Trains

With the same large format as previous books in the series, such as Giant Vehicles (2014) and Emergency Vehicles (2015), this attractive book explores the history of trains from early English and American steam trains to today's high-speed models and those using magnetic levitation technology. Each of the eight double-page spreads showcases one of Biesty's detailed cross-sectional images, offering views outside and inside each railway car depicted. Filling the horizontal spreads, precise ink drawings tinted with colored pencils appear on stiff, sturdy pages featuring durable flaps that can be lifted to show the trains' machinery and other parts, railway employees at work, and passengers at leisure. In addition to a paragraph of text introducing each new topic, captions related to areas of the picture appear on the undersides of the flaps as well as in the area surrounding the central image on each page. A treat for detail-oriented train fans of any age, who will enjoy poring over the illustrations, reading the captions, and lifting the flaps to reveal the hidden equipment and scenes.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist

A parade of locomotives, from the sprightly Patentee of 1833 to the next generation of maglev speedsters.Drawn with Biesty's customary superfine linework and meticulous attention to detail, the eight spread-filling behemoths here (all shown pulling just one or two passenger cars except for one diesel engine with a longer line of diverse freight carriers) are viewed from high or low angles to accentuate their massive bulk and dramatic lines. All are kitted out with flaps to afford viewers inside glimpses of boilers and engines, passenger accommodations, and control rooms. There are also numerous descriptive labels and smaller images arranged around the featured train in each spread. Though the small passengers and crew all seem to be white, they do effectively convey senses of scale and period. Like other entries in the Inside Story series, heavy paper stock and rounded corners afford at least a certain amount of durability.A small but choice set of technological marvels for budding trainiacs. (Informational novelty. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.