Shortcut

Rating:
Summary: A Must read
Review: Excellent for writing and using as a model text.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for a Speech Competition
Review: I loved reading this book to my son. The story line, drama and noise effects would be EXCELLENT for any student to present in a Speech Competition.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for a Speech Competition
Review: I loved reading this book to my son. The story line, drama and noise effects would be EXCELLENT for any student to present in a Speech Competition.

Rating:
Summary: Night Shift Daddy
Review: Young children may already be familiar with Donald Crews' _Freight Train_. That book introduced them to their colors and each car in the train.

This book is an actual story where real characters have a brush with a freight train. It's a good follow-on to Freight Train because it introduces the concept of trains being dangerous. Shortcut begins with seven (older) children playing far from home, who decide to take a shortcut along the train tracks. As they continue on their walk, the colors hint that danger is coming as the overall tints get darker. Sure enough, a freight train does pull up, and the children must scramble away to safety. Readers of Freight Train will recognize Crews' marvelous engine and car renderings even in silhouette.

This is a also a great book to use for discussion after reading together. Did the children make a wise decision to take the shortcut? Should they have listened to their mother? What do you think they decided to do after the train incident? Crews' book teachers safety without preaching, and also hints at the beginnings of independence away from parents.

Note: this book has the same children as Crews' book "Bigmamma." While "Bigmamma" is not a train book, if your child wants to know more about the characters, this might be your next stop.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific follow-on for older "Freight Train" fans
Review: Young children may already be familiar with Donald Crews' _Freight Train_. That book introduced them to their colors and each car in the train.

This book is an actual story where real characters have a brush with a freight train. It's a good follow-on to Freight Train because it introduces the concept of trains being dangerous. Shortcut begins with seven (older) children playing far from home, who decide to take a shortcut along the train tracks. As they continue on their walk, the colors hint that danger is coming as the overall tints get darker. Sure enough, a freight train does pull up, and the children must scramble away to safety. Readers of Freight Train will recognize Crews' marvelous engine and car renderings even in silhouette.

This is a also a great book to use for discussion after reading together. Did the children make a wise decision to take the shortcut? Should they have listened to their mother? What do you think they decided to do after the train incident? Crews' book teachers safety without preaching, and also hints at the beginnings of independence away from parents.

Note: this book has the same children as Crews' book "Bigmamma." While "Bigmamma" is not a train book, if your child wants to know more about the characters, this might be your next stop.