the end person is the caboose. Remind kids that some trains have two or even three engine cars. When you're ready to move, say, "Last call, all aboard!" and have all of the kids say "Woo-ooooooo!" Walk through the library or classroom, saying chuff-chuff chufferty chuff, and clickety-clackety.
