And the Train Goes...

In this very British train book, a crowd of English archetypes—whose chunky, quirky appearance brings to mind a collection of extremely eccentric Playskool Weebles—have gathered at the train station for what promises to be a thrilling ride. Among the passengers in the eight lovingly filigreed cars are “the ladies off to the races” who “chitter and chatter: Lovely cake, Doris. Lovely tea, Mabel.” A few cars down are the businessmen who eat their breakfast (boiled eggs served in proper egg cups) while shouting, “Faster, faster! Time is money, time is money.” To every snippet of conversation, the train offers a rhythmic rejoinder (hence the title), usually a variation on “Clickerty-click, clickerty-clack.” Bee’s (Whatever) full-bleed illustrations—with the train track extending across the bottom of each page—heighten the sense that readers are moving through the busy train cars as they advance through the book. The highly decorative nature of the Victorian-style ink and digital artwork will give youngsters plenty to pore over. And young Anglophiles who are already fans of Thomas the Tank Engine should find it all a bit of fun. Ages 3-up. (May)