Reviews (6)

Eye Candy for Train Lovers
This book is excellent for a toddler or young child who loves trains. It is also a pleasure for adults to read. The illustrations are sumptuous, and almost seem to glow. The text is simple and makes comparisons between trains ("This train is going uphill. This train is going downhill"), but don't let the simplicity put you off. It's exactly the kind of thing that pre-readers and early readers enjoy the most. New concepts are introduced on each page with rhythmic repetition. Wonderful illustrations
My 3 year old son LOVES this book!I had to purchase it for him last year after renewing it several times from the library.Wonderful illustrations and simple prose.My son "reads" the book himself.Highly recommended for those children who love trains.

All aboard This Train
I picked this book up at my local library, and my 2yr old has carried it around ever since, he's had me read it to him several times a day.Even my 5yr old daughter finds it a great book to learn to read, with it's simplesentences..."This Train is old, This Train is new."I couldn'tthink of any better starter book for children than this one.It just sohappens to be my sons favorite subject...."Trains"! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Preschool    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Railroads    6. Trains    7. Transportation - Railroads & Trains   

Reviews (1)

We love Thomas!
My son who is now 4 has been a Thomas nut for 2 years.The book/cd combination are great for extra bedtime storytelling! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Interpersonal relations    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Movie Tie - In    9. Railroads    10. Trains    11. Transportation - General    12. Transportation - Trains    13. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Technical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Engineering - General    5. History - United States/State & Local    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile Transportation    8. Juvenile literature    9. New York    10. New York (State)    11. Subways    12. Transportation - Railroads & Trains    13. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Reviews (2)

Nice Illustrations, But Includes Taunting Trains
"Early one winter morning, Thomas rolled out of his shed to check the weather. It had snowed a little each day all week. It wasn't snowing just then, but the sky was gray and threatening. `Looks like we're going to have to get out your snowplow soon, Thomas', said his driver." -From the book
My 2 year old loves this book!
My 2.9 year old son received this book yesterday as an early Christmas present, and has been walking around the house holding it ever since!It is very well written, a great story, and the illustrations are wonderful.(Especially for a toddler that is anxiously awaiting the first large snowfall!) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Movie Tie - In    7. Social Issues - General    8. Transportation - General    9. Transportation - Trains    10. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Reviews (3)

Excellent Activity Book
We got this before a flight and it has been a great activity book for my 2 year old. He loves putting the magnets on the tracks and then saying 'goodnight' to them each evening as we put them back in the case. It's more activity than book. He loves it! Not a day goes by when we don't read it at least once.

Magnetically Delightful
Peep, peep! Thomas and his friends are hard at work. All the people on the Island of Sodor depend on Sir Topham Hatt's railway every day, and they are always glad to see one of the engines coming down the line. Now, children can help, too, by creating their own scenes and stories with 9 fun magnets: Thomas, Gordon, Henry, James, Percy, Mavis, Harold the Helicopter, and two Troublesome Trucks.
Terrific book!
While the story is so-so, the fact that it has magnets is a definite plus!Keeps the kids busy in the car, at home, anywhere and the magnets store nicely on the side of the book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Movie Tie - In    7. Railroads    8. Specimens    9. Toy and movable books    10. Trains    11. Transportation - Trains    12. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Editorial Review

A far-off sound, clanging bells, flashing signal lights, andrib-resonating warning whistles can only mean one thing. A train is coming! In Read more

Reviews (3)

My daughter loves this book!
This is one of those great books that is a simple story that small children can relate to, with things they recognize from their life.We also checked it out from the library and will be buying it.My daughter is 21 months and can't get enough of "Train Book!"

What a great book!
I checked this book out at the library and both of my children love it!They are four and two.My two year old, when it is time to read books before bed, says, "Here comes train?" A must-have for 2-4 year-olds!
From the day we first read this to our 2-1/2 year-old, he could not get enough of it.It's an easy read, he loves the characters and the story line, and he talks about it incessantly.I think the beauty of the book isthat kids can identify with it because it is based on actual experiences -the excitement of an oncoming train, biking with mom or dad, anticipatingarrival of something exciting, and dreaming about it in bed later.This isa must for any kids book collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Preschool    3. Family - General    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Railroads    8. Trains    9. Transportation - Trains    10. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Coloring Books    2. Business & Economics    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Transportation - Railroads & Trains    7. Colouring & painting    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Activity Books   

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (4)

