Module 2: Shark vs. Train, by Chris Barton. Illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld.

Summary: In Shark vs Train, a toy shark and train face off in a variety of increasingly far-fetched competitions. Who can run the best lemonade stand? Who will beat whom at bowling, or high diving, or tightrope sword fighting? The shark wins at pie-eating, while the train is a master marshmallow-roaster. They’re both pretty bad at video games, what with the lack of thumbs. The text of this book is simple, but the illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld depicting bizarre battles are bright and silly, and the action portrayed in them tells as much of the story as the words. In addition to the narrative, speech bubbles convey the toys’ verbal sparring.

Reference: Barton, C. & Lichtenheld, T. (Illustrator). (2010). Shark vs. Train. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Impressions: I found this picture book really entertaining! This book is a wonderful example of the way that good illustrations work together with narrative to make a stimulating story time for children. The pictures are amusing, and the toys’ verbal asides, shown in speech bubbles, will make kids giggle, as well. The toys, personified with smirky grins and rolling eyes, are illustrated in bright, saturated colors that will be visually stimulating for very young children, and older ones will get a kick out of the snarky one-liners and ridiculous situations.

Review: “A pair of spiky-haired preschoolers ransack a toy box in the opening panels, grabbing up their favorite tokens of aggression. By the time we reach the title page, their chosen toy shark and train have anthropomorphized, and they are trash-talkin' with backs arched and teeth bared: "'I'm going to choo-choo you up and spit you out.' 'Ha! I'm going to fin-ish you, mackerel-breath.'" As Barton quickly demonstrates, though, the arena determines the victor: in the ocean Shark has the upper fin while Train sinks like an iron ingot; in a marshmallow roast-off, however, Train rules, toasting the treat over his glowing smokestack as Shark drips on his pathetic little stick fire. The set-ups run on and on with excessive length—longer, perhaps, than audience enthusiasm may last—and listeners are apt to forget that there are human buddies directing the action. Intergalactic travel, sword-fighting on a tightrope, and distance jumps off of ramps even begin to weary the protagonists: "'Okay, this is getting ridiculous.' 'Now would be a good time for a break. . . . '" Then it's lunchtime, the little guys reenter the scene, and toys are tossed back in the box awaiting a postprandial rematch. Lichtenheld renders some of the most comically muscle-bound entities since McMullan's trucks and tugs (I Stink!, BCCB 6/02, et al.) and the pugilists' clever adaptation to each preposterous new setting mitigates the daunting largeness of the number of smackdowns. Time to raid the toy chest and make some noise.”

Bush, E. (2010). Shark vs Train (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 63(9) 370.

Suggested Use:  I love the depiction of imagination in this book: in it, the shark and train are actually being wielded by a couple of rowdy little boys who make up stranger and wackier situations as they go. I think it would be fun to have a bring-your-favorite-toy day for kindergarten or first-grade aged kids. After reading this story, kids could be encouraged to make up stories about their own toys. This would be a great exercise in creativity!