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36th out of 2,253 books
—
3,519 voters
The Little Engine That Could
The story of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill.
Hardcover, Original Classic Edition, 48 pages
Published
March 1st 1978
by Grosset & Dunlap
(first published 1930)
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Jun 11, 2008
Suzanne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-and-children-s-book-lovers
This is just a classic story for children, introducing themes of perseverance in the face of difficulty. " I think I can, I think I can " (sounding like a train chugging along) vs. "I cannot, I cannot." (as the train slows down.) A timeless piece.
...[this book]brought me to tears...THIS DESERVES A MEDAL!
5 likes · like · see review
My momma read me this book when i was but a babe... ever since i have been telling myself that no matter what life throws at me, i can overcome it, just like the little steam engine. From the time i was in diapers, a wee little lad, I have lived by the motto "I think I can, I think I can" and thus far I have overcome insurmountable hills and mountains in my life... just like the little engine. I encourage all to read this book, but especialy those that face great trials and tribulations in life....more
3 likes · like · see review
Though the personificiation of an 19th century steam boiler might be classified as disturbing, this book clearly outlines mental ambition and perservearance. What's equaly facinating is how the book is ridden with antagonists: old trains, mean trains, tough trains... all telling the protagonist "choo-choo" the mountain "obstacle" is nearly impossible to overcome. The climax is a riveting edge-of-your-seat thrill ride which will leave you orgasmically shaking with tears and joy. Overall, a good r...more
This is a classic inspirational book for children everywhere. The engine was carrying goods to little boys and girls and suddenly the engine stopped running. The engine tried to keep going but it couldn't. A different engine came along and they begged it to take the engine across the mountain. All the engines who came by said no expect for one. The little blue engine wasn't very big at all but he did everything possible to get the bigger engine over the mountain so the children could have food a...more
What kid doesn't know the story of the Little Engine that Could? A heart warming tale that children love to read again and again. " I think I can, I think I can, I think I can", is the chant that quickly becomes their mantra. The book is a little small for my tastes, and the illustrations are obviously old, but still vibrant and fun. The book is well rendered for a child to follow along either with or without the words being read. The wonderful plot line is great for social-emotional building. A...more
The Little Engine That Could is a classic. It has been done and re-redone but still children love it, and for good reason. It's about a train that is carrying toys and food for good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain, but the the train breaks down. The toys ask other trains that pass by if they will help pull their train over the mountain. Three trains pass by all too busy or denying to help. But then, a little blue engine pulls up and realizes that if she doesn't help, then the go...more
Wow, what a fabulous book for children! The Little Engine That Could is truly an inspiring story. A train carrying toys and food for good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain breaks down. The toys ask other trains that pass by if they will help pull their train over the mountain. After being denied by three different trains, a little blue engine pulls up to see what the problem is. The little blue engine realized that if she didn't help, then the good boys and girls would be withou...more
Everything about this book is wonderful. This is a story that a child will carry with them all throughout their life. My mom used to read this book to my brother and I when we were younger and it taught me all about perseverance. This book can teach any child that they can do anything that they set their mind to. Even though the little blue engine is very little and not meant to go up mountains, it still decides to help the train filled with toys to make it over the mountain. The distinct saying...more
The Little Engine that Could is a picture book that is intended for the primary age group. It was an ABA Choice Book Award Nominee. This picture book is about a little train carrying goods for the good little girls and boys over the mountain breaks down. The clown on the train got out and asked three different trains passing by to help tow the train, but would not until the little blue engine came along and decided to help tow the engine. I gave The Little Engine that Could four stars because i...more
I loved this book!!! I write books to empower children overcoming various forms of adversity.
This book is a perfect example of the types of books I write and want to write!
It is inspirational and encouraging!
It fits with my motto: DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE...EVERY CHALLENGE CAN BE OVERCOME!!!
Still at my age, whenever I think "I can't", I remember this book and I say "Yes, I can!"
This book also inspired my eldest child, my daughter, Danielle. She was abused by a babysitter at 13 months old and acqu...more
This book is a perfect example of the types of books I write and want to write!
It is inspirational and encouraging!
It fits with my motto: DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE...EVERY CHALLENGE CAN BE OVERCOME!!!
Still at my age, whenever I think "I can't", I remember this book and I say "Yes, I can!"
