All Aboard the Schooltrain: A Little Story from the Great Migration
A Little Story from the Great Migration
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Hop on board for this tender family story, inspired by the author's own, and discover a dynamic chapter in American history-and the many trains people rode toward freedom. A must-have for home and classroom libraries.
A CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book
BCALA Best of the Best Book
* "A vivid evocation of place and era rolling solidly on a bed of timeless values." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "A child-friendly picture book introducing the Great Migration." - Booklist, starred review
* "Lends the meandering feel of family stories to this portrait of a historical moment." - Publishers Weekly, starred review
Thelma loves to watch the Sunset Limited chug through her little town of Vacherie, Louisiana. And she dreams of one day riding a real train! For now, she has her beloved schooltrain. Every morning, she and her friends walk to school, single file, chanting all the way:
"Schooltrain! Schooltrain! Don't be late! The school bell rings at half past eight!"
Then it's on to great adventures with her teacher's books - and her own imagination!
But lately, someone named Jim Crow has been making trouble for folks in Vacherie. Aunt Bea and Uncle Ed have already moved away. When Thelma's best friend also has to leave, Thelma wonders, who is Jim Crow and why does he have to be so mean? Will he make trouble for Pop, too?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This child's view of the Great Migration begins with Thelma, a Black third grader living in Vacherie, La., watching trains pass by. One train, the Sunset Limited, is headed for California, where the child's uncle fled when "a man named Jim Crow had made trouble." Soon, Thelma joins a train of her own: the schooltrain, a line formed by Black kids of all ages to travel together to school. At school, the kids ride an imaginary train through history, courtesy of their teacher, who says that though slavery has ended, "We are still fighting for our rights." When "Mr. Jim Crow" and his unjust laws come for her father, Thelma rides one more train—the Sunset Limited—when her family relocates in search of a better life. Morris's digitally collaged tissue paper illustrations foreground figures and wide-open landscapes, and Armand, who draws on personal history, lends the meandering feel of family stories to this portrait of a historical moment. Back matter includes an author's note and additional material. Ages 4–8.
