Crossing by Phillip Booth; illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline

This magical book gives new life to Mr. Booth's classic 1957 poem.  Crossing is an homage to the passing of a train and the language of the rails.

Erie and Wabash
Seaboard, U.P.
Pennsy tankcar,
twenty-two, three


The passages rhythmically travel across the pages and get better on the second and third reading.  Your kids will enjoy the repeated readings as much as you do.  As you read they will gaze at Mr. Ibatoulline's finely detailed illustrations.  The images captured a time in America when trains provided spectacle and joy; kids' grinning faces gaze at each other from under the passing cars. 

There is a thrill to see folks gathering around this moving sculpture of steel and sound; reacting to its passage instead of viewing the train as another barrier if  their busy lives. Early readers will find the words accessible.  The view of the entire train will inspire counting of the train cars. Railfans of all ages will love the combination of Mr. Booth's words and Mr. Ibatoulline rich paintings offered in this publication of Crossings.