This book also inspired my eldest child, my daughter, Danielle. She was abused by a babysitter at 13 months old and acqu...more
Sep 04, 2011
Rain Misoa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Ages 0-3 and anyone who needs inspiration to keep working hard!
Recommended to Rain by:
My Mother! She bought the book for me to read to my younger brother!
Shelves:
childrens-books
This is one of the children's books that I read for We Give Books, A Pearson Foundation Initiative to help children all around the world obtain books. It's an organization that gathers many campaigns in one spot on the web to encourage people to read many books for children. With every book you read, one gets donated to the campaign you signed up for. (There's quite a few campaigns available.) A very good friend of mine, Nicole Terazue, recommended this site to me since she knew I loved reading...more
Sep 03, 2011
Allison W.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Toddlers and up
Recommended to Allison W. by:
1001 BYMRBYGU
Shelves:
1001-cbymrbygu
I must have read this story a thousand times as a child. It's one of my favorite children's books. Reading it again as an adult, I really appreciate how timeless the story is and how useful the message is that it contains.
I'd also never noticed before that the Little Engine is female. And, I also discovered that she is one of the few female engines in children's books about trains. While there is a lot of analysis of this story that could suggest that it is sexist that the male trains couldn't b...more
I'd also never noticed before that the Little Engine is female. And, I also discovered that she is one of the few female engines in children's books about trains. While there is a lot of analysis of this story that could suggest that it is sexist that the male trains couldn't b...more
Piper, Watty. The Little Engine that Could. New York: The Platt & Munk Co., 1954.
Genre – Fiction
The little engine that could is a classic picture book about an engine that came along and helped a broken down train after other trains refused. The train was only a moving train that had never been over the mountain but when it thought of all the girls and boys who wouldn’t get their toys and food, it was able to help. The building up of the story was when the engine came to the mountain and st...more
Genre – Fiction
The little engine that could is a classic picture book about an engine that came along and helped a broken down train after other trains refused. The train was only a moving train that had never been over the mountain but when it thought of all the girls and boys who wouldn’t get their toys and food, it was able to help. The building up of the story was when the engine came to the mountain and st...more
I rated this book a "5" because it is a classic book with such a great message to children. Both little boys and girls can enjoy this book and appreciate the message in it.
This story is about a train carrying goods for children but it breaks down and is unable to get the goods to the children. The train asks several trains that pass by for help, but they all decline for various reasons. Eventually a little engine helps although she thinks she is not strong enough to pull the train over the mo...more
This story is about a train carrying goods for children but it breaks down and is unable to get the goods to the children. The train asks several trains that pass by for help, but they all decline for various reasons. Eventually a little engine helps although she thinks she is not strong enough to pull the train over the mo...more
Everyone knows the story of the little engine that could! The red engine was full of toys and delicious food that he was trying to get to the other side of the mountain with all of the goodies for the boys and girls but it got stuck! All of a sudden, a shiny new engine came and the clown asked for help but the engine wouldn’t help. Next, a big engine came but he wouldn’t help either. Another engine still came after that but he was rusty and too tired to help. Finally, a bright blue engine came...more
Jan 29, 2009
Craig
added it
It was one of my favorite books as a child i could read it over and over again when i was a child
This is the tale of a little engine who helped her neighbor although she didn't think she would be strong enough. She chanted, "I think I can, I think I can", and because she believed in herself, she was able to pull the broken down train over the mountain to the little boys and girls. This story has become a classic because of the inspiration and self-confidence it contains within.
Piper's illustrations are bright, colorful, and fun; each depicting the different characteristics of the engines an...more
Piper's illustrations are bright, colorful, and fun; each depicting the different characteristics of the engines an...more
This classic book tells the story of a train whose engine stalls out before it can get over the last mountain to deliver toys and food to the good children on the other side of the mountain. The toys begin to flag down passing engines to take them the rest of the way. Several engines refuse, but a little blue engine agrees to try, even though she has never pulled such a heavy load. Through generous good will and tenacity she makes it over hill.
The well-written and original plot, and the pleasant...more
The well-written and original plot, and the pleasant...more
After reading the book "1001 children's books books you must read before you grow up", I have been swarmed with memories of the books I read when I was growing up. It's almost sad that I forgot about these books. When my old library was still standing, I remember I would go into the children's area and grab the same books and maybe every so often I'd grab a new one (only if the cover looked cool) and start reading them.
