Reviews (2)

The very best Thomas book
This book is by far the very best of the Thomas books. Most Thomas books are poorly drawn and produced. This one however, is beautiful, with an engaging story as well. My kids love it. Of all the books we have, this is the one we read the most.

Great Color!
I bought this book for my 2 year old. He loves looking at the colorful pages. The whole page is painted with bright vibrant colors, not like some books with a little picture in the corner. He loves this book ... Read more

Book Description

This story includes your child's favorite characters, colorful pictures, and seven sound buttons. Character voice and story sounds make this already exciting story even more fun to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Gordon crashes through the wall of Sir Topham Hatt's new train station. Toby gets washed downstream by a flash flood. Oliver's brakevan, Toad, careens out of control . . . backward! This collection of Thomas the Tank Engine stories is chock-full of runaways and rescues and illustrated with photos from the beloved TV show.
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Book Description

Based on The Railway Series by the REV. W. AWDRY


A is for All Aboard! Filled with fun photographs from the popular TV show,

Shining Time Station, Thomas's ABC Book will delight children while

teaching them the alphabet along the way.




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Reviews (2)

less than perfect but still a must-have for Thomas fans
Paperback with flimsy paper that doesn't stand up to much wear. Our copy is dog-eared and the back cover is ripped off and that didn't take long.

There is one page per letter with a photo from the televison show depicting the theme of that letter (not a hand drawn or computer generated illustration or cartoon). For example: A is for all aboard and the photo is of Thomas stopped at a station. The photos are great. Every page has one sentence at the bottom that uses the word in context. I do have a complaint that each letter is only shown in the upper case. Despite much room available on the page, when the word is spelled out the first letter is in tiny font just like the rest of the letters. I would prefer if the presenting letter were a larger font to highlight its' use in the word. I was hoping to use this book as a way to teach the letters to my son and this is why I am critical of these factors.

With that said, any little Thomas the Tank Engine lover will absolutely love this book.

Some of the words are a stretch or strange (T is for tracks but then the photo shows Terence the tractor and the sentence is "Terence tells Thomas about his tracks". Why not use T for Thomas (the one word the children are most familiar with), or else use Terence as he is pictured, or just say that T is for Thomas, AND Terence, AND Tracks?

This book has gotten us through some long car trips and air flights.

With all my little criticisms, I feel Iit's low cost justifies its purchase and replacement when it wears out.

Lovable Thomas and friends explore the alphabet.
Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends from the Island of Sodor introduce ABC's to children. An excellent picture book that is perfect for pre-readers. A must have for any young Thomas fan! Purchase two as it is destined to become "well-loved". ... Read more

Book Description

There’s a rumor out that Sir Topham Hatt is going to get rid of the trains! James learns a lesson about bragging, and Percy saves the day when there is a wedding on the Island of Sodor. This endearing collection of Thomas the Tank Engine stories is illustrated with photos from the beloved TV show.
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Book Description

Illus. in full color. That cheeky blue engine refuses to be sidetracked from

his goal of taking schoolchildren home after their visit to the train

yard--despite a host of obstacles along the way.




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Reviews (3)

Great Book!
My 14 month old son is obsessed with this book! We read it so much that I know the story by heart. It is a good length for short attention spans, has nice pictures, easy words and teaches kids about helping others. A great find.

Kids are wonderful!
I think the main message to this story is that children are absolutely wonderful.

In this story, Thomas starts the day sad... he wants to play with the children, but he has to work instead. The happy ending is when he helps his friend (the bus which breaks down) by taking the children home.

Thomas is obviously thrilled to be able to help the children. What a warm, sweet message to give to the young readers!

This is an "I can read it all by myself Dr. Seuss Beginner Book", and it's written as though a young reader should read it, in very short, choppy sentences ("My name is Thomas. Watch me push! Watch me pull!... Stop or go. Help or hurry."

But the actual words used are not those that the true beginning reader will be able to read on his or her own. (station, somebody, coaches, Clarabel, bridge, should, friend, passengers, etc.) It's fine to have very simple sentences for the beginning reader; or to address the book to the not-such-a-beginner-reader. But this book seems to take the worst combination; dumbed down story with too-hard words.

That said, my children really enjoy this book; the annoying aspects only seem to annoy me. And, of course, their opinion is what really counts. The older kids love to read it to the younger ones, and they think it's great that Thomas gets to have his trip with the children.

4 stars because the kids like it so much, and because it really does have a worthwhile message for children.

