Marsha Diane Arnold’s Big Boy 4014 and the Steam Team: The World’s Largest Steam Engine Roars Back to Life!…will reach ages 4-8 with a lovely story of the 1940s and the steam-powered locomotive that roared through 1959, and then became a train museum fixture in California. Kids who love trains will relish the lively history, colorful illustrations by Adam Gustavson, and details of train restoration and recovery which follows how the Big Boys were not only part of the past, but are now part of present-day rail efforts. The book will reach a wide audience thanks to especially vivid connections between past and present train activity and history and the efforts of steam train preservationists to keep the engines running, depicted in this wonderful exploration designed for maximum young reader interest.

Marsha Diane Arnold’s Big Boy 4014 and the Steam Team: The World’s Largest Steam Engine Roards Back to Life! (9781534113145, $18.99) reaches ages 4-8 with a lovely story of the 1940s and a steam-powered locomotive that ws active through 1959, and then became a train museum fixture in California.

Kids who love trains will relish the lively history, colorful illustrations by Adam Gustavson, and details of train restoration and recovery which follow how the Big Boys were not only part of the past, but are now part of present-day rail history.

Big Boy 4014 and the Steam Team will reach a wide audience thanks to especially vivid connections between past and present train activity and history and the efforts of steam train preservationists to keep the engines running, all depicted in this wonderful exploration designed for maximum young reader interest.

Gr 1-4–This engaging book brings the awe-inspiring story of the legendary steam locomotive to life, tracing the history of Big Boy 4014—from its retirement to its remarkable restoration 50 years later. With clear, purposeful prose and a tone that honors the magnitude of the project, Arnold captures the determination of the Steam Team, a small group of dedicated individuals who believed they could make Big Boy run again—and did. The narrative balances simple language with authentic train terminology, giving readers a true sense of the real work involved (“Take out the ashpan and coal-burning grates”) while keeping the story accessible. Rich, detailed illustrations add emotion and dynamism to the steel giant’s journey, making the locomotive feel almost alive on the page. Ideal for young train enthusiasts and budding historians, this book offers an inspiring glimpse into teamwork, perseverance, and the power of preserving history. The informative back matter provides additional facts and resources for those eager to dig deeper.VERDICT This is a great pick for classrooms, libraries, and any home collection.

Lovers of big trains and big dreams will be over the moon for this full-throttle account of how a nine-man “Steam Team” took a Big Boy—one of the largest steam locomotives ever built—and restored it to full working order.

Modeling advocacy around self-expression and sensory needs, the Hernandezes’ text prioritizes personal limits over social norms, while animation-style art from Martinez leans fittingly into depictions of physical comfort and discomfort.

Arnold and Gustavson pay tribute to the world’s biggest steam locomotive…A mighty steam train is resurrected at last.