Fame used to travel by train

“I Gave Thomas Edison My Sandwich”

Floyd C. Moore

Can you imagine life without television, radio or computers? That was what it was like when Floyd C. Moore was a little boy in the early 20th century. At that time, celebrities traveled by train across America so that people could see and know them.

One day a celebrity train carrying former President William Taft, automobile assembly-line inventor Henry Ford and light bulb inventor Thomas Edison came to the town where Floyd was living. His whole school went to the train station to greet them. Floyd and his class came a bit late and were way in the back of the crowd. Will they get to see the famous people? Well, to find out, you’ll just have to read the book.

Reviewed by Albert, 8

Welby Way Magnet

West Hills

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“The Far Side Gallery 2”

Gary Larson

Gary Larson draws cartoons mainly about natural science and animals in odd situations. You have to learn some science to get some of the jokes. My favorite cartoon is captioned “How nature says, ‘Do Not Touch.’ ” It shows a cat that has become enlarged to scare away dogs, a puffer fish sticking its spines out and a rattlesnake. In the last space, there’s a man on the corner, holding a bazooka, wearing a dinosaur pool floaty, with a shoe on his head.

Reviewed by Lucky, 11

Ivanhoe Elementary

Los Angeles

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“Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator”

Roald Dahl

I thought this book was going to be a simple and boring story about an elevator. But it’s not.

Charlie, his family and the famous chocolate factory owner, Mr. Wonka, ride in an elevator to outer space. Then a hotel in outer space is on the scene. Charlie and Mr. Wonka go back to Earth after visiting the hotel.

I was curious about what would happen next, so I kept on reading. I liked this book because it is full of imaginary things that don’t make sense. Anyone who likes an adventurous story should read this book.

Reviewed by Beom, 11

Third Street School

Los Angeles

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For more reviews, visit latimes.com/books and read Wordplay, Sonja Bolle’s monthly column.

Kids, send us your reviews and drawings. Mail them to Kids’ Reading Room, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; or fax to (213) 237-5946; or e-mail kidsreadingroom@latimes.com.