THE FRIENDSHIP TRAIN

Levy invites readers to climb aboard the Friendship Train, a humanitarian project that collected food for hungry people in Europe in the wake of World War II.

Spurred on by newspaper articles by journalist Drew Pearson, children across the United States contributed to the effort to help starving families overseas. To gather food and raise funds, they knocked on doors, did odd jobs, and donated their own savings. Starting from California, the titular train was packed with crops and canned goods; it made numerous stops across the country on its way to New York. Four ships were needed to transport everything to Europe. Impressed by the generosity of the Friendship Train, the people of France reciprocated with the Merci Train, filled with toys, statues, and other gifts. Although Levy makes clear in the detailed backmatter that Pearson’s motives weren’t entirely altruistic (he was also interested in promoting democracy and capitalism to counter the Soviet Union’s pro-communist messaging), the book brims with optimism about how even seemingly small contributions can make a difference. Her compelling prose shines, and her careful research is evident from her backmatter. Kulikov’s evocative, earth-toned, tea-stained illustrations portray crowds of diverse people lending a hand. In his maps of Europe and the United States, he fills the borders of the countries with, by turns, images of drooping children amid destroyed buildings, pictures of newspapers, and, later, waving people—a clever choice that makes these historical events feel immediate.

An inspiring and insightful testament to the power of cooperation.