Synopses & Reviews
The story of one hero lost and another hero discovered.
"Papa tells me Casey Jones started dreaming about trains when he was littler than me....I dream of trains too."
In this majestic picture book, a young black boy at the turn of the twentieth century dreams of leaving his hard life along the Mississippi Delta and traveling America with his hero, the larger-than-life engineer Casey Jones. But when Casey dies in a terrible train crash, the boy thinks his dream is gone forever, until his father reassures him of his place in this big wide world.
Poignant words from two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Angela Johnson and striking images from artist Loren Long join forces in this heartbreaking yet uplifting picture book about a boy, his love for trains, and his adulation of one legendary engineer.
Review
"Johnson's treatment of Casey's tragic, heroic death is particularly respectful and moving. Long's moody acrylic paintings, mainly in subdued tones, are a sterling accompaniment to the book's provocative prose." School Library Journal
Review
"Long's powerful acrylic paintings give an immediate sense of the boy's world: the sorrow of the workers in the hot fields; the thrill of the mighty, streaking trains; and the joy of imagined adventures." Booklist
Review
"MacArthur Award winner Johnson pens a reverie as piercing and poignant as the long cry of a train whistle against debut artist Long's breathtaking backdrops." Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Papa says
it's the sound of leaving
that speaks to my soul...
The poignant words of two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Angela Johnson and striking images from fine artist Loren Long join forces in this heartbreaking yet uplifting picture book about a boy, his love for trains, and his adulation of one legendary engineer.
It's the story of a hero lost and a hero discovered, of a dream crushed then reawakened, but mostly it is a story of the force that sustains the human spirit -- hope.
Synopsis
The poignant words of two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Angela Johnson and striking images from fine artist Loren Long join forces in this heartbreaking yet uplifting picture book about a boy, his love for trains, and his adulation of one legendary engineer. Papa says
it's the sound of leaving
that speaks to my soul...
A young black boy toils all day long on a cotton field where his one escape is watching the trains go by on the nearby tracks and imagining they're carrying him somewhere far away--maybe with Casey Jones at the helm. But when the boy loses his hero, will he lose his dream, too?
Synopsis
andlt;Bandgt;Papa saysandlt;BRandgt; it's the sound of leavingandlt;BRandgt; that speaks to my soul...andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; The poignant words of two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Angela Johnson and striking images from fine artist Loren Long join forces in this heartbreaking yet uplifting picture book about a boy, his love for trains, and his adulation of one legendary engineer. andlt;BRandgt; It's the story of a hero lost and a hero discovered, of a dream crushed then reawakened, but mostly it is a story of the force that sustains the human spirit -- hope.
About the Author
Angela Johnson has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels andlt;iandgt;The First Part Lastandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Heavenandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Toning the Sweepandlt;/iandgt;. andlt;iandgt;The First Part Lastandlt;/iandgt; was also the recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award. She is also the author of the novels andlt;iandgt;Looking for Redandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;A Certain Octoberandlt;/iandgt;. Her books for younger readers include the Coretta Scott King Honor Book andlt;iandgt;When I Am Old with Youandlt;/iandgt;, illustrated by David Soman; andlt;iandgt;Wind Flyersandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;I Dream of Trainsandlt;/iandgt;, both illustrated by Loren Long; and andlt;iandgt;Lottie Paris Lives Here andlt;/iandgt;and its sequel andlt;iandgt;Lottie Paris and the Best Placeandlt;/iandgt;, both illustrated by Scott M. Fischer. Additional picture books includeandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;A Sweet Smell of Rosesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Just Like Josh Gibsonandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Day Ray Got Awayandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;All Different Nowandlt;/iandgt;. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio. Visit her at AJohnsonAuthor.com.Loren Long illustrated President Barack Obamaand#8217;s andlt;iandgt;Of Thee I Singandlt;/iandgt;; the newest version of andlt;iandgt;The Little Engine that Couldandlt;/iandgt;; Madonnaand#8217;s second picture book, andlt;iandgt;Mr. Peabodyand#8217;s Applesandlt;/iandgt;; andlt;Iandgt;Nightsongandlt;/Iandgt; by Ari Berk; andandlt;iandgt; andlt;/iandgt;the Barnstormers series. He also illustrated Frank McCourtand#8217;s andlt;iandgt;Angela and the Baby Jesusandlt;/iandgt; and is part of the Design Garage for Jon Scieszkaand#8217;s Trucktown series. Lorenand#8217;s work has appeared in andlt;iandgt;Timeandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Sports Illustratedandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Forbesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Wall Street Journal,andlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;The Atlanticandlt;/iandgt;. He lives with his wife and two sons in Westchester, Ohio. Visit him at LorenLong.com.