Book Description

Ed Emberley can show any one how to draw anything, and in one of these two big, colorful volumes he shows us all how to draw trucks and trains that are full of energy and power.Previously published more than twenty years ago in four small, two-color formats, the books now take on new vitality in these large full-color formats.Both children and adults will find Ed Emberley's "vocabulary" of shapes and letters easy to use as they employ his step-by-step method of constructing a drawing.These two books join the popular library of Ed Emberley's drawing books and they will be welcomed and used by novice artists both at home and in school. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Just 50 words tell how Thomas the Tank Engine races

Gordon, a big engine, to see who can get to the other side of the hill first.

Included is a page of cut-out mini learning cards--one for each word in the

story.




... Read more

Reviews (10)

A great book to read to your preschooler!
Catch Me, Catch Me is my three-year-old son's favorite book! Using only 50 words, it tells the story of a race between two engines, Thomas and Gordon. It's "catchy" rhymes are easy to remember. The colorful pictures contain other characters from the "Thomas the Tank Engine" series. Especially useful is the back page, which is a set of flash cards of the words contained in the story. Give "Catch Me, Catch Me" to a little one you know -- you'll enjoy reading as much as they enjoy hearing it!

Catch Me, Catch Me!: A Thomas the Tank Engine Story
Our two year old loves this book. We read it to him 100 times the first week. He walks around the house asking for it all day long. Go, Go, Go are his new favorite words now!

Cute!
My two year old loves this flip book filled with surprises. It's colorful and creative!

mixed review
There are some good things and some bad things about this Thomas the Tank Engine story book. The illustrations are action-filled and colorful, the text is simple, and the book includes tiny flash cards for helping your beginning reader; however, the text is also confusing. In order to stick to 50 words the author has sacrificed clarity and readability. It's not always clear who is speaking, and rhymes are often strained and awkward. Also the lesson is not that slow and steady wins the race, as others have stated, but that Thomas is losing but then finds a shortcut through a tunnel. All-in-all, not the best of this educational and entertaining series.

Thomas does it again
What a wonderful wonderful story for youngsters. It's simple yet catchy text encourages pre-reading. Also has a good message-- slow and steady wins the race. My 2 and 3 year old boys love it. Be prepared to read this one over and over. You'll have it memorized in no time!! ... Read more

Book Description

Full-color photos from the videos. Thomas once again finds himself off on

the wrong track in the title story of this group of four train tales featuring

the lovable tank engine.




... Read more

Reviews (3)

Thomas always pleases
You can always count on Thomas for your kids to enjoy. His stories are almost always a lesson, but fun in the process. I only wish that there were more tapes and story combinations available. I still do prefer to read to my son, but he also loves to just listen to the story by itself while playing. I hope they come out with more soon.

Makes air travel great!
My 3-year-old son listened to this cassette repeatedly with a walkman when we took a 4 hour flight. A stress-free flight courtesy of Thomas.

No trouble for kids
My son loves Thomas the Tank Engine and this book, with the cassette, helps him with his pronunciation of the words that he is having trouble saying. I wish that there were more then 4 books on tape with Thomas. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A little boy in a striped engineer cap and overalls extols the manyvirtues of trains in this boldly colored celebration of that most romantic formof transportation. Holding a toy train, he gazes out his bedroom window onto thebucolic countryside bisected by a set of tracks, while train cars "hoot and roaras they rumble by my door." One long train stretches over the course of thebook; every two-page spread features several types of cars and the boy's simple,rhyming descriptions. "Some carry steel; some carry scrap, or secret stuffthat's under wrap." The latter shows what's obviously an airplane, under cover.Vibrant swaths of color and heavy black outlines make the vivid, almostchildlike pictures particularly pleasing to the eye. And as the last car roundsthe bend, we discover there's a special reason our hero loves trains so much,especially the caboose! Tiny train fans will cheer to find this delightfulcompanion to Philemon Sturges and Shari Halpern's I Love Trucks!. (Ages 3 to 6)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A must have
My 2 1/2 year old son has loved this book for over a year, and has it completely mesmorized. I have taped the pages so many times, I am going to have to break down and by another one. The inside cover naming all the diffent types of train cars is awesome. You have to have this book, it is THE BEST.

