Old Penn Station

by William Low, William Low (Illustrator)

Overview

A beautiful tribute to the glory of the original Pennsylvania Railroad Station

During the first half of the 20th century, the original Pennsylvania Station was one of New York City's grandest landmarks, a palace in the middle of Manhattan. William Low's glorious illustrations pay close attention to detail while still encompassing the large-scale grandeur of Penn Station.

Old Penn Station follows a very specific piece of New York City history, but it's not just a New York book. The author's research carefully addresses the whole history of the building, from construction to destruction, ending with an acknowledgment of its lasting legacy in terms of historical preservation. Spaces can be powerful, and Old Penn Station honors one particular powerful space which is sure to engender discussion about other historical buildings and monuments all across the nation.

This is a classic, beautiful book for history lovers, train lovers, and art lovers alike.

Old Penn Station is a 2007 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year and a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466820258
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	04/03/2007
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	59 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

William Low was born and raised in New York City. He is a lover of trains and New York architecture. Mr. Low is the author and illustrator of Chinatown and a four-time Silver Medal winner at the Society of Illustrators. Currently, he teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

William Low is the author and illustrator of Chinatown and Old Penn Station, as well as a four-time Silver Medal winner at the Society of Illustrators.

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions

1. What kind of research must an author and illustrator do before they begin their work? Why was it important for William Low to see actual photographs of old Pennsylvania Station? Compare and contrast the details of the train station in Low's illustrations to the details in the old photographs viewed in the first pre-reading activity.

2. Discuss the many decisions an illustrator must make about art technique, color, placement of text, double-page spreads, etc. Take a close look at the illustrations. How does Low's color pallet help define the time and place of the book? Note Low's use of white space. Why are the illustrations of the barber, the stone carver, and the removal of the eagle especially effective because of the white space?

3. What are the men doing in the first double-page spread of the book? What are they doing in the final double-page spread? How do these illustrations represent a beginning and an ending of an era? Note the hats and the work clothes the men are wearing and the tools they are using. How does this illustrate the life span of Penn Station?

4. "There is a light at the end of the tunnel" is a common phrase that means hope. Discuss how the tunnel under the Hudson River was especially hopeful for the Pennsylvania Railroad and its passengers. Explain how William Low illustrates this hope in the picture of the men working on the tunnel.

5. William Low says that sitting in the grand waiting room at old Penn was a magical experience for many travelers. Discuss the meaning of the world "magical." Explain what was so special and enchanting about that great room. How did the light shining from above add to the magic of the room?

6. Discuss how train stations throughout the United States brought joy and sorrow to families. How was this especially true during World War II? Talk about how transportation changed after the war. How did these changes affect old Penn Station?

7. There are many symbolic nuances in the illustrations of the book. Explain the meaning of the word "symbol." Discuss the symbolism of the close-up view of the train in the beginning of the book, and the far-off view of the train at the end of the book. What is symbolic about the statues that were dumped in the New Jersey Meadowlands? There is only the light of the moon in this illustration. What does this symbolize?

8. Why didn't the city leaders try to save old Penn Station? Many people became angry after the station was destroyed. Discuss what the people of New York City did to keep this from happening to other historic buildings. How did their efforts save Grand Central Station?

Editorial Reviews

When Manhattan's old Pennsylvania Station was slated for demolition in the early '60s, a New York Times editorial sadly noted, "We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed." As if to confirm that assessment, the city hurried to form a preservation commission after the destruction of the priceless McKim, Mead, and White landmark. This beautifully illustrated children's book present "Old Penn" in all her steel-lined, sun-drenched splendor. A glimpse into the past for those too young to remember.

In an introductory note, Low (Chinatown) explains that when he selected New York's original Pennsylvania Station as the subject of his master's thesis, he embarked on a journey to bring the landmark "back to life." Here he does so gracefully, through direct yet lyrical prose and dark paintings that range from close-up images to expansive panoramas, and from grainy to sharply focused. Outlining the history of the station, Low notes that the then-powerful Pennsylvania Railroad Company was determined to drop its New York-bound passengers in Manhattan, rather than have them take a ferry to the island from New Jersey, and "wanted to do it with style." After a renowned architectural firm and famous sculptor were hired, a tunnel was built under the Hudson River and the palace-like structure was opened in 1910. Narrative and art usher readers into the station's bustling concourse (which "looked like a magical spider-web of metal and glass"), where they will appreciate how for travelers of the era the terminal "was a magical experience." That, of course, makes the depiction of the grand station's 1963 demolition all the sadder. Yet Low concludes on a heartening note, observing that public outrage at Penn Station's razing led to the founding of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which has saved other historic buildings-including Grand Central Terminal-from a similar fate. Indeed, Low's effort soundly reinforces his concluding message that buildings are "not just concrete and steel. They are the heart and soul of all great cities." Ages 5-9. (Apr.)

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