[.ca] Tank Engine Thomas Again (ISBN 140520334X)

Just Lovely for Train Lovers:
When my 3-yr old takes an interest in something, it usually becomes an all-out obsession: dinosaurs, construction vehicles, space and so it continues with Thomas the Tank Engine. We've read other books and rented videos, but these books (there are four in this series) are his beloved. The stories are simple and plentiful with a bit of a moral to them, without being pretentious or zealous. The writing style is delightful: adult enough not to bore the reader and yet perfectly understandable for the listener (assuming it's a child!). The pictures are clear but not movie or television tie-ins - it makes them more lovable! The books are small and my son loves to stack them and carry them around with him. If your child loves Thomas and you're tired of media tie-ins, these books are for you!

A Classic:
This book is a hit with my three-and-a-half-year old. Not only are the four stories interesting enough to hold his attention, but the ample illustrations are charming. Also, the relatively small size of the book makes it perfect for small hands to hold when the child "reads" it to himself. The stories are sweet without being cloying. The language is fairly sophisticated (in other words, the book doesn't talk down to kids, which is great), but accessible. The stories have kind of an old-fashioned feel, -- after all, we are talking about steam engines -- but their upbeat messages are just as relevant for kids today. For instance, Thomas learns how to work with others and how NOT to "judge a book by its cover". This book will probably be a favorite in our house for some years to come!