This Train Is Bound for Glory

All aboard! Rooted in the tradition of an African American spiritual, this mesmerizing picture book takes readers on a cosmic journey to heaven, celebrating the diversity of life at every stop along the way.

The vivid illustrations and snappy text in This Train Is Bound for Glory bring the Glory Train to life as it welcomes singing passengers.  The excitement is palpable as the train clicks and clacks through scenic deserts, over lush mountains, and across sparkling bridges. Under the guidance of the watchful Conductor, the heaven-bound train bops and bounces from Earth to the stars until it reaches the pearly gates, where passengers dance with thrilling joy. 

This train is bound for Glory—this train!
This train is bound for Glory—this train!
This train is bound for Glory.
Everybody here is a-rocking and a-rolling.
This train is bound for Glory—this train!

The history of "This Train is Bound for Glory" dates back to 1922 as a popular recording. The lyrics have evolved across the ages. At the end of the book, readers are invited to write  their own version of the song in a spirit of hope, joy, and love for a new generation. The world needs more light. Sing on!

Alice Faye Duncan writes for the love of music and the inspiring magic of words. Some of her picture books include Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free, A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks, Evicted!, and Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, which received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. Alice lives in Tennessee, where, in her early years, her mother nurtured her creative spark for writing with paper, pens, and poetry books.

Paul Kellam is a freelance watercolor illustrator based in Florida. His art brings vitality and color to books such as Antonello Mellow Fellow. He earned his bachelor’s in media arts and animation from The Art Institute. Paul enjoys spending quality time with his younger sisters and close friends.