Thomas the Tank Engine Story Collection Book

Many parents' first acquaintance with Thomas the Tank Engine has been through the huge amount of Thomas and Friends merchandise which was produced as a result of the popular Thomas and Friends television program. This program was inspired by Reverend Awdry's Railway Series, originally published in the 1940's.

The original books are based on the real workings of a British rail yard, and they center around the activities of Thomas the Tank Engine, who is likable, hard-working and often cheeky. He and his friends the other engines have distinct personalities, and many of their adventures and conflicts hinge on character flaws and lessons learned through mistakes. Although sometimes heavy-handed, Awdry's well-written stories illustrate the consequences of pride, self-importance and foolishness as well as the importance of friendship and respect. The moral lessons in the stories do often focus on the engines' performance and status in the train yard, with emphasis on dignity (or, in some cases, apparently sinful pride) and productivity (or the need to justify their place in the yard). Christian parents of children who struggle with legalistic self-righteousness may want to pre-screen the stories before reading.

This volume brings together 14 of the 41 original Thomas stories in a beautiful (and heavy) gift edition, complete with a ribbon bookmark and brief biographies of the stories' creators. The chapters are short and easy to read, making it an excellent fit for transitional readers and young listeners moving into chapter books. Because it is written in British English and has some railway terminology, it may be a slightly better read-aloud than read-alone. While all children who like trains ought to enjoy them, these stories will probably have a special appeal to young boys.