Peace Train

April 1, 2021
Climb aboard, with this visual interpretation of the classic 1971 song. The lyrics of Stevens' song are the catalyst for this colorful picture book, which depicts a golden-hued train with a plume of psychedelic smoke initially traveling across an unknown and barren landscape. As the train chugs along, a tan-skinned, purple-haired guitar player makes their way to the train and travels with it, sometimes riding, sometimes walking alongside it, as it picks up a racially and ethnically diverse group of passengers. Reynolds' cartoon illustrations are characteristically bold, the flower-power symbols in the smoke making a cheery if sometimes hard-to-distinguish clutter. As with many songs-cum-picture books, some of the lyrics defy visual interpretation. "Everyone jump up on the Peace Train" is nicely imagined with a cat leaping into the arms of the guitar-playing protagonist, but Reynolds' accompaniment to the stanza that begins "Now, come and join the living" simply frames it in a close-up of symbolic smoke. In visual answer to "Why must we go on hating? / Why can't we live in bliss?" the guitar player lays musical notes over a scary hole in the tracks that represents "the world as it is." The train safely passes, but it all seems awfully easy. Musically inclined caregivers who feel confident belting out the lyrics may find this a useful title for peace-themed storytimes, but the overall depictions of peace and unity feel superficial at best. Not exactly first-class travel. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from September 1, 2021

Gr 1-3-A barefoot troubadour, with black hair and tan skin, croons the opening words of the famous song: "Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come. And I believe it could be something good has begun." A page later, a train rounds the bend, which the musician and a small orange cat board as soon as it comes to a stop at the station. That's when readers learn that the Peace Train is inviting everyone in the world, from the furthest reaches of the globe, to ride along in a spirit of cooperation and empathy. When the train comes upon a break in the tracks, there is still a path to healing and good will. Reynolds gleefully creates billowing clouds of flower power images and other psychedelic touches, and gives the story a joyful arc that is impossible to ignore. VERDICT Unlike many of the songs that have become picture book texts, this one builds up a real head of steam for world peace, and captures the childlike optimism of the original song for a new generation.-Kimberly Olson Fakih, School Library Journal

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
The lyrics to Stevens's iconic 1970s pop song are brought to Technicolor life in Reynolds's illustrations, which, as the media note says, were created using "love, peace, imagination, inspiration, and harmony..." A young barefoot musician joins a diverse group of travelers to "glide on the Peace Train." They make it through "the edge of darkness," arriving triumphantly to a cheering rainbow-colored crowd. Peace signs, flowers, hearts, groovy color combinations, and retro designs accompany the text, which, though not picture-book perfect, gets across a message of hope and fellowship. A note from Stevens concludes this joy-filled journey.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)