A Railway ABC - Hardcover

Townend, Jack

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1851778446 ISBN 13: 9781851778447

Publisher: Victoria & Albert Museum, 2015

Synopsis

A Railway ABC is a nostalgic, behind-the-scenes look at the railroad, from “A is for All Clear” to “I is for Inspector” to “S is for the Signals, which say stop! or go!”

This small, beautiful alphabet book, long out of print, was written and illustrated by Jack Townend and first published in 1942. Townend’s endearing lithograph illustrations and gently humorous rhymes will captivate children and adults alike.

About this title

About the Author

Jack Townend (1918–2005) studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and later taught at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, both in England. In 1948 Townend was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. A Railway ABC is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s National Art Library, which includes over 100,000 children’s books.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—First published in 1942 and long out of print, Townend's old-fashioned alphabet book feels as relevant to train lovers today—especially young fans of Thomas the Tank Engine—as it did when it first came out. The volume's compact size makes it perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to clutch as they pore over the details of the four-color lithograph illustrations. Rhyming text takes readers through a train-centric alphabet from "A for ALL CLEAR as the signal goes down" to "H is the HOPPER through which the coal goes," all the way to Z, "the ZOO, which is our destination." A few of the weaker entries ("B for the BUFFERS which sit there and frown," "T for the TRUCKS [train cars] some high and some low," and "X for the CROSSING where the red light blinks") will have young readers scratching their heads. VERDICT With its classic style and perennially popular subject, this title will appeal to book collectors and young train aficionados alike.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Edition details

• Publisher: Victoria & Albert Museum
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1851778446
• ISBN 13: 9781851778447
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 58