I Love Trains
My grandson loved the library copy of book so much that I checked it out for him many times and finally bought him his own copy for his birthday. The text and art go together perfectly and trains are popolar with lots of little kids.

Simple, clever rhyme -- vibrant and fun illustrations!
My son has loved this book since we discovered it in our local library when he was only 16 months old. We check it out constantly and his face always lights up when he sees it. My 5 year old daughter loves to read it to him and enjoys it almost as much as our little train enthusiast. He'll be so happy when he finds this among his presents at his upcoming 3rd birthday party.

Simple, colorful.
I LOVE TRAINS is a reading one-on-one book, but it's really two books in one. The first is a simple book that lets the child learn to read, telling about the uses of different kinds of cars on trains. But it's also a great picture book. The illustrations are colorful, fun, and contain lots of interesting things to look at. Several of the pictures are excellent for sitting with a child and making up a story, or for asking the child "What do you see in this picture? What's going on?" A great Rx for the imagination.

a sweet poem for train lovers
If someone in your house loves trains, they will find a kindred spirit in the little boy who narrates this delightful book. He tells us what he likes about a passing train ("I like trains that hoot and roar/as they rumble by my door"), and the surprise at the end is sweet. Illustrations are bright, outlined scenes in a rural setting. Some illustrations are very simple and others are filled with activity. The boy's dad is mentioned and seen in the story, nice for kids to see. And, as a bonus, the endpages show and describe the various kinds of train cars -- the tender and engine, a hopper, boxcar, flatcars, a tanker, gondolas and the caboose. This is a deceptively simple book that can be a joy and an enrichment for you and your little train lover. ... Read more

Book Description

Straight from the latest Thomas video come three delightful new tales from the Island of Sodor. Thomas fans will laugh when Percy has an accident at the chocolate factory; meet a new engine named Salty, who has a secret; and go through a tough day with Harold the Helicopter. Filled with gentle humor and lots of photo illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Big Trains, small trains, old trains, and new, rattling and whistling -- Choo, choo, choo!Preschoolers will chuckle as a wacky animal crew toots the whistle and treats them to the delights only a train journey can offer. Clickety-clack, whizz down the track, slow to a railroad crossing, rumble through a tunnel, and finally pull into the station where passengers await the fastest holiday flyer of them all! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A favorite gift
I first got this book for my son two years ago and we've been giving it as a gift ever since. The rhyming text and colorful pictures hold their attention and the special train info in the back is cute also. My son loves the other 3 titles in the series: Dazzling Diggers, Roaring Rockets, and Flashing Fire Engines. Great price for a hardcover book!

"I want it NOWWWWW"
A must-have for the young train enthusiast, this book's cadence is charming and infectious. Its pictures are simple yet engaging. I have just ordered a replacement copy for my 3-year-old, who is heartbroken at the loss of his original copy. ... Read more

Book Description

This wonderful collection contains three complete favorites: Thomas and the Tiger, Thomas and the Birthday Party, and James and the Balloons. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Best Thomas books - particulary for young kids
My older son is a huge Thomas fan, and had me read him "Thomas the Tank Engine's Big Blue Treasury" every night for weeks when I bought it. My second son (2 years old) also now adores this book and never tires of the story. Unlike some of the "classic" stories, these are very pleasant and great for small children, as well as for early readers. The books also have bigger and brighter illustrations than many Thomas books, and with 3 stories in one book you get good value. If you have kids between 18 months and 7 or 8 years old, this book is a winner (all of this applies equally to the Big Yellow Treasury - the two favorites out of the 30 plus Thomas books the boys have).

