Little Engines Can Do Big Things

Thomas and Friends

by W. Awdry, Britt Allcroft

From working in the scrapyard to working together, Thomas proves that little engines can do big things in this Pictureback filled with photos from the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Trains, Fiction, Kids

23 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2000

About the author

Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, better known as the Rev. W. Awdry, was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.

The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. The first book (The Three Railway Engines) was published in 1945, and by the time Awdry stopped writing in 1972, The Railway Series numbered 26 books. Christopher subsequently added further books to the series.

Reviews

[Colin E.c.]

I like that Lady and Thomas are proving that they're really useful too. I like how they're doing big jobs. And sometimes Thomas gets dirty and dented, and sometimes his cars get full. so I love him. 09/27/2008

[Jeremy Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the guise of a feel good story about the value of perseverance against the odds, Awdry brainwashes children into making them think they need to be "useful" to society to be happy. The book does thankfully teach kids words like "buffer" and "coupled" (as in train to train) and "sprockets," old timey engineering terms from a language dying in this age of virtual realities.

[Hannah Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas the tank engine is teased by his bigger peers at the engine yard, which makes him feel insignificant and unwanted. But Thomas refuses to give up, and proves that he is a really useful engine by finding the Magic Railroad, where Lady, the magic golden engine, has broken down. Thomas gives Lady some special coal and brings her back home, where he is congratulated.

Although this book has the traditional underdog-saves-damsel-in-distress model, which is stereotypical in childrens stories, the message is important- anyone can be useful, important, and special. In the classroom this could be used in a math addition and subtraction assignment, where numbers are written on the sides of the trains. This would also be great to use in colors, with a worksheet where students will look at pictures of the engines and identify what color they are. This could also lead into students identifying different ways of transportation, like planes, cars, and trains.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas was being unsecure of himself because he's much smaller than the other engines, but when a mystery needs to be solved he's figured it out. And learned that Little Engines can do big things. An encouragement book for little guys to encourage and raise their self esteem.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magic Railroad is a weird-ass movie, and this is a weird-ass book. There is a lot of suspension of disbelief involved in this one.

The Ozman loves anything to do with the Lady train, so he liked it.

[Busbee Hickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pictures are beautiful and many references to the movie, Thomas and the Magical Railroad

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas discovers the secret entrance to the Magic Railroad and finds Lady.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank loves this. Completely. I think, as a parent, it's a good idea to steer clear of any "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" stuff. The regular Thomas stuff is much better.

[Sri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buku Thomas yang ini kurang menarik. Magic railroads? Apa itu? Kemunculan Lady juga kurang dramatis. Berarti bener kata orang-orang kalau film Magic Railroads tidak menarik.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Engines Can Do Big Things
Awdry, Wilbert
for your thomas fans

[Sarah Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Thomas story is just okay, though I suppose it has a good message.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea Thomas was so mystical.

[Rachael]

Trippy