Mac & Marie & the Train Toss Surprise
Anticipation builds on a warm summer night long ago as Mac and Marie wait eagerly for the Florida training making its way north to rumble by the Big House where they live near Baltimore. Uncle Clem has a job on the train and has promised to toss them a surprise as it passes! Big brother Mac isn't as fidgety as Marie, but even he has a hard time waiting. As the two children pass the time, Mac dreams of the day when he, too, will work on the railroad as a fireman or an engineer, travelling across the land. Skillfully paced text measures the waiting time perfectly, slowly building to the moment when the train finally approaches, and marking its passing in a rush of words that leaves the reader breathless. Afterwards, there is Mac and Marie's discovery of Uncle Clem's package. The beautiful shell inside is a solid reminder to Mac of the places he will someday see. Lovely colored pencil and water color illustrations by Carter illuminate the beauty and mystery of this midsummer night and echo the warmth of the African American family's relationships depicted in the text. ©1993 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Gail Gordon Carter
Wisconsin author
Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard was born in Baltimore, and raised in Boston. She lived in Milwaukee for a time as an adult. She currently lives in Pittsburgh.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 5-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
20th Century
African Americans
Dreams
Historical Fiction
Uncles
Vehicles and Transportation
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Four Winds Press
Publish Year: 1993
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0027446409
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Howard