Trunks All Aboard: An Elephant ABC
Barbara Nichol's Trunks All Aboard: An Elephant ABC was inspired by Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, a turn-of-the-century wealthy American businessman who once ran the Canadian Pacific Railway. While on a trip to Europe, Van Horne sent hand-drawn postcards to his grandson in Montreal. The charming postcards feature elephants engaged in various diversions: riding in trains, sharing a glass of wine, smoking a cigar, and an especially delightful rendering of a quartet of elephants dancing.
Nichol creates a story to accompany the text by giving a name from A to Z to each elephant. It's an inventive device, and the rhymes are humorous, if a bit forced. However, Nichol succeeds in capturing the feel of the period, and Van Horne's illustrations, rendered on stationery from various hotels, gives us another glimpse into the Victorian spirit.
Written for children ages 4-8, "Trunks All Aboard" may prove a bit complex for this age group, but children and parents alike (and preferably together) will enjoy its spirit.
