Down by the Station

Children's Literature

Teachers often bemoan the loss of interest in nursery rhymes because they have traditionally been one of the earliest listening and learning experiences for children. They prepare youngsters for the notions of pattern and rhyme. They are often repetitive, which is both comforting and instructive. They are usually silly, adding an element of humor that makes reading fun. Now some of the favorite nursery rhymes and songs have become small board books with holes. In this case, one main hole shows the train on each page. Holes are added to show the trucks, buses and cars that are featured in additional verses. The illustration of the train station is repeated on each page along with a hole to show the new addition. With the train tracks and all the buildings, there are lots of shapes to find (squares, rectangles, triangles). On the left page, the holes show sounds made by each new vehicle—vroom, whoop, crunch, clank. This will be a fun and noisy book to share with young children. Part of the "Board Books with Holes" series. 2001, Child's Play, Ages 3 mo. to 3.
— Karen Leggett