Thomas the Train fans will not tire quickly of this book, which is actually six short stories, with chapters, in one cover. Each chapter has a clear plot with a beginning, middle, and end, as well as a lesson or moral. Frequent sound effects like "trickety-trock, peep peep, and poop poop" add fun opportunities for your child to chime in, or for you to make them smile. The engines usually include short repetitive phrases in their dialogue, so your little one will quickly catch on and want to repeat them. The photos of toy trains and people give a realistic quality to the pictures, evoking your child's imagination and suggesting just enough that the train engines with expressive faces may be real.
This is not a book to be finished in one reading, so it makes an excellent bedtime story, as you can read a chapter a night for many nights before it's done. Because there are actually six stories in one, you can read them in any order you like, although it is best to go in order the first time you read. Thomas and his friends learn a lesson in every story, which you can discuss with your child afterwards. He learns about what happens when you tease someone, what it feels like to be teased, how being stubborn can get you in trouble, and the importance of patience. These are common issues your child will likely be able to relate to. They may have their own questions while you read, including what some of the English colloquialisms mean, like sayings "hullo", "bother" and phrases like "Thomas was a little engine with a long tongue."
My friend, Chris, leaves this book on the coffee table and reads a chapter each afternoon with his mom while they have a snack. She said Chris loves to hear about Thomas' adventures and often begs for "just one more chapter."
--Audra