[.ca] Thomas the Tank Engine (ISBN 0679893881)

Small price for a portable - play anywhere - theme song:
The story is abbreviated, true. And the illustrations are somewhat flat. BUT you get the 3-D face on the cover, the theme song played at the perfect volume with cows and sheep on the first double page (can hear the song better with the book open). Our one year old rarely makes it past that first page but there's no need! A run through of the song, some moos and baas... cheers up a sad (car bound) baby everytime.

Anti - Thomas:
Is it OK to say that you don't like TTTE? There is no denying that kids have been captivated by the Thomas phenomenon, including the mass merchandising of toys and every conceivable household accroutrement - from lampshades to bedspreads, toothbrushes to curtains...overpriced clothing ranges...mainly on the strength of the TV series and the BBC/ABC marketing arms. But, but, but, but....I find the stories twee, dated and humourless. So dour...so class-ridden... I know millions will disagree, and there are millions of happy kids and parents out there. Thomas was a passing phenomenon in our household, and there's nothing wrong with a bit of stodge mixed in with more nutritious fare. I wouldn's say "don't go there", but try to retain some perspective and balance in children's lives!

Another good story about Thomas, but not long enough.:
I purchased this particular Thomas the Tank Engine book for my grandchildren, as they have enjoyed the stories about Thomas in the past. However, if I could have seen and read this book in a book store, I probably would not have purchased it. While the graphics are extremely good (as usual), and the music is quite cute (and appropriately quiet), the story is just too short at 10 pages. In addition, I am always looking for books that are interesting for my grandchildren, but yet teach them new words. Unfortunately, this book just is too short to meet that criteria for me to rate it any higher than 3 stars.

"Thomas the tank engine" is tops:
This book is a classic. It contains the exceptional stories Thomas and Gordon, Thomas' Train, Thomas and the trucks and Thomas and the breakdown train. In the first story, the little blue engine gets carried away with himself and gets a run for his money from Gordon. In the next, Henry is ill so Thomas takes his passenger train with embarrasing results. In the one after, Thomas has a go with some troublesome trucks. Finally, while he is shunting, Thomas notices James having some trouble with some trucks, he gets a hold of the breakdown train and saves James and gets a Branch line of his very own with two coaches.