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Book Review: Locomotive

We have fallen head-over-heels in love with the 2014 Caldecott Medal winner, Locomotive by Brian Floca. Isaac picked it up spontaneously at the library a few weeks ago, thinking that the boys would enjoy it, but I don't think even he anticipated how much every one of us would love this book.


In short, it tells the story of a family traveling on the brand-new railroad from Omaha to San Francisco. But that doesn't begin to cover it: the history, the geography, the engineering, the literature. Isaac loves the detailed map inside the front cover, the equally detailed diagram of a steam locomotive inside the back cover, the informative and yet beautiful artwork throughout the book. Levi loves the onomatopoeia, the excitement of hearing the train move. Owen and Silas love to shout "alllllllllll a-BOARD!" and "tick-ETS!" as we read. I love the adventure, the history of invention and innovation, the wide-eyed wonder of it all. 

Mommy truth: it's also delightfully refreshing to read something that does NOT rhyme, but still sweeps you up in its cadence. The writing is superb. 

We took it back to the library today, but I would not be at all surprised if we invested in a copy in the future (maybe after Silas gets through his page-ripping phase, since it's a wonderfully big book). I'm eager to get his other books from the library (or maybe the bookstore!).

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Go forth and find yourself a copy!
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