I Spy a Freight Train: Transportation in Art

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3Somewhere in this collection of famous paintings, children can find a train, an elephant, a hot-air balloon, an airplane, etc. The simple and repetitive text, "I spy with my little eye..." directs young viewers' attention to a specific mode of transportation portrayed in each work of art. In the process of searching out a particular object, other fascinating details and ambiguities will surely intrigue audiences. These beautiful reproductions painlessly expose children to the stories, moods, and actions captured in fine art. As in other books in this series, the simplicity of the layout enhances the accessibility and approachability of an otherwise formidable subject. Lots of white space and the bold text opposite the artwork emphasize the glorious colors and clarity of each picture. Because the objects in the paintings can be rather diminutive, this title is best used in small groups or one-on-one. While Micklethwait includes representation of several centuries and various styles and techniques, 12 of the 13 works are from the Western world. This caveat aside, art instructors and children eager to be challenged on several levels should welcome this new addition to an already popular series.Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ

Carolyn Phelan

This new addition to Micklethwait's I Spy series challenges children to look closely at paintings and find things related to transportation. For instance, the large-print text on one left-hand page reads, "I spy with my little eye "a rowboat"." A reproduction of Kandinsky's "Birds", which features a small boat in the corner of the picture, appears on the facing page. The challenge of finding the little rowboat (or in other pictures the wagon, sleigh, or bicycle) gives children a reason to look closely at the pictures. It's up to parents or teachers to extend the experience, discussing other aspects of the artwork once the hide-and-seek object has been found. Micklethwait doesn't limit the selection to paintings with obvious child appeal, yet the paintings here will intrigue children and reward a closer look. The high quality and wide variety of styles and periods represented ensure the continuing strength of the series.

Kirkus Reviews

Who has not played, as children and with children, the game of "I spy?" Micklethwait (I Spy a Lion, 1994, etc.) once again turns that game into an enthralling search into the heart of paintings.

Her method is simple: On one page appears text, e.g., "I spy/with my little eye/a car," while on the facing page is a reproduction of a painting in which onlookers must find that vehicle. The striking and unusual paintings she chooses are not usually about moving from "here" to "there," except in the most metaphysical sense. Sometimes, as in Mel Ramos's Batmobile, the mode of transportation is obvious; in other pictures, like the rowboat in Kandinsky's Birds or the bicycle in Thiebaud's Down Eighteenth Street, it takes time to find them. A mirage-like rendering of a camel in Dali's La Table Solaire and a lapidary elephant in an Indian miniature remind readers that transportation, like art, comes in many forms. Included is a list of paintings with artists, dates, and current location noted. Like the others in Micklethwait's I Spy series, this is a book of myriad charms that engages readers on multiple levels; it's a refreshing change from Where's Waldo? and other titles of that ilk.