We took our son to see his first movie at the Arizona Science Center this weekend. It wasn't a Disney movie, or the latest and greatest children's flick, it was a documentary about trains. He absolutely loved it. It is an IMAX Stephen Low film called Rocky Mountain Express. It is a film documenting the history of the building of the transcontinental railway through the Canadian Rockies. It is a train ride, interlaced with historical information and photographs about the route and the building of the railroad line.
Since my son loves trains, and he will tell you that they are his favorite, he sat mesmerized through the forty five minute film. The cinematography was stunning, and the history was fascinating. I do not have a college degree in education, but I will tell you that I think it is important to teach our children history. My son is only three, but I like to find books about history to read aloud to him.
Verla Kay's Iron Horses is just the book. It is a book told in rhyme with bold pictures done by Michael McCurdy that visually tells the story beyond the poetic words.
"Piercing whistles,
Shrieking wheels.
Hot steam hissing,
High-pitched squeals.
Huffing, puffing,
Smoking stacks.
Screeching, stopping,
End of tracks."
Let me tell you, this book is a great conversation starter, as we have had many very interesting conversations stemming from this book. (It is one of my sons favorites.) I love that through reading aloud, I can introduce my son to history at a very young age.