You can't always rely on reviews!
My 20 month old son makes us read this book every night before bedtime. He loves the stories, bland though they may be.... I think they're charming, simple stories without being babyish. I have no problem with the nastiness that is present in other Thomas books missing from these stories. My son doesn't need to be exposed to that at his age. The colorful illustrations match well to the text.

Easy to read
I bought this book for my son who just learned to read. He loves it because the pictures are colorful with not too many words (circa 20-30 per page). Most of all, he is a big fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. ... Read more

Book Description

Finally, the perfect book for kids to imagine their own Thomas stories. Six magnetic pages show classic Thomas locales. With nine magnets (Thomas, Percy, Gordon, James, Henry, Mavis, Harold, and two Troublesome Trucks), kids can make up a new scenario every time they play!
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Terrific book!
While the story is so-so, the fact that it has magnets is a definite plus! Keeps the kids busy in the car, at home, anywhere and the magnets store nicely on the side of the book! ... Read more

Book Description

Thomas is picking up presents. Toby’s car is full of flowers from the field. Percy is carrying a cake and Gordon has guests. Why? It’s Sir Topham Hatt’s birthday, but shhh! It’s a surprise! ... Read more

Book Description

Progress forces Smokey the switch engine out of a job until he discovers a new way to help people. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's one of childhood's most time-honored pursuits: counting cars whilewaiting at a train crossing. Celebrated poet Philip Booth has captured itsappeal and unmistakable cadence with precision and wit, backed by the vibrant,nostalgic illustrations of Moscow-trained first-timer Bagram Ibatoulline.

The poem "Crossing" first appeared in Booth's 1957 debut collection, Lettersfrom a Distant Land, so parents and grandparents might have an easier timethan kids recognizing some of these freight carriers: "B&M boxcar, / boxcaragain, / Frisco gondola, / eight-nine-ten, /Erie and Wabash, Seaboard,U.P., / Pennsy tankcar, twenty-two, three." But the rhythms remain thesame, and even if the automobiles stopped at the crossing look like they hailfrom Havana, kids still won't be able to keep from counting the tankers andboxcars on this old-time steam engine.

Booth still lives in his childhood home, and he's clearly hung onto thatwide-eyed perspective in his fast, loose language. Lucky for us it's beenpreserved and revived--and even enriched, thanks to Ibatoulline--in this sweetand well-executed adaptation. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sumptuous poetry and illustrations
I love it when I find a book that my 3 year old son and I can agree on. We stumbled on to this one at the library and are about to buy our own copy. The book features a short poem about waiting for a train to go by at a crossing. The illustrations evoke a 1940s or 1950s era and are meticulously done. It doesn't take long to read the words on each page, but your eye is drawn into the pictures and you will want to linger a bit before turning the page.

Although the poem is about counting train cars, this is NOT a counting book for children. The sequence is forshortened so that you reach the 100th car (the caboose) within a few pages. The illustrations are photographically (and historically) accurate and show some of the different types of cars (gondola, box car, tanker car).

As a mother, I was slightly dismayed at the illustrations of children playing near the tracks in one scene, so I have used it as a reference point to discuss what isn't safe around trains. But this shouldn't be taken as a flaw in the book. All around, this is a fantastic book and I'm pleased to see it's due out in paperback soon.

Captivating illustrations
My two year old son is nuts for trains. This book is beautifully illustrated and the poem is a wonderful change from the usual toddler book prose. My son and I like this book so much that I have taken the time to write a review! You will be glad you added this one to your child's library.

One of my favorite toddler books
Our son (2.5 years old) loves this book. The cadence of the poem is engaging and the art is stupendous. The style wonderfully evokes the times of steam rail and the colors are gorgeous. This one is truly beautiful. If your child loves trains, this is a must-own.

Amazingly detailed artwork
"Crossing," which combines a simple poem by Philip Booth with artwork by Bagram Ibatoulline, is about a rairoad crossing. Here are some sample lines: "warning whistle, bellclang, / engine eating steam, / engineer waving, / a fast-freight dream." As the train passes we see the various types of cars (boxcars, a cattle car, etc.). What makes the book special is the artwork: vibrant, realistic, and packed full of intricate details.

