Share with your little one a classic that your mom or dad also read to you, with the timeless classic, The Little Engine That Could. The small, hardcover book will fit right into your little one's lap, so they can follow along and turn the pages while you read. The book begins right away with fun sound-effect words like, "Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-dong," which sets a steady reading cadence that remains throughout the story. The pictures are lively with bright primary colors and plenty of detail for your little one to study while you read. The sentences have repeating ideas that carry through the pages, so your child can learn the story quickly and follow along while keeping track of the goal - getting to the other side of the mountain to deliver toys and nutritious food to the children. There are even some fun new words introduced, like 'berth', 'freight,' 'indignantly, or 'dingy'.
Your little one may lose themselves in the pictures, imagining a real life train loaded with fun toys like stuffed animals, dolls, clowns, puzzles, books, and more! The author cleverly threw in some good lessons by having this train full of goodies also carrying nutritious oranges, apples, milk, and even fresh spinach! The main message of the book - always trying and believing in yourself - will be impressed on your little one as deeply as it was on you, and they will remember the mantra, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." After you've read the book a few times, you can have them say the "I think I can" lines, or even talk about times in their own lives when saying this phrase to themselves may help. Maybe they could use it when they try to read!
My three-year-old friend Sam enjoyed this book as a bedtime story. When Sam started getting scarred at night right before bed, his mom decided to read this book to him, and then encourage him to be brave and 'think he can' fall asleep and have good dreams. They would read the story together and then repeat the famous line a few times together. She said it took a few nights, but by the end of the week, repeating the phrase before bedtime became part of Sam's bedtime ritual and he wasn't afraid anymore.
--Audra