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Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good ... More
Summary: When Bart's friends left him to go get some ice cream, they got more than just a scoop of vanilla! While they were jockeying to get the best seat for the train ride, someone unlatched the control lever and the train started to leave the station. They needed to stop the runaway train, but it was going to take teamwork, and they needed Bart. Could he help them? This is a middle reader storybook.
Type of Reading: family reading, independent reading, middle grade reader, advanced reader, remedial reader
Recommended Age: read together: 6 to 12; read yourself: 7 to 10
Interest Level: 6 to 10
Age of Child: Read by a 7-year-old child.
Little Kid Reaction: This was a cool story.
Big Kid Reaction: Although billed for advanced readers, it seems pretty basic (content and vocabulary) for 12-year-olds. There are friendly characters that fit every child's personality (dare devil, shy, class clown, afraid).
Pros: The story moves quickly and uses language that kids will appreciate (without being gross or overly dramatic).
Cons: None.
Borrow or Buy: Borrow. The book has great potential for keeping boys interested in reading, but once the ending is discovered, they may not read more than once.
Educational Themes: Given the audience, there are opportunities to talk about friendship, conflict resolution, and problem solving. It's also a great story to use to have kids write their own ending.
Literary Categories: Fiction - adventure, transportation, series book, animal stories
Date(s) Reviewed: March 2006
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