View source for On the Train by Carron Brown and Bee Johnson

{{infobox2
|title=On the Train
|author=Carron Brown and Bee Johnson
|reviewer=Lorraine McDonald
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1782402428
|pages=36
|publisher=Ivy Press 
|date=April 2015
|aznuk=178240242X
|aznus=178240242X
|cover=178240242X
|website=
|video=
|summary=Take a literal look behind the scenes of a railway with this interactive book. Meet trains of all shapes, sizes and functions and reveal what is inside them by shining a light through the page. Engaging fun for transport mad children.
}}
There’s nothing me and the little ‘un like more than a good transport themed book. Tractors remain top of my toddler’s pops but trains run a close second. One glimpse of the cover of ''On the Train'' and his little feet did the happy dance. He hunkered down and the journey began.

''On the Train'' is one book in the ''shine-a-light'' series. The facing pages contain a coloured illustration with a black and white picture on the rear. Shining a light behind the page will ‘reveal a secret’ as the black and white drawing becomes part of the scene. Parts of the train revealed here that are normally hidden from sight, include passengers asleep in bed inside a night sleeper, the driver in his cab and the contents of a goods train. The concept of double sided pages revealed by light is a bit clunky – the book is hard to manipulate and the ‘secret’ is clearly visible in black and white on the back of the page.

The drawings themselves really hold their own even if the light aspect may fall a little flat. Our first read was without a light and my little boy loved it. The artwork fills the entire page and the style is delicious. Though the modern world is clearly discernible, it is rendered in what I would describe as a 1950’s graphic style that is soothing without being chintzy. I loved the cute kitty revealed in a pet carrier. The long lashed cow on the side of a hill is adorable too.

''On the Train'' is beautifully presented. The front and rear leaves are crisscrossed by tracks – ideal for tracing your own pretend journey. The final two pages contain a dossier of trains from Maglevs to monorails and some facts about each one that are sure to appeal to the infant trainspotter.

There’s a lot of entertainment to be had here.  The ''shine a light'' feature is just one element in the mix though it may be the one that confers longevity as it adds an additional dimension. That said, it’s the soothing graphic style that makes it a winner for me. The number and diversity of trains is what swings it for my boy.

If the ''shine-a-light'' series appeals to you, why not try [[Secrets of the Apple Tree by Carron Brown and Alyssa Nassner]]?  If it’s another train journey you are after then toddler and I can heartily recommend [[Rattle and Rap by Susan Steggall]].  We think you'll also enjoy [[On the Construction Site by Carron Brown and Bee Johnson]].

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[[Category:Children's Non-Fiction]]
[[Category:Carron Brown]]
[[Category:Bee Johnson]]