Module 6: Shark vs. Train

Shark vs. Train
by Chris Barton

Citation: 
Barton, C., & Lichtenheld, T. (2010). Shark vs. train. New York: Little, Brown.

Summary

This is a hilarious book with excellent illustrations! In the beginning there are two boys going through a toy box deciding which toys to play with. Once chooses a shark, the other, a train. Then it turns into a competition to see which is better. The first competition is in the ocean….who would win that one? Then on the railroad tracks…who would win that one? Then they move on to a seesaw, hot air balloon, and even a marshmallow roasting contest, among many other things! There are some things each one is better at, and some things that neither is good at. Which one will win?

Impressions

This is such a cute book! The illustrations with the speech bubbles really add to the story. The humorous side remarks would make it interesting for older elementary readers too. This is a story that would be loved by all, especially by boys! It is a cute book to point out the fact that everyone is good a certain things. Not everyone can be good at everything. Everyone is unique.

Professional Reviews

This clever picture book asks readers to ponder that age-old philosophical question: if a shark is pitted against a train, which would win? Well, it turns out that the answer depends on the contest. In a burping competition, it’s obvious that the train's belch would be much louder than the shark's; and when it comes to making lemonade, the train's desert stand is much more successful than the shark's underwater business. However, the train is no match for the shark when it comes to bowling (the shark is pictured with shards of bowling pins sticking out of his teeth, asking, 'That counts as a strike, right?") or jumping off the high dive. Barton's deadpan text—sparked with dialogue balloons that give the characters both personality and one-liners—is matched by Lichtenheld's spoton visual humor.

The Horn Book Magazine
Philpot, C. H. (2010). Shark vs. Train [Review of book]. Horn Book Magazine, 
        86(4), 85-86.

*****************

PreS-Gr 2-- When a boy with a toy shark faces a train-wielding companion, it sets off a series of imaginative and very funny contests between fish and machine. The result of each battle depends on the setting. Shark wins at high diving, not surprisingly, while Train comes out on top when it comes to burping. Other face-offs are less immediately obvious: Train stretches vertically to triumph at basketball, while Shark's sharp-toothed clown costume works best for trick-or-treating. In some situations, neither combatant fares well: as Train comments on the scoreless video-game competition, "Sure would help if we had thumbs." The cleverly chosen contests reflect the imaginative powers of kids while retaining the consistent logic that's also essential to play. The notion of a shark and a train trying to be quiet in alibrary is absurd, for example, but the reasons why neither would succeed make perfect sense. Energetic cartoon illustrations take full advantage of the visual possibilities. Creative use of page space and perspectives gives a fresh look to each new battle. Just-right facial expressions capture the distinct personalities of the two competitors, including an evil grin from Shark at the Ping-Pong table and Train's uneasy look during a disastrous piano recital. Subtler visual details add to the humor, including a shark-jumping Fonzie reference that adults will appreciate. This inspired pairing, executed with ingenuity and packed with action and humor, is a sure winner.

School Library Journal
Engelfried, S. (2010). Shark vs. Train [Review of book]. School Library Journal, 
      56(4), 120.

****************

Maybe they haven't pitted this exact pair against one another, but there's little doubting young boys' ability to spend hours and considerable blocks of imagination smashing different toys together in a knock-down, drag-out battle royale for romper-room supremacy. The opening spread shows two boys digging through a toy box, each pulling out a fearsome competitor. In this corner, there's Shark ("I'm going to choo-choo you up and spit you out"); and in the other, Train ("Ha! I'm going to fin-ish. you, mackerel-breath"). The bout gets progressively more ridiculous with each escalating shift in setting and rules. Early rounds in the ocean and on the tracks are split; Shark has the upper hand on the high-dive, and Train in giving carnival rides. Neither turns out to be much good at the Extreme Zombie-Squirrel Motocross video game (no thumbs) or sword fighting on a tightrope. Barton's imaginative and wacky scenarios are knocked home by Lichtenheld's ferociously funny artwork and will leave kids measuring up their dump truck and T- Rex for the next tale of the tape. - Ian Chipman

The Booklist

Chipman, I. (2010). Shark vs. train. The Booklist, 106(16), 53.

Library Uses

This would be a great read aloud. It could be followed by students discussing each competition, who would win and why. This could be done in a small group or as a whole group activity.

It would also be a good time to discuss individuality. Have students choose something they are good at, draw it, and then make a class book.

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of book cover]. Retrieved from
       http://www.amazon.com/Shark-vs-Train-Chris-Barton
       /dp/0316007625/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid
       =1458332113&sr=1-1&keywords=shark+vs+train+book

Barton, C., & Lichtenheld, T. (2010). Shark vs. train. New York: Little, Brown.

Chipman, I. (2010). Shark vs. train [Review of book]. The Booklist, 106(16), 53. 

Engelfried, S. (2010). Shark vs. Train [Review of book]. School Library 

       Journal, 56(4), 120.

Philpot, C. H. (2010). Shark vs. Train [Review of the book]. Horn Book

       Magazine, 86(4), 85-86.