Do You Like Trains? Gift Set Review

Do you have a little train lover at home? I sure do! Although the boys can no longer visit the beach to watch their favorite Surfliners roaring through, they certainly enjoy feeding their passion for trains by reading Do You Like Trains?, an adorable children's picture book written by Ann Tarpley Francesco and illustrated by Rebecca Solow.

Ann has kindly sent us a beautifully packaged Do You Like Trains Gift Set, which includes a hardcover copy of her new book Do You Like Trains?, along with supplies for fun art and craft activities featuring characters from the book.

About the Book:

In the spirit of Dr. Seuss, Do You Like Trains? is written in rhyme to make it fun as readers are introduced to a train-loving squirrel who enthusiastically shares a variety of reasons behind his favorite playtime activity with a new raccoon friend. From interesting train facts to encouraging being open to others' interests, this book will be as fun for adults to read to their children as it will be for children to read to themselves and each other.

My Review:
Filled with fun rhymes and short sentences, Do You Like Trains? is a book that pleases your ears and warms your heart when you read it aloud. As the little squirrel cheerfully chats about all that he loves about trains, he successfully ignites one's strong interest in the subject, including both his new friend raccoon and the readers.

With the help of vivid, realistic, and colorful illustrations, the book not only informs young readers about various fun facts related to trains, but it also gets them acquainted with different animals that make a guest appearance in the pictures.

Besides fueling their passion for trains, the story also encourages young readers to make new friends, to share their knowledge of what they love, to be open to new adventures, and to appreciate an interest that might be very different from their own.

The Do You Like Trains? gift set comes with an 8-pack box of Crayola crayons, a holiday train scene coloring page, and a cut-out finger puppets coloring page to add to the fun of reading. A lovely organza draw-string bag is also included to keep everything in one place. It sure makes a charming and long-lasting gift for the little ones, which will keep their minds open and busy.

Your may order the gift set on locomotionpress.com. The book is also available on Amazon.

About the Author
Ann Tarpley Francesco attended Radford University in Radford, Virginia where she earned her teaching certification for early childhood and middle education. Ann also earned a B.A. in business administration at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Two lesson plans she developed were included in teacher resource books entitled, Sweet Numbers (Learn Every Day About Numbers, Gryphon House Books) and Yummy Colors (Learn Every Day About Colors, Gryphon House Books). Her son, Matthew, inspired her writing through his love of trains, first in poetic responses she would include in his first grade parent/student writing assignments and then as a short story. Ann's first book, The Gingerbread Train-Santa's Secret Gift emerged when she was inspired to write a children's book as a gift to her children. Both Matthew and her daughter, Courtney were the inspiration behind the two lead characters in the book. Do You Like Trains? was also written as a result of the first grade parent/student assignment. It was written in the spirit of Dr. Seuss because the students were celebrating Dr. Seuss week in school. Ann loved creating rhyming poetry and incorporated trains and what the students were learning in class in her poems. In her spare time, she enjoys working out at the gym, cooking, traveling, and creating unique sugar scrubs and body butters. She is an impassioned advocate of healthy living and an active lifestyle.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The views and opinions expressed are my own.