Great illustrations but no story...
My 5 year old son loves trains and train books but says this book is "boring" (and I have to agree). I think he finds it confusing. Rather than a story (with a beginning, middle & end) this book lists train car names one page says "Phoebe Snow, B&O, Thirty-four, five". ... Read more

Book Description

Chug along with The Little Engine That Could in this delightful padded hardcover special edition that includes all your favorite Little Engine titles in one package. Complete with 176 pages of engaging text and colorful illustrations, The Little Engine That Could Storybook Treasury reacquaints readers with the original classic and introduces them to newer titles. A great value for anyone who wants to share in all of the Little Blue Engine's journeys and adventures!

Illustrated by Christina Ong. ... Read more

Book Description

The Iron Horse was coming...Thundering and panting and breathing black smoke, it was a fearsome thing. The Cheyenne people had never seen a steam locomotive before, and it terrified them. Would it come right over the hill, into their camp, just as the relentless soldiers and white settlers had done before?

Powerful words and pictures tell the true story of August 7, 1867 -- the only time an "Iron Horse" was derailed by Native Americans. It is a tale of courage and pride and of a people caught up in an unequal struggle to preserve their sacred way of life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A moment of triumph
Illustrated by Mr. Goble's usual beautiful pictures, this is the dramatic story of the time that a group of plains Indian warriors fought against the invasion of the "iron horse", or steam train. ... Read more

Book Description

All Aboard!

Have your tickets ready for the most exciting ride of your life on the Dinosaur Train!

Reviews (5)

My 2 year old can read it to me!
This book has beautiful pictures! My 2 year old son loves trains and what boy doesn't love dinos? The perfect combo. My boy can read the book to me without missing a beat! I have had to tape pages back in in the paperback book we have because we have read it so many times! A favorite in our house!

My son's favorite
My 2 year old son loves this book! We borrowed it one day from the library and I have to get one of his own, because he doesn't want to give the library book back. It is a little short for bedtime reading, so I read it twice and he loves it. (...) I would recommend this book very highly to other parents.

Cute but not a favorite
This is a cute book but rather short. Doesn't make the cut for our nightly bedtime reading. Once in a great while my 5 year old will choose to sit down with it but definitely not one of his favorites.

All Aboard for Fun.....
"Thursday was a day much like any other for Jesse. Trains and dinosaurs. Dinosaurs and trains. Just before bed, Jesse drew one last picture. Suddenly there was a loud noise and the whole house began to shake..." Hop aboard! From the dining car, to the sky window, to the tunnel up ahead and more, join Jesse and his prehistoric friends for the ride of a lifetime on the dinosaur train..... John Steven Gurney really captures the essence of young dinosaur and train lovers in this endearing little picture book. His simple text is kept to a minimum, as he lets his vibrant and evocative artwork tell the story. Each dazzling two-page spread engages, and is filled with bold color, playful details, and marvelous facial expressions, that will captivate little ones, and send imaginations soaring. Perfect for preschoolers, Dinosaur Train is a read-aloud crowd pleaser, and is sure to become an instant favorite at your house.

Absolutely Wonderful!
Dinosaur Train is absolutely wonderful. What a perfect combination - trains and dinosaurs. The bright, bold illustrations capture your attention and draw you into the story. The illustrations are so creative and fun. Any child will love this book, especially those who love trains and dinosaurs! ... Read more

Book Description

A little black train goes down the track. Clickety clack, clickety clack. There are chatting yaks, seven tumbling acrobats, a troupe of ducks going quack quack quack, and even some elephants on the little black train going down the track. With each new stop, the train gets more and more crowded, and noisier and noisier. Unfortunately for Driver Zach, two little mice give him a headache attack! This bright and colorful ride is packed withrhymes that will have even the littlest passengers chiming along.

