Good Books For Kids

In Thomas book terms, this collection is a real bargain. Hardback, it contains 24 stories previously found in 6 paperback volumes, and at a much lower price than you would have to pay if you bought all 6 paperbacks. (I recently found it listed for under $7 dollars US. The paperback books are about $3.25 - $3.99 each.)

The books and stories that are included are:

Thomas Gets Tricked
Thomas Gets Tricked
Come Out, Henry!
Henry to the Rescue
A Big Day for Thomas

Trouble for Thomas
Trouble for Thomas
Thomas Saves the Day
Thomas Goes Fishing
Terence the Tractor

A Cow on the Line
Double Trouble
Old Iron
Percy Takes the Plunge
A Cow on the Line

James in a Mess
Bertie's Chase
James in a Mess
Percy and the Signal
Percy Proves a Point

Diesel's Devious Deed
Pop Goes the Diesel
Diesel's Devious Deed
A Close Shave for Duck
Woolly Bear

Edwards Exploit
Donald and Douglas
The Deputation
The Diseasel
Edward's Exploit

Note: there is a stunning 2-page picture of Thomas and his coaches, Annie and Claribel, on the inside cover.

Considerations:::
Besides the value and convenience of having lots of stories in one volume, the major selling point of this book, in my opinion, is that both the pictures and the font are larger. A larger font makes it easier for children to read, and from my experience, less intimidating. Also, from my point of view, I appreciated that I didn't need to run off to find my reading glasses whenever my son decided it was time to share another story.

Hardcover: 185 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375840133
ISBN-13: 978-0375840135
Book Size: 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches

Now for the down side. This particular group of books are part of Random House's Please Read to Me collection which doesn't have the highest standards when it comes to making sure the stories are coherent. If you've read them with a child, or if you have read any good size selection of parent reviews of this series (including my own), then you know, or will soon find out that the stories are a bit choppy, with jumps in the plots. But having said that, I must say that I have found that children who are familiar with the television shows aren't much bothered by the choppiness, simply because they already know the stories.

One other complaint of adult readers, particularly moms, is that many of the Awdry stories include name calling and biffing and bashing. And lets face it, times have changed to the extent that we shield very young children from these sorts of themes. We don't, after all, want them bashing their playmates. My approach is to just change the language I don't like, and you might have your own methodology; but the sometimes nasty tone topic crops up enough that I thought it bared mentioning just one more time for the uninitiated.

Finally, it should be noted that the copy that I am reviewing came from the library and because was rebound by Perma-bound, I can't really say how sturdy the for-home book is.

Yeah! Another great Thomas book.

What a gorgeous book. Granted, the copy we got from the library has one of those shiny clear covers on it, which adds to the glamour, but this is really a very nice book. [My son declared that it was "awesome".]

Besides Tommy Stubbs great drawings --which I prefer over the pictures snatched from the television show-- this book introduces a new character and some new places. The character is Stanley, and the places are Great Waterton and the mysterious Morgan's Mine.

For those of you who may not have seen the movie, in the Great Discovery Thomas stumbles upon the boarded up township of Great Waterton. Sir Topham Hatt is so delighted that he puts Thomas in charge of the repair work. Thomas' boiler almost bursts with pride, but then the unthinkable happens and he gets injured and has to go to The Works. While he is gone, Sir Hatt puts Stanley in charge, and that doesn't change when Thomas returns.

Well, as you can all imagine Thomas' funnel is deflated by this situation. But in an un-Thomas-like move, our plucky hero doesn't pout too much, but does struggles forwards, working hard to show everyone that he is really useful. Unfortunately, in doing so, Thomas ends up getting stuck in Morgan's Mine.

But don't worry, it all ends up okay in the end, as Stanley and Thomas become friends.

Considerations:::
If you, or your Steamie loving buddy(s), have seen the movie, you will note that there are some differences between it and the book. For one thing, there is no 'wild' water ride. And for another, Thomas doesn't pout as much. These differences didn't seem to be a concern with my own in-house crew.

Besides the artwork, which I've already commented on, I liked the positive themes that are in this book. There isn't the dreaded 'hate' word, nor really any sort of name calling. In addition, it's very nice that the two 'opponents' (Thomas and Stanley) end as friends. From a mom's point of view, this is just an excellent Thomas book. Highly recommend it.

Pam T
Somewhere in the X-burbs

Thomas and the Great Discovery

Reading Information:
Word Count: 1,492
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 3.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 125779