Thomas

Thomas Story Library #1

by W. Awdry (Creator), Robin Davies (Illustrator), Jerry Smith (Illustrator)

This is a story about Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas worked really hard, shunting coaches for the big engines. But what he wanted more than anything was his very own branch line...

Genres: Picture Books, Trains, Childrens

34 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2003

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

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas was a Jack of all Trades (or should that be a Tom of all trades?) as he was always pulling various coaches around, pulling them to the station ready for the bigger engines to take out on journeys, pulling empty coaches that had arrived away do that the bigger engines could have a rest but he really wanted his own branch line so that he would become a Really Useful Engine.

H felt that he deserved that honour because no other engine worked as hard as he did. He sometimes teased the bigger engines such as Gordon about being lazy bones and sometimes it backfired on him because the others wanted to pay him back for his comments.

In 'Thomas' we see how he interacted with the other engines and an accident gives him the opportunity to shine ... and his reward for his good work helps him to achieve his ambition.

[Samson DeGolier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has Thomas done well, takes too great episodes from he TV series/Railway Series and adapters them in a decent way, what else can I say, I recommend it

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the few Thomas stories I actually quite like - my son and I enjoy reading this one together.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Small books are cute, but the stories aren't as good as the railway series. Obviously designed to sell more toys by adding more trains.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it to two of my boys. My ten year old did not want to read it, but got into it and wanted to know what the different trains were for and other technical questions, which were beyond the scope of the book, but made for interesting research/conversation. I have had over 18 years of Thomas the Tank and his buddies and he is still going strong in our household.

This book had good, bright pictures and a few interesting pages with multiple tracks on them as well as an interesting map of the Island of Sodor.

[Katie Gann]

This book is a good read because it teaches kids that they should not be mean to people or they will learn not to be. Also if you help around enough you should be able to see that you can do something on your own and get award from it.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how Thomas the Tank Engine became a really useful engine. The rating is based on Sean's opinion, he requests repeat readings from time to time, even though he can read it himself now.

[Harrison Cao · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked it