Down at the Docks (Thomas & Friends) [Paperback]

Rev. W. Awdry (Author), Richard Courtney (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Thomas is visiting the docks and is amazed at how busy all of his friends are! He wants to help out, but the other engines say they can do it on their own. It takes a big accident for Thomas to be able to prove what a Really Useful Engine he can be.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Thomas is visiting the docks and is amazed at how busy all of his friends are! He wants to help out, but the other engines say they can do it on their own. It takes a big accident for Thomas to be able to prove what a Really Useful Engine he can be.

About the Author

In 1944, a country vicar, the Reverend W Awdry, wrote the stories he had been telling his two young sons about a group of engines with very recognizable personalities. In 1945, the first book featuring Thomas and the other Really Useful Engines was published, and in the 60 years since, the tales of these friendly engines have become beloved classics around the world.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (October 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375825924
• ISBN-13: 978-0375825927
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Transportation
  • #43 in Books > Children's Books > Transportation
  • #57 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Popular Culture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Nice Thomas Adventure - a review of "Down at the Docks", February 24, 2006

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Down at the Docks (Thomas & Friends) (Paperback)

What fun! A big aquarium exhibit is coming to Tidmouth and the docks are hustling and bustling with activity. Cranky the Crane is unloading Bulstrode. Harvey is loading small crates of aquarium glass, while James and Salty are busy with their own tasks.

The only problem is, Thomas wants to help and he keeps getting told that he is too small to be of assistance. Sad because he can't find a job `his size', Thomas is about to head back to the Station when he comes across Salty with a huge, toothy shark in a see-thru tank. Surmising Thomas' sad state, Salty takes pity on Thomas and tells him that small engines **can** be useful, which is exactly what Thomas finds out.

When Percy is surprised by the shark in the tank, he loses control and runs right into Henry who then crashes into Harvey's freight car. This accident is so noisy and unexpected that Cranky gets spooked and drops a crate of seaweed on James, causing James to go off the track.

As we say at our home, everything was goomeywammered. And to make matters more complicated, the docks are such a scene of chaos that none of the large engines can move about. They are just too *big*.

On cue, in comes Thomas. He steps up and because of his smaller size, he is `Just The Right' engine to clear up the whole mess. The story ends with everything back to normal and everybody waiting in anticipation for the big exhibit to open.

Five Stars. Good Read-aloud. This book has good artwork (versus the photos that are taken from the TV show). Steamies abound. So many that almost any Thomas fan should be content.

Our small blue friend gets to be a hero. This confirms for small fry that you don't have to be big to be helpful. This book can even be used to help children to understand that no matter how big a mess is made, if everyone pitches in to help together, that mess can be cleaned up.

Pam T~
Mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Thomas Story books I've seen so far, November 22, 2004

By 

Sandy (Falls Church, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down at the Docks (Thomas & Friends) (Paperback)

My 3 year old son is a big fan of Thomas and Friends. This was one of the first books I bought for him. Since this book, I bought another one ("Cow on a Line") and the second book does not even come close to this one. "Down at the Docks" is illustrated not with photos but with drawings - and I think the drawings are far more effective in telling the story than the photos. "Down at the Docks" has a story line that is more plausible, and complete, than other books I've seen so far. It is my son's favorite book. The books that have more than one story (this one does not) seem to sell short on plot, and explanation of the story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book!!, January 25, 2005

By 

J. Diehl (Clovis, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Down at the Docks (Thomas & Friends) (Paperback)

My 3 year old son loves Thomas the train, and this is his favorite book. He loves the pictures and the story. We have other Thomas books, but he prefers this book over the others.