Kenny and Katie are brother and sister cats who have an opportunity to see the railroad with their neighbor Timothy Tabby, who is an engineer. As they tour, they learn about safety and various locomotives as well as other aspects of the rail yard, including the intermodal yard and “The Hump,” areas of which even some adults may not be aware. This book is ultimately educational and informative in a very approachable way for young readers.

Ideal for elementary school children, this picture book features longer passages of text on one page with an illustrative picture on the other. The length of the text is on target for an early chapter book, making this appropriate for a slightly older elementary school audience. The inclusion of colorful images of Katie and Kenny exploring trains at the rail yard makes for a delightful read.

Whether a child already knows about trains or just loves reading about personified cats, this fun book gives a lot of new knowledge in a clever package. The book is also great at pointing out that girls, as well as boys, can be engineers, a great inclusion for young readers of all genders. Furthermore, Katie and Kenny also learn about other jobs around the railroad that can present new opportunities to curious young minds. With clever images, a solid story, and great information, this book is a delightful journey through the railroad and its many components with an ultimate focus on safety. Young readers will enjoy following along through this educational and cute story.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

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