Review by Booklist Review
Best-selling author Levy explores another remarkable moment in history with this picture-book account of the Friendship Train. With tact and care, Levy describes the devastating food shortages Europeans faced in the aftermath of WWII. Evocative images, such as a map of Italy and France covered with the faces of sad and hungry children, segue to the American effort to help European children, spearheaded by journalist Drew Pearson. Orchestrating a large-scale food drive, Pearson arranged for a "Friendship Train" to travel across the U.S. collecting donations for the people of Europe. Levy movingly describes the generosity of Americans and how children rallied behind the cause, drumming up contributions and requesting Halloween "'treats' of nuts and dried fruits and flour and macaroni for the hungry people across the sea." Eventually, the train grew to more than 500 boxcars. The story continues in France with André Picard, who wanted to show gratitude by collecting gifts for the American children who had been so generous. Kulikov's delicate art, created with pencil, black tea, and acrylic gouache, imparts an antique, old-world aesthetic that invites readers to immerse themselves in the story. A note with more context about the war and Drew Pearson concludes with an extensive bibliography. An uplifting, warm reminder about international generosity and solidarity--a welcome and important message in our current international climate.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Following WWII, a brutal winter was descending on war-torn Europe, and "children's bellies growled," writes Levy (The Key from Spain)--"There was peace, but not enough to eat." In Washington, D.C., journalist Drew Pearson (1897--1969) had an idea: a cross-country "Friendship Train" that Americans could fill with food staples for eventual delivery to Europe. Children rallied to the cause, contributing their "ice-cream nickels" and trick-or-treating for donations instead of candy. Pencil, black tea, and gouache artwork by Kulikov (Stay Curious!) employs the sepia tones and grainy textures of vintage photographs, but not the snapshots' static feel. Sweeping historically informed spreads convey a nation galvanized as the ever-growing train winds across the United States. The images, some seemingly drawn from a child's-eye view, celebrate U.S. children's generosity to their overseas counterparts as emphatic text reveals how European children responded to the offerings with gifts of their own. It's a potently meaningful look at how, in that moment at least, the question "Would Americans care for strangers as they would care for friends?" was answered with a resounding yes. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A concluding author's note offers context. Ages 5--8. Author's agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--4--What could one person do to help people in need? Levy answers that question: one person can do a lot. This book tells the story of Drew Pearson, a writer in Washington, D.C., who comes up with an idea to send food to war-torn France and Italy just after World War II. His idea catches on even better than he could have imagined, and when it's time to set sail for Europe, it takes four ships to move all the goods. The people of France and Italy were very grateful and sent back their thanks, including gifts for every state. This is an inspiring story of what a single person can do to make a difference. The warmly colored artwork is a perfect match for the text, offering period details to help readers understand the feat that Pearson undertook and accomplished. Educators and families will enjoy this story of hope and persistence; in a time of political peril, the book will more than inspire children to act. VERDICT This is a first purchase for any library's nonfiction collection.--Debbie Tanner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Levy invites readers to climb aboard the Friendship Train, a humanitarian project that collected food for hungry people in Europe in the wake of World War II. Spurred on by newspaper articles by journalist Drew Pearson, children across the United States contributed to the effort to help starving families overseas. To gather food and raise funds, they knocked on doors, did odd jobs, and donated their own savings. Starting from California, the titular train was packed with crops and canned goods; it made numerous stops across the country on its way to New York. Four ships were needed to transport everything to Europe. Impressed by the generosity of the Friendship Train, the people of France reciprocated with the Merci Train, filled with toys, statues, and other gifts. Although Levy makes clear in the detailed backmatter that Pearson's motives weren't entirely altruistic (he was also interested in promoting democracy and capitalism to counter the Soviet Union's pro-communist messaging), the book brims with optimism about how even seemingly small contributions can make a difference. Her compelling prose shines, and her careful research is evident from her backmatter. Kulikov's evocative, earth-toned, tea-stained illustrations portray crowds of diverse people lending a hand. In his maps of Europe and the United States, he fills the borders of the countries with, by turns, images of drooping children amid destroyed buildings, pictures of newspapers, and, later, waving people--a clever choice that makes these historical events feel immediate. An inspiring and insightful testament to the power of cooperation. (author's note, sources, bibliography)(Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
