The Runaway Train

Little Red Train

by Benedict Blathwayt

Chuff-chuff, chuffity chuff, whoo...oo. . oo! The Little Red Train has set off down the track without sleepy-head Duffy Driver! Poor Duffy tries everything to catch up - he hitches a lift on a lorry, clambers aboard a motor boat, grabs the chance to ride a tractor and finally makes a heroic leap from a speeding helicopter! At last Duffy is safely back in the driver's cab, just in time for the Little Red Train to pull into the station at Sandy-on-Sea for a lovely, Lazy afternoon. Phew!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Trains, Fiction, British Literature

26 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 1995

Reviews

[Ruth Moore]

Yes I’m adding children’s books to my goodreads - fite me

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance]

A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.

The only copy of this book that I could find was a copy in Japanese. No English except the copyright info. So, this book was a bit of a challenge. I couldn’t even do as I usually do and type the text into Google Translator to be able to read it in English. I had to strictly go by the pictures. Fortunately, the pictures clearly told the story. Wonderful story. And my first read in Japanese.

[Mathew]

This is a gorgeous book with a lovely sense of time and place. There is a sense of building up the story as the train driver goes from lorry to boat to bike to pony and so on in order to catch up with his train. Although the repetition is lovely, I think it's the landscape images, almost like mini maps, that make this such a beautiful book. Young children (and older) will enjoy getting lost in the scenery. It's definitely one to continually come back to.

[Kendall]

The pop-ups in this story are great (including a removable train that can be pushed up the tracks), but the story is so-so. The flaps are kind of annoying because there aren't many words per page and my four-year-old gets frustrated that I need to look under the flaps to make it through the whole story. He loves it, though, so it was a good purchase for us.

[Emkoshka]

This was such rollicking good fun, and the illustrations really brought to life in minute detail an industrial-urban landscape, the English countryside and the seaside. Ah, England! Made me think fondly of Thomas the Tank Engine and his red friend, James. :)

[Mo]

I love this book because I love trains. I love pretending to be the runaway train when I am playing and often incorporate this into my games. I have remembered the series of people Duffy meets along the way and can almost tell the story without mummys help. (2yrs 10mths)

[Dominika]

Driver Duffy doesn't give up to catch up with the runaway train...

[Jenny Cattanach]

Yes, it's a kid's book. Yes, my kids have outgrown it. But we still have it. Because it's great. Just wonderful pictures to look through, spotting oh so many details with your wee ones. Can't give it away but do recommend it

[Kristal]

A simple story with repetition- good for new readers.

[Beverly]

Adorable and appealing illustrations accompany a text perfect for preschool children due to its oft-repeated refrain, and the action-packed plot.

[Edward Davis]

The GOAT 🐐

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance]

A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.

The only copy of this book that I could find was a copy in Japanese. No English except the copyright info. So, this book was a bit of a challenge. I couldn’t even do as I usually do and type the text into Google Translator to be able to read it in English. I had to strictly go by the pictures. Fortunately, the pictures clearly told the story. Wonderful story. And my first read in Japanese.

[Tanya]

The story was okay - I think a young child might like it, but for us, where "safety is #1," it didn't strike the right chord for our family. The illustrations were fun to study.

[Gervy]

My almost 4yo boy loves these books.

[Aisha Mitchell]

I think these books are some of my all time favorites! The illustrations are beautiful and my kids love to study them as much as listen to the story!!