I remember this book now, my childhood memories came rushing in and drowned m...more
I remember this book now, my childhood memories came rushing in and drowned m...more
Perhaps one of the most famous and beloved American children’s books, is the story of “The Little Engine That Could.” Filled with wonderful toys and dolls, fruits, creamy milk, fresh vegetables, and delicious after meal treats for good little girls and boys who lived on the other side of the mountain, the happy little train comes to a stop when her engine can go no further. The toys, lead by a clown, spring to life and try to get help from several masculine engines including a shiny passenger en...more
I prefer my blue anthropomorphic shunting (US: switching) engine to be named Thomas!
A few things irritated me about this book:
1. Watty Piper never existed - it is simply a pseudonym for the publishing company Platt & Munk (now part of Penguin).
2. The trademark symbol for "The Little Engine that Could" prominently displayed on the front cover - and that they bothered to attempt to trademark "I Think I Can". This is an issue especially because of the strong evidence to suggest that the story i...more
A few things irritated me about this book:
1. Watty Piper never existed - it is simply a pseudonym for the publishing company Platt & Munk (now part of Penguin).
2. The trademark symbol for "The Little Engine that Could" prominently displayed on the front cover - and that they bothered to attempt to trademark "I Think I Can". This is an issue especially because of the strong evidence to suggest that the story i...more
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" says the tiny blue engine when all the toys and dolls ask desperately for blue engine's help because their engine breaks down and the good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain won't have any toys to play with or good food to eat! And the other engines refuse to pull them cause they're either too strong, fancy and big to pull the likes of them or too old and dusty and think they just can't! Little blue engine stands out and hitches herself...more
The Little Engine That Could is a classic children's book that provides a wonderful moral for young children to believe in themselves. The book starts off by explaining a train that would carry various toys and food over the hill to the children. One day the train's engine broke and they were left stranded, unable to get the toys and food to the children over the hill. After several attempts to try and persuade passing trains to help pull them across, one little trained helped. It pushed as hard...more
I fondly remember this book from my childhood and still think it is a good read-aloud book. It contains a great lesson on perseverance, of course (Who hasn't chanted "I think I can, I think I can," during the last few reps of a tough set during a workout? Oh, just me? Okay then.), but I find that I enjoy reading it now simply because the language is charmingly quaint. I have always particularly enjoyed the page that describes the things the good little boys and girls eat. Upon re-reading this as...more
I still have my childhood copy (dog-eared some 40+ years later)!
I still to this day say to myself " I think I can, I think I can". Kind of nerdy but this book had a lasting impression.
It's the original Little Engine That Could, I'd have to say 90% of Americans have either A. heard this book read to them by their parents or B. read it themselves as a child in sometime in their life. That being said, i'd like to make note of the trains that passed all the stranded toys before the little blue engine volunteered to try and help them out. What kind of selfish train wouldn't just take the toys with them for the boys and girls if they were going the same way anyway? That tiny little...more
Notes: The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper is a classic children's book with determination.
Book Review: The little engine that came along and helped a broken down train after other trains refused. The train was only a moving train that had never been over the mountain but when it thought of all the girls and boys who wouldn’t get their toys and food, it was able to help. The building up of the story was when the engine came to the mountain and started chiming “I think I can, I think I c...more
Book Review: The little engine that came along and helped a broken down train after other trains refused. The train was only a moving train that had never been over the mountain but when it thought of all the girls and boys who wouldn’t get their toys and food, it was able to help. The building up of the story was when the engine came to the mountain and started chiming “I think I can, I think I c...more
A great story and definite a keeper for my collection.It aims to deliever a message to help teach children and adults to overcome adversaries and believe in themselves, which i believe is a great message. Everyone gave up on the toys but not that little blue engine that could.
'I know I can, I know I can, I know I can'
'I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could...'
The little blue train never doubt himself, never gave up and achived his goals. The book would be ideal for children aged 2-6 and...more
'I know I can, I know I can, I know I can'
'I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could...'
The little blue train never doubt himself, never gave up and achived his goals. The book would be ideal for children aged 2-6 and...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remembering "The Little Engine That Could" | 8 | 37 | Oct 20, 2012 09:23pm |
Pseudonym for the Platt & Munk publishing house.
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“Little Engine That Could - "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.”
—
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Sep 22, 2008 06:56pm