A train journey

Four multilevel tableaux celebrate highlights in the "journey" of locomotives from the early 19th century to today's speedsters. The uncredited narrative overviews in this French import have been placed on the back sides of each tableau, which gives the connected, accordion-folded pop-up scenes a cinematic feel. The design also allows viewers to take long, close looks at the engines, stations, and crowds of small, bustling figures (the last all White except for one commuter in the most recent setting) in period dress without distraction. The historical moments begin with a depiction of the Rainhill Trials of 1829, which George Stephenson's ungainly Rocket won by being the only competitor to finish the course. They go on to elevated views of New York City's first, steam-driven elevated trains (seen here posed in a smoky cityscape over streetcars and horse drawn carriages), Great Britain's Flying Scotsman of the 1920s and '30s, and finally a modern Japanese bullet train improbably pulled in next to France's equally sleek TGV. There are no ribbon ties, as are often seen in books of this sort, but the volume can be opened for display in the round. And the notes make reference to technical innovations and experimental designs that didn't make the artistic cut, which should serve as prompts to seek out more comprehensive 3-D galleries, like Robert Crowther's Trains (2006). Young trainiacs will happily climb aboard. (Informational novelty. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.