What is *THAT* smell?(A review of Trouble for Thomas)
Okay, Ringo Starr is not the best narrator, and the pictures are a bit fuzzy and not all that great having been taken from the TV series video tape and enlarged past what their quality would support;and Thomas (on the cover)does look like his going to `hurl', but little people just don't seem to care and so we give this book and cassette, Four Stars.
A GREAT story book for a Thomas fan
While the stories in this book may appear wordy or (dare I say it) even dreadful at first, as you read them more and more (and I garuntee you will) they will grow on you as they did on me and my toddler!
Makes air travel great!
My 3-year-old son listened to this cassette repeatedly with a walkman when we took a 4 hour flight.A stress-free flight courtesy of Thomas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Audio - Children's    4. Audio: Juvenile    5. Children's Audio - 4-8    6. Fiction    7. Railroads    8. Specimens    9. Talking books    10. Talking books for children    11. Trains    12. Transportation - Trains    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Movie Tie - In    8. Social Issues - General    9. Social Situations - General    10. Transportation - Trains    11. Fiction    12. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Preschool    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Transportation - General    5. Transportation - Trains    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Reviews (5)

Beautiful book and a touching story.
We bought this book as a special treat formy 3 year old son who is train obsessed.From the first read, he AND his little sister loved it.The story is wonderfully soothing to read at night.If we happen to read it during the day we always find something new.(Look closely at the paper blowing in the wind).I would recommend this book to a girl or boy.

The Train Kept A-Singing, All Night Long
Very rarely have I seen nighttime so beautifully portrayed as in "Niccolini's Song," a magical, book about a night watchman sings lullabies to the trains he cares for. Wearing his engineer-striped cap and denim overalls, the mustachioed, big-eyed Niccolini is a comforting presence:"Some watchmen were as cold and hard as the engines they cared for. Niccolini was not. He was a quiet man. His wife always said he was a good listener."
Even trains need lullabies
Niccolini's Song fell into the hands of my three year old son and we've been reading it ever since. The illustrations are lush, and the story is enchanting. Descriptions such as "...stroking the damp hair of their sleeping children..." make the story one I can relate to, and the fact that the big trains need lullabies is comforting to my son. If you have a train lover on your shopping list, you can't go wrong with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bedtime    2. Bedtime & Dreams    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lullabies    10. Performing Arts - Music    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Railroads    13. Trains    14. Transportation - General    15. Transportation - Trains    16. Juvenile Fiction / Bedtime & Dreams   

Reviews (2)

Excellent book
This is a short easy and fun history book that blends excerpts Robert Louis Stevenson's "Amateur Emigrant" and "Across the Plains" with Jim Murphy's prose and descriptions. I was expecting a kids book but far from it - while not academic or even pretentiously so, it's on par with a PBS episode of "American Experience" and reminds me of how fun history can be. The historical photo's are excellent, numerous and tightly connected to the text. Highly recommended for anyone interested in RLS, American history and the immigrant experience of the late 19th century. Jim Murphy has written about a dozen books like this including some Newbury award winners, hope to read some more, the language and prose is easy and leaves a strong impression of time and place, very enjoyable.

Anonymous_tsimp_dtown
A very interesting book with all you need to know about the railroad, transcontinental or Robert Louis Stevenson. Very descriptive, Great Literature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Authors, Scottish    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. History    8. History - United States/19th Century    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Railroad travel    12. Railroads    13. Transportation - Railroads & Trains    14. United States    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / United States / 19th Century   

Reviews (7)

It's a Hit!!
This delightful picture book will thrill young boys and girls alike as they race down the tracks with an ole hogger on engine 417!They'll meet colorful characters along the way, from Ole Joe, the ashcat, to Mabel, the merry-go-round operator, as the illustrations perfectly capture the lingo of this fast-paced E ticket ride. Kids will absolutely love it!

Lots of fun and informative too.
A definite must for your home library!Kids love the detailed watercolors and the almost-musical text.Who knew railroading slang was so fun?Pretty soon your kids will be asking for their milk as "whitewash" and telling your their "trick is up" at bedtime.Train enthusiast of all ages will enjoy this trip down the main line.

All Aboard for a GREAT TRAIN BOOK!
CAN YOU HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOWING?. . .ummm, yes, you sure can!It's coming down the track, coming down the track, coming down the track!
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Railroads    8. Terminology    9. Trains    10. Transportation - General    11. Transportation - Trains    12. Voyages and travels    13. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Reviews (5)

Terrific Train Book
This book became my son's favorite when he was about 3.He loved the rhythm and hearing Mom say "WHO-OOOO!" and "Whee-eeee!".He would often sit and read it to himself, repeating the fun train sounds.He and his brother have "loved" it so much that our copy is now beyond repair, so I'm glad to know that it's still available for purchase!

