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Originally written in 1906, this beautiful story about
three children has since become a classic. This beautiful
new edition serves to introduce another generation to this
delightful tale.
Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis live an idyllic life. They have
many servants, toys, and parents who shower them with love
and affection. One night, their father is called away, and
the children are not told why. Their mother is sad but tells
them they must tighten their belts to survive. This means
letting the servants go, leaving behind most of their
possessions, and moving to a small home in the country, near
the railroad tracks.
Although to adults this would seem like a complete downgrade
of class, the children make the best of their new situation
and make friends in their village. They spend time waving to
passengers on the passing trains and even find themselves in
the midst of some interesting adventures, such as helping a
Russian man find his family and rescuing a hurt young man.
But they never forget that they don't know what happened to
their father, and the three children set about discovering
the answer once and for all.
I don't know how I missed it, but I had never read this book
before. The characters are delightful, their adventures are
enthralling, and the conclusion is satisfying. I read the
book to my two children, ages five and six, not knowing if
they would understand or pay attention. They were literally
held spellbound and asked again and again for me to read
more.
Original black-and-white drawings are included to help
readers visualize the scenes from the story. The Railway Children is
definitely a book for the keeper shelf, as my daughter has
already asked to read it again. The ending had us all crying
tears of joy.
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Melissa Parcel/2005 for curled
up with a good kid's book |
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For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews,
visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)
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The Railway Children