Shortcut

by Donald Crews

Book Overview

From Donald Crews, the Caldecott Honor artist and award-winning creator of Bigmama's, Freight Train, and many other classic picture books for young children, comes "a superb example of the picture book as theater; a suspense thriller for younger audiences" (Horn Book starred review).

It's getting late following a day of play, So seven children decide to take the shortcut home to Bigmama's, even though that means walking along...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688135765
• ISBN13: 9780688135768
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 10.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Shortcut

I enjoy reading this book because it was interesting how the kids wanted to take the shortcut home, even toght ther knew it was not safe. The story reminded me of how sometimes when im doing homework i wanted to get it done even toght i knoe sometimes its not ryte. I learn from this book that trying your best on everything u do is the right way to do something.

Terrific follow-on for older "Freight Train" fans

Young children may already be familiar with Donald Crews' _Freight Train_. That book introduced them to their colors and each car in the train.This book is an actual story where real characters have a brush with a freight train. It's a good follow-on to Freight Train because it introduces the concept of trains being dangerous. Shortcut begins with seven (older) children playing far from home, who decide to take a shortcut along the train tracks. As they continue on their walk, the colors hint that danger is coming as the overall tints get darker. Sure enough, a freight train does pull up, and the children must scramble away to safety. Readers of Freight Train will recognize Crews' marvelous engine and car renderings even in silhouette.This is a also a great book to use for discussion after reading together. Did the children make a wise decision to take the shortcut? Should they have listened to their mother? What do you think they decided to do after the train incident? Crews' book teachers safety without preaching, and also hints at the beginnings of independence away from parents.Note: this book has the same children as Crews' book "Bigmamma." While "Bigmamma" is not a train book, if your child wants to know more about the characters, this might be your next stop.

A Vivid Adventure for Preschoolers and Beginning Readers

This is an excellent book. I am an artist, so I especially appreciated the illustrations, which are beautiful as well as exciting to look at! The illustrations and story combine to make it seem like a real-time adventure, as though you are really there with the children. My four-year-old loves this book. We have had many interesting conversations about the reactions of the children to their adventure, and why they did the things they did. For example, why were the children scared? What did they do when they were afraid? Should they have listened to their Mama? Etc. We were first introduced to it by checking it out at our library, and now I am going to purchase it for us. You will enjoy this book alot.

It's my son's favorite book.

This is a great book. It is by far my sons favorite book and he has practically got it memorized by now! I started reading it to him when he was less than one year old and he could enjoy the over-large pictures and special sound effects if nothing else. One time when he was in his twos I accidentally stopped in the middle of a sentence to sneeze or something and I was astounded to hear him finish the sentence for me! I tested him and discovered that he knew the last word of just about every phrase and sentence. Since then it's been a game with us where I start the sentence and he finishes it. Donald Crews has a prose style that is well adapted to this kind of memory game, it is rhythmic, somewhat repetitive and driving - like the train itself. We are fortunate to live in Japan where a busy train track runs near our house. Thus he has developed a love of trains from birth and the book and real life can interact and reinforce each other. I feel sorry for kids who can't experience trains in their daily life, but this book goes a long ways towards filling the gap. My hats off -- and my warmest thanks go -- to Donald Crews for a wonderful experience.

Scary memory of childhood revived.

This book tells the tale of some kids, who feeling wise to the ways of the world, decide to take a short-cut back home from school. But the route taken requires crossing railroad tracks, and just as they arrive... RUMBLE, RUMBLE, CLACKITY CLACK! A close call as they dive for safety -- and then witness the determined power of a fast-moving line of freight cars. This was very similar to a childhood memory of my own, and the illustrations had a way of bringing back some of those tense, sweaty moments!