TIME TRAIN
by Paul Fleischman & illustrated by Claire Ewart
Miss Pym takes her class on a very special train that travels not only from New York west but back in time: they see Civil War uniforms in Pittsburgh and snowy mastodons beyond Ohio, finally arriving at a warm, swampy campground where they photograph and romp with various dinosaurs before starting on their return journey. In her picture-book debut, Ewart echoes Van Allsburg in her dramatic use of light and points of view; with humor and skill, she also captures the children's mixed awe and delight in their experience. A good entry in an ever-popular genre. (Picture book. 4-8)