Great Thomas book for young kids
This book is great for kids of all ages -- our 18-month oldloves it. Unlike many of the other Thomas stories, this one doesn'tdeal with unhappy, grumpy trains all the time. It's a "feel good" kind of story with a good moral that can be read to all ages. We're trying to find other Thomas stories that fit this theme, and are having little luck so far... ... Read more

Book Description

Thomas and the Really Useful Engines are set for three new adventures: Cranky Bugs, Put-Upon Percy, and Lady Hatt's Birthday. Filled with wonderful photos from the critically acclaimed television series Shining Time Station, this Pictureback® will be a must for Thomas fans everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Story needs editing
While my three year old son recognizes his favorite Thomas characters, this book is poorly written and edited. The first story, "Cranky Bugs" is especially annoying because little sensitivity was used to match the pictures with the text. It is bad enough that the text is taken straight from the video tape, but some editing would greatly improve the stories. How sad that the Britt Allcroft empire has reduced the original, wonderful stories from Rev. Awdry to such rubbish.

Three stories in one book.
THE CRANKY DAY is made up of three stories: Cranky Bugs, Put-Upon Percy, and Lady Hatt's Birthday Party. This inexpensive paperback is perfect for the Thomas fan. It has the colorful photographic "illustrations" that look like the series we're familiar with. This one is REALLY popular with my Thomas fans, and you can read the stories one at a time or all three at once. But beware -- when you're finished they're going to want you to read it again! and again! and again!

Not the same as the previous pictureback books from R.H.
Back in 1993, 4, and leading up to 6, Random House published about 5 or 7 pictureback books from the Thomas series, from the era of Ringo Starr narrating. The main difference between those books and "The Cranky Day" is quite disappointing. "The Cranky Day" (which is even titled wrong. [Cranky Bugs]) is written straight from the vhs tape, as if the closed captioning was copied and pasted into a book. Nothing is explained, and I am not exaggerating. If you haven't seen any of these stories yet, you'll be very, VERY confused when you hear the dialect of an engine say "LOOK OUT!" or, "DON'T MOVE", then to see an image, of what might be happening, with no reasonable explaination given. There never is a sentence in the book saying: "Percy had helped lift Cranky up with a rope, but foolishly forgot to detach it." or something with reason. Overall, it's still an okay book. but I am disappointed that Random House copied straight from the tape...yuck!

The first paperback of the fifth series!
This book contains 3 stories from the fifth series of Thomas the tank engine & friends.These 3 stories are titled 'Cranky Bugs','Put Upon Percy',and 'Lady Hatt's Birthday Party'. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Has Everyone Forgotten Thomas' Birthday?
"Thomas does not want to work today. It is his birthday! He wants a party, with presents, balloons, and silly hats. But Sir Topham Hatt says, `Henry is busy. Gordon is busy. James is busy. You must work today, Thomas.'" -From the book

Even though it is his birthday, Thomas is sent out to work on the railway. He works hard all day long, and is sad that no one wishes him a happy birthday. Has everyone forgotten?

At the end of the day, a dejected Thomas chugs into the darkened shed. "Some birthday", he thinks.

Just then the lights go on-and Thomas is given a wonderful surprise from the other engines, railway employees, and Sir Topham Hatt!

Happy Birthday, Thomas! is a Step 1 "Step into Reading" book that is geared to children in Preschool to Grade 1. The type is large, the sentences are short, and the illustrations are bright and colorful. There are no insults traded among the trains in this book, unlike the Thomas the Tank Engine stories geared to older children.

My Toddler Loves This Book
I bought this book for my first grader to read to her 19 month old brother, and it has quickly become my little one's favorite book.The illustrations are beautiful, and the text is simple.The concepts are riveting for little ones - trains, birthday, surprises, and a cow on the train tracks.We all enjoy this book, but my toddler absolutely loves it.

A Wonderful first reader
My 3 year old son loves Thomas right now.In this book, Thomas is sad because he must work on his birthday.But, while he works, his friends plan a surprise party for him.The language is very simple, and the simplevocabulary repeats often.So it is very easy for young children tounderstand and enjoy.My 3 year old can tell the story page by page.My22 month old son can tell parts of the story.They fight over the book.Irated the book 4 stars instead of 5 because children who don't know Thomasmight not look at it right away.But it is a lovely story, with very niceillustrations.The book is short, so it keeps their attention until theend. ... Read more