"The words bounce along to the rhythm of a train on its way, and the swell of the sound effects makes this a joy to read aloud."
-Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Reviews (9)

So So
I hate to go against most of the other reviews but I wasn't all that excited by this one. My daughters who like trains weren't either.

The illustrations were warm and fun and the rhyming was well done. I guess I really didn't like the story line. It was a bit of a downer. Everyone is having fun on the train and the engineer says he's got a headache and unless everyone is quiet, he'll turn the train around. So by the end the engineer is happy but everyone else looks kind of sad.

OK, But not really for train freaks
I was hoping for something to placate the train lust of my two year old. This is really about the hubbub ON a train. But it doesn't really capture my little train freak's attention.

Great pictures and captions
Nice addition to our 'train' collection.

Wonderful story and great illustrations!
My 2 year-old loves this book. It flows so nicely that I often sing the story to her, with her bouncing along to the "beat." Within no time, she had the book memorized. Its a fun story and the illustrations are lively and colorful.

Rhythm and Rhyme
We stumbled upon this book at the California Train Museum in Sacramento about 5 months ago and have been completely entralled with this masterpiece ever since. Not only are the illustrations vibrant and entertaining, the text offers a very special attribute: the rhyme actually has a train rhythm. Pulling out of the station the train clicks along at a slow pace, "The little black train goes down the track. Clickety clack, clickety clack." As the text tells who is on the train (yaks, acrobats, ducks, elephants...) and what they are doing (talking, singing, quacking, stomping...) it builds to a frantic speed until "two mice light fireworks" and give Driver Zach a "headache attack." At that point the "rhythm" of the "train" begins to slow as the passengers calm down and behave themselves and the train settles into an even-paced canter and leaves Driver Zach with a smile on his face. My then pre-2 year old had this book memorized within the first week and still asks for it daily. Another thing we found fun is to read it while whispering -- the rhythm is accentuated when you whisper and my son thinks it is especially funny. I cannot give this book more than 5 stars, unfortunately, but think that one that includes great artwork, catchy rhyming text, and incorporates a train rhythm to boot should be at the top of any train and/or rhythm and rhyme lover's book list. ... Read more

Book Description

With 75 full-color reusable stickers, inviting scenes to decorate, and appealing, high-interest subjects, it's no wonder kids are stuck on Sticker Stories!Climb aboard! These passenger and freight trains are ready to go-speeding down the tracks, running through the city, climbing up mountains, and chugging back into the station! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good for one time use only -- but still fun for a low price
Sticker Stories Trains

By Edward Miller
This paperback book tells a little story about trains (well, a loose story). There are 75 "reusable" stickers showing cartoon-like trains. There are all different trains, coaches, box cars, diesel engines, subways, steam engines, etc. The text is vague so the child can use their imagination and their own creativity to create their own trains and I think that is great. There are lots of different scenes that the children then paste the train cars onto the rails.

My complaint is that these stickers are not really re-usable. Even when we tried removing a sticker within minutes of putting it on the page it curled up onto itself, got all stuck, and had to be thrown away. Other times when we tried to re-stick it to the paper, it simply would not stick fully and peeled up by itself and made a mess. I really resent the marketing of these so-called reusable stickers (by this company and other publishers) when really they are not reusable. Also my 4 year-old son got very frustrated with them rolling up and getting ruined when he did not cause the problem! He wanted me to "fix it" but I simply could not.

Once the stickers are in place the book can be re-read and browsed as a completed book which is great.

Overall my children have played with this enough to have gotten good use of the 75 stickers for the low price... so I am granting it a 3 star rating. Other books with similar issues charge a much higher price and/or don't allow as much creativity as this book. This would make an excellent project for long car trips or air flights.

Great, realistic illustrations & tons of stickers!
My four year-old son LOVES trains, and this book is fantastic. Tons of realistic stickers that can be placed on various landscapes. He absolutely loves this book. I highly recommend this book and any others in this series. They are an excellent value! ... Read more