Knopf Subway Story

This is a simple true story about a subway car made for the World's Fair in New York. My 4-year old son loves it. It's actually a bit disturbing (environmentally speaking) where it ends up.

Subway story is one of my 3 year old son's favorite book. It is a really cute story about Jessie, a subway car. The story documents Jessie's journey from St. Louis, where she was "born," to NYC.The one downside of the story is the end. For anyone who has visited the NYC Transit museum in Brooklyn, you may know that NYC donates its old subway cars to become "reef starters." While this is true, and a great message about the circle of life, it may be difficult for younger kids to understand why Jessie is being dumped into the sea. Even my son, who adores this book, cried the first time we read it because he didn't understand.I will say that I went to a reading of this book at our preschool book fair (unfortunately the author called in sick so it was read by a volunteer) and in that context, none of the kids got upset.Overall, a great story for any child who loves subways.

The book is delightfully illustrated. My grandkids love it.

Still reading this to my now 7 year old! Great book!

Subway Story is an interesting (to adults) description of how subway cars are repurposed as artificial reefs for aquatic life. The subway car is depicted as nearly human--the story starts with where the car is born and how much it weighs. The book continues with what the car enjoys and how much it doesn't like being replaced. It ends with the car being dumped into New york Harbor! I read this to 2 kids and 2 adults, none of whom wanted to read anything past the "being dumped in the harbor" part! Who in their right mind would want to go from constant companionship (all the riders on the car), and useful satisfying work to a cold watery grave having stuff grow all over you? The adults were persuaded to hear the ending. The kids...not so much.