Definitely Five Stars!
I am looking for a reading copy of this book, as I fear for the life of my first edition since my two daughters, ages 2 and 4, have discovered it. They don't want to look at it by themselves -- they want me to read it, because this is one of the all-time great books for reading aloud. The pictures are nice, but it's the rhythm that makes the story.When read in the proper spirit, the text sounds like a train going over railroad tracks. The contrasting sounds of the big and small trains help to hold the kids'attention, and best of all, my kids love to make the sounds with me as I read. What kid can resist a hearty "Whooooooo!" or a quiet "wheeeeeee! or a quiet chant of "picketa picketa picketa picketa" for the small engine and a loud chant of "POCKETA POCKETA POCKETA POCKETA" for the big engine?Mine can't. And they're girls who aren't overly excited by trains.They do love music, though, and that's what the rhythm of this book most closely resembles.

Not 5 Stars!
My son is a tried-and-true train fan.He likes the pictures in the book, but I have had to modify the story to keep him interested. The text reads like a mumbled stream of consciouness.I purchased the book based on the 5-star customer rating, and was surprised and disappointed when I received it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Preschool    3. Classics    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Railroads    7. Transportation - Trains    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Classics    3. Concepts - Time    4. Transportation - Trains   

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Coloring Books    2. Activity Books - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Transportation - Railroads & Trains    7. Juvenile Nonfiction / Activity Books   

Reviews (3)

Great for little ones too!
We discovered this at the library as well.My son (an early train lover) already responded to it at 15 months, and by 18 months was asking for it.At 20 months now, he knows words like "caboose" and "signal" because of this book!(Ok, maybe not the world's most useful words, but for a train lover...)The book is repetitive in a way kids seem to love, and has pictures for words in places so they can "read" along with you.The ending is also very cute, connecting train-world to the real world of baby's life.My husband is not a big fan of the illustrations (the cover gives a good indication of what they are like) and I agree they are somewhat cutesy and with little artisitc merit, but my son doesn't seem to care!

#1 on our 3 yr old's request list!
We discovered this book at the library and it became a favorite.After returning it our 3 year old kept asking for "the train book" and we couldn't remember the title.Her persistance drove our detective work (do you have any idea how many juvenile train books there are?) and it is now a bed-time, back-seat, grandma's lap, any-old-time-favorite.It is also the first book our little girl "read" back to us!This book has great rhymes, details to rediscover, and new vocabulary leading to more new vocabulary.Special memories..and a big thumbs up from our little engineer!

Great repetition that gets my son yelling out the words
This book is a rhyme that repeats itself adding a verse at a time.It uses pictures of various train cars, etc. that my son shouts out as we get to them.Great for 3-4 year olds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Preschool    3. Concepts - General    4. Fiction    5. Imagination    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Railroads    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Rebuses    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Trains    12. Transportation - General    13. Transportation - Trains    14. English    15. English language readers    16. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / General    17. Picture books   

Reviews (2)

Scary, terrifying story for a young child.
The story still gives me chills after reading it a few times. After I explained to him what it was about, my 6 year old asked me to read it to him anyway, and he was so scared he couldn't go to sleep afterward. It is well written, with quality artwork, but I would recommend it for older kids who enjoy ghost stories, rather than young pre-readers. Even with a happy ending, the Banshee legend is a scary, creepy image. A full passenger train being chased to certain death by a reckless runaway passenger train behind it is terrifying beyond words, even if (or especially if) the pursuer turns out to be a spector.

The Banshee Train
My 3-year-old son is crazy about trains, and even in an extensive library of train books, this is almost certainly his favorite. It's exciting, a little spooky, with beautiful paintings and simple but accurate steam train action and terms. This is a must-have for young train lovers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Accidents    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Ghosts    6. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    7. Nature & the Natural World - Weather    8. Railroad accidents    9. Railroads    10. Transportation - Trains    11. Horror & ghost stories, chillers    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (3)

Iron Horses--absolutely wonderful!
I absolutely loved this book! The cryptic rhyme is unmatched by any other. Very informative and fun to read!Young and old will enjoy reading this story and learning. Remarkable!History in rhyme!What could be more fun?
Tight. Spare. Exacting. With great care and skill, author Verla Kay artfully recounts the long, complex, and often confusing story of the building of the transcontinental railway -- in fewer than 200 words!"Railroad barons, Visions, dreams. Thinking, planning, Plottingschemes. Politicians, Congress, vote. 'Build your railroad,' Lincolnwrote."Wow! Even in its simplicity, this book entertains, informs,and makes history come alive. With the help of striking, dramaticillustrations, it shrieks and whistles and pounds and thumps while servingup information in palatable, chewy bites. A welcome introduction to thefabulous adventure that the study of history can be. Kids, as well asstuffy old historians, are bound to love this book!

How the West was conquered by railroads.
This writer manages to tell the maximum story in the minimum words.Art is excellent & fits well with words.Good introduction to railroads. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Railroads    7. Short Stories    8. Stories in rhyme    9. Transportation - General    10. Transportation - Trains    11. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Preschool    4. Foreign Language Study - General    5. Games & Activities - Puzzles    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Transportation - Trains