Book Trailer Premiere: Choo-Choo School by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Mike Yamada

Happy Monday! Mike Yamada stopped by to finish my sentences. We chatted about Amy Krouse Rosenthal's manuscript for Choo-Choo School, picture books, school libraries, and Richard Scarry. I wrote the words in purple, and Mike wrote the words in black. Thank you, Mike! 

Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s manuscript for Choo-Choo School brought up happy memories of my mother taking me to see the trains at the local station (pennies were definitely flattened).

Engine, Boxcar, Diner, Sleeper, Flatcar, Tank Car, and Caboose…This feels likes the setup to a crossing the road joke… Obviously they want to be on the right side of the tracks ;)

CHOO-CHOO SCHOOL. Text copyright © 2020 by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Mike Yamada. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

Choo-Choo School’s illustrations hopefully capture the spirit of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s words. There’s a lot of playfulness and simplicity in her manuscript and I hope I was able to do it justice.

Picture books are a dream job to illustrate. It’s amazing seeing your work on the shelf!

CHOO-CHOO SCHOOL. Text copyright © 2020 by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Mike Yamada. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

School libraries are my favorite! I worked in the library at every school I’ve attended.

Mr. Schu, you should have asked me about my complete collection of Richard Scarry books. 

Borrow Choo-Choo School from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops. 

Candlewick's Description: 

All aboard the train-car pool! A new lineup of students is off and rolling to Choo-Choo School. After reciting their classroom rules — Work hard, play fair, be kind — it’s time for some math to get the wheels turning. Then everyone’s ready to climb a hill in gym (it’s good to blow off steam), sing songs in music (Flat Car is a bit off-key), and learn the whole alphabet, especially the letter R. In one of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s last books, lighthearted verse portrays a world where train stations are classrooms, the conductor doubles as the teacher, and Boxcar is happy to hand out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos. Bright, energetic illustrations by animation artist Mike Yamada bring the whole clickety crew to rollicking life.