The Friendship Train by Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov - OPTIONAL

The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Boris Kulikov. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Bloomsbury, 2025. $20. 9781547608027 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Right after WWII, the people of Europe were feeling the effects of hunger. Farms had been destroyed, and the cold weather was setting in, no time to grow food for the winter. A journalist named Drew Pearson challenged Americans all across the country to help. He organized a "Friendship Train" starting in California and heading across the country to gather food to send to Europe. It was much more successful than he expected. 

The Friendship train is an inspirational story, I loved the illustrations of children helping however they can. Includes an extensive author's note - apparently, Pearson wasn't demonstrating his generosity, he had an ulterior motive, he was pro-Democracy and anti Communism and was demonstrating that the US system was better. This is not addressed at all in the text, so the story itself isn't political. Includes a bibliography, sources and some websites to learn more about the Friendship train. 

Lisa Librarian