Taking Line 135 on a train trip to see her grandmother, who lives in the country, a young girl reflects on her desire to see and know the entire world, and on her mother and grandmother's disbelief that this is possible, and advice that she wait until she is older, when she will understand better. Although she certainly wants to understand better, and yearns to be older, the girl believes that it is possible to see and know the entire world, and longs for the day when she is able to tell her elders that she has succeeded...

Originally published in Switzerland as Ligne 135, this deceptively simple picture-book offers a thought-provoking exploration of aspects of the human condition, providing differing insights, depending upon what stage of life the reader is experiencing while reading. It offers young children, who see all of time before them, with a seemingly ever-ready supply of opportunities to explore available ahead, an affirmation that it is possible to see and know everything. It offers somewhat older readers, who already feel time slipping away from them too quickly, and who are aware that opportunities are not endless, a poignant reminder of when everything seemed possible to them, because time was not so precious yet. By juxtaposing the two perspectives, the narrative offers the possible wisdom that its is only by believing, when young, that everything can be explored, that anything at all is explored in the end. Only by believing everything is possible, is anything accomplished. Thus, the literal truth (or untruth) of the idea that there is time to do everything is irrelevant - it is necessary to believe that things are possible, in order to make them possible. Or something like that...

The beauty of a book like Line 135 is that it can be read so many different ways, and author Germano Zullo is to be congratulated for penning a text that is so simple - just a sentence per two-page spread - and yet communicates such a wealth of ideas. The accompanying artwork by Albertine, who also illustrated Zullo's Sky High, is likewise minimal but expressive, with a colorful train zipping through black and white vistas. Is the girl's belief in possibility what gives color to her train, or does the lack of color in the rest of the scene represent the as-yet unexplored nature of the world through which she is passing? Anything is possible! Highly recommended to anyone looking for more philosophical picture-books, or for picture-books that are 'simply' about a girl's musings, on her way to visit her grandmother. ( )

I love this book. It reminds me of my European adventures. This would be a great book for kids about to travel on a train, or in the country. ( )

A young girl takes "Line 135" from the dense city where she lives with her mother to the country side where she visits her grandmother. The scenery progresses from densely urban to industrial to suburban to rural, and from real to surreal and back again. She wants to "know the world".
Awards:
Illustrations: Simple line drawings- black pen on white background. Monochrome, except for the train, which is neon.
Good for: Younger children- art focus, imagination, travel focus. Older children, art focus, dreams/goals, surrealism, "anything is possible".
Impressions: I truly enjoyed this book, especially the message and the illustrations. Would recommend to all ages, especially older (3rd+), even into adolescence and adulthood.
Possible lesson plan: Younger class: Read book. Talk about what the girl wanted to do. What do you want to do? Has anyone ever told you that you can't do something, or that something is impossible? Talk about what fun things she saw on her trip. What would you see on your journey? Have students draw what they would see with a black pen. Tell them they can only color one thing in their picture. Why did you color that?-- Older class: Read book. What is this book about? What did the girl want more than anything? Is there anything in your life you want to do that people tell you is impossible? (Inspirational- don't ever give up) Introduce surrealism (dream world based in reality). Have you seen surrealism in any novels or movies? ( )

Line 135 by Germano Zullo is a Swiss picture book about a girl's trip via train to see her grandmother.

The train trip is a metaphor for greater things. From her window seat she imagines the train lines offering her an infinite set of possible destinations.

The strong lines and bold colors to the illustrations remind of Along a Long Road by Frank Viva (2011). I don't know, though, if these illustrations are as complex as Vivas (as his book is comprised of a single, massive vector illustration). Regardless, I like them.

I recommend this book to any young child who loves trains. ( )

Theme: have life move with you as you grow and never stop exploring.

This book portrays a child traveling to their grandma's. As the kid explains how he wants to know the entire world, he states his grandma and mom tell him it's impossible. Through pencil drawings and a colored train, he discovers it is possible because he believes in himself.