Hi everyone!
This is Miss Kristin from the
Collingswood Library, and today the book
we're reading is Steam Train Dream Train
by Sherry Dusky Winker and Tom
Lichtenfeld. Through the darkness,
clickety clack, coming closer down the
track. Hold your breath so you can hear.
Huffing chuffing, drawing near. A whistle
blares out in the night. A mighty engine!
A wondrous sight! The smokestack puffs.
The big wheels grind. The trusty tender
is close behind.
Kling Klang! The bell rings out on top.
Hissing steam. Brakes squeal. Then Stop!
The driver signals to the crew. Each
worker knows just what to do. Quick,
before it gets too late! Start to load up
all the freight. Everything will soon be
stowed. A train car matched to every load.
The crew slides back the box car doors.
And tumbles in to start their chores.
They whirl and twirl and cartwheel and
jump. But cargo stowed without a bump.
Things that rock and roll and spin are
all juggled safely in. The freight is
loaded as they play. They work and bounce
and all the night away. And building
blocks, erector sets, bikes and kites and
model jets. The boxcars meet to safely haul
almost anything at all! The hopper's top
is open wide, so cargo can be poured
inside. The crew hops to it, one and all.
They get to work and
have a ball. Then with a bounce, a pounce,
a leap, three boys jump in and fall
asleep.
Tankers lined up in a row are getting
filled with paints to go. Purple, yellow,
green and blue. A color convoy coming
through! The reefer car is snug and cold.
Its chilly box can safely hold frozen
treats for every stop, like a rolling ice
cream shop! The train cars packed, and the
crew sits back and chills out with a
midnight snack. Ten hard workers lend a
hand to fill the gondolas with the sand.
Sand for castles and moats and more. Sand
for tunnels, sand galore! Stacked up on
the auto rack, six race cars for a
private track. Rainbow colors and flames
and stripes. Skinny engines and chromey
pipes. The auto rack will gently keep
these fast, fast cars, all fast asleep. The well
cars carry giant beasts, munching on
enormous feasts. The Brachiosaurus likes
the view, while T-rex gets a bone to chew.
The flatbed cars are rolling beds. The
weary crew can rest their heads and
settle in and
tuck in tight. Their work is finished
for tonight. The red caboose is last in
line. From the lookout, all looks fine. The
freight and crew are tucked away. The
next stop is another day. A hiss, a jolt, a
shift, a sway.
Now the journey is underway. The train's
departing, car by car. The headlight fades
into the stars. Puffing and chuffing out
of sight. Steam train, dream train. Ah! Good
night! The End. Thanks for reading a
story with me, and I'll see you next time!
