The Sleeper Train

In this picture book we meet a young child who is embarking on a journey on a sleeper train with her family for the first time. The experience is very exciting, far too exciting to think about going to sleep. Wide awake, she starts to reminiscence about other places she remembers sleeping, from mum and dad’s bed after a bad dream, to a tent in a field or even in hospital after having an operation. Eventually the motion of the train rocks her to sleep, and the experience soon becomes another memory to draw on during sleepless nights.

The Sleeper Train may prove a reassuring read for any child unsure about the prospect of sleeping in different surroundings. It comprises a series of vignettes rather than a story; for although readers may wonder what happens when the travellers reach their destination, this is left to the imagination.

The illustrations are excellent, stylish, detailed and colourful with lots to discover, evoking the richness of Indian landscapes and interiors beautifully. The nighttime views through the train window are particularly striking.