The little train that can do just about anything is now available in a collectible hardcover edition, at a very affordable price. No home library w...
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Sep 12, 2007
Jen
rated it: 
Tootle,Tootle, all you wanted to do was "dip and soar" like the butterflies you admired in the meadow of Lower Trainswitch. But Bill, head engineer of the School for Engines and "The Mayor Himself" taught you that it was foolish for an engine to get lost looking at hollyhock flowers when he could be the fastest flyer since "old 300".
Yes, a children's book that touts the importance of the coal blackned lungs of the Industrial Revoultion in place of the Romantic More...
Yes, a children's book that touts the importance of the coal blackned lungs of the Industrial Revoultion in place of the Romantic More...
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Feb 22, 2008
Emelda
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This is quite possibly the worst book written for children. Ever. Joe loves it, but I refuse to read it to him. It's all about "staying on the tracks no matter what." A little engine finds that he likes playing in a meadow, with the birds and bugs and flowers, and the whole town conspires against him to keep him on the track. There's one illustration where he's sobbing and the all white town is gleefully trying to get him out of the meadow. And what the fuck is with the black horse tha
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(4 people liked it)
Dec 07, 2010
Maggie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 23, 2008
Katherine
rated it: 
As a non-comformist, I was mortified the first time I read this book as an adult (10 years ago). I immediately looked at the original year it was published-- 1945. Smack in the McCarthy Era. No wonder! Red flags? Stay on the rails? Ironically, I now have two preschoolers who love this book. I keep it around so we can eventually have a discussion about its messages. How does one start a discussion with small children about McCarthyism vs. anarchy? I give this book three stars because on o
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Aug 20, 2011
Tiffany
rated it:
I realized awhile back that I had never read this story before. I always got it mixed up with "The Little Engine That Could", which we read repeatedly growing up and loved! Well, I found a copy of it recently, used, and read it, but did not enjoy it as I expected to. I actually found it just plain ridiculous and irritating! Especially since the phrase "staying on the rails no matter what" is repeated about a million times. I wanted to like it, I really did, but just coul
Mar 12, 2010
Jenna
rated it: 
My child was wild about this book at at two could pretty much recite it. It's cute and Tootle is adorable. The illustrations are charming. As for those who are so worried that it preaches conformity, please try growing up a bit. It preaches discipline, actually, which is quite different from conformity. My son today is an artist and writer. He has and has always had a great imagination.
Aug 05, 2009
Audrey
rated it:
My 2-year old son loves the pictures, but won't sit still for the story yet. There is too much text on each page for him to sit through. The story is kind of inane and taxes my patience to even read it to him, also.
Dec 13, 2008
Ronda
rated it:
One of my favorites to share with my son--and one he and I both enjoyed when I had read it so many times that I could ad lib it on long drives--even when the book wasn't with us. :D
Mar 21, 2010
William
rated it:
A horrible story of conformity. Bad lesson for a child - giving this away to goodwill.
Jan 08, 2008
Skylar
rated it: 
This is very wordy, a little too wordy for my preschooler, but she has nonetheless asked to read it repeatedly, and I have been forced to "condense" it in some parts to keep her (and, alas, myself) interested. She doesn't seem to get the concept of what is going on; she just enjoys the pictures of the train. It's not my favorite of the classic Golden Books. I'm not sure I find the message particularly positive. It's not really as if Tootle truly learns the importance of following reas
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Apr 29, 2008
Kirei
rated it:
This book is VERY wordy for its targeted age group. When my son was a toddler, I would skip whole paragraphs to keep his attention. I'm not even sure I like the moral of the story: it's wrong to get off the tracks and play in the meadow.
Mar 11, 2008
Ericstiens
rated it:
i don't remember what it was about, i just remember making my parents read it to me every night for about 3 years
Feb 09, 2012
Feb 07, 2012
