Author: Shana Corey
Illustrator: Red Nose Studio
Publisher: Schwartz&Wade, 2016
Age: 4 and up
Themes: subways, New York, Alfred E. Beach
Opening: Welcome to New York City – the greatest city on earth!
Summary: (from my library catalog) This is the astounding true story of New York City’s first and long-forgotten underground train, invented by Alfred Ely Beach in 1870
Why I like this book: I love origin stories! This one makes great use of suspense to bring actual events alive and the artwork from Red Nose studio blends the perfect nostalgic sense of a silent movie with bold colors, dramatic silhouettes and humor (find the dog with wheels for back legs!)
Resources/Activities: a great companion read for a unit on transportation, or in art class for sculpture or puppet making and effective use of complimentary hues in composition.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 