It seems that John Burningham has never forgotten what makes children tick and this wonderful fantasy with a `green' message is perfect. A little boy goes to bed and dreams of going on an amazing journey with his pyjama case dog on board none other than his own toy train. Inspiringly illustrated, with more than a hint of Turner, the train sets off from the city and passes through all kinds of weather with frequent stops to play ghosts in the fog, swim in the sea, fly kites in the wind, muck about with umbrellas in the rain and more. The fun part is that each time the train stops another endangered animal climbs on board to be met with the inevitable `Oi! Get off our train'. In turn, each animal is allowed to stay, having explained why it must leave its own habitat--the elephant because someone wants to cut off its tusks, the stork because the marshland were it lives is being drained, and so on. When mum comes in to wake up the little boy for school she tells him the house is full of animals. Where can they all have come from?

Newcomers to this book will soon get the hang of the repetitive story and will enjoy naming and counting the different animals as they appear. This is a fun book with a serious message. it takes an ideal introduction to green issues for the youngest readers and could act as a starting point for many interesting discussions. That aside, and on a lighter note, show me the child who does not enjoy joining in and shouting out the refrain `Oi! Get off our train'! (Ages 4 and over) --Alison Jardine

2008-07-08 Captures the imagination with amazing illustrations

I had this out of the Library for months, my son, barely a year at the time loved the pictures, above all. We bought this recently, apparently for 4 and above, my son, now 20 months has this book as a regular favorite for bed time. He loves the amazing illustrations of the train (I make train noises to go) and points to all the animals as we go through. I only have to say 'oi!, get off our train!' and he's found the book and demanding another read through.
As for political messages, John Burningham doesn't lay it on heavy but tells it how it is but in a way that kids can take it in without feeling they are somehow to blame. More and more material aimed at kids makes them aware of the state we are leaving the planet. As a child of the 70's I thought then, by now we would have it better sorted but there's still a very long way to go. I hope the next generation do better than we are.