Customer Reviews

The Little Train

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This review covers both the board book (ISBN 037582264X; 32 pp.; c. 2002) and hardcover (ISBN 0375810714; 56 pp.; c. 2000) editions of *The Little Train* by Lois Lenski.

*The Little Train* was originally published in 1940 and hails approximately from the same era as Awdry's "Railway Series" (known to most children today as Thomas the Tank Engine stories). The level of detail in the original picture book will please the most ardent of youthful train fans: from the parts of the steam engine, to the coal hopper and water tower, to the roundhouse and turntable, to the semaphores (signals) and siding, etc. By today's standards, the illustrations may seem old-fashioned, but there is a certain charm to the depiction of the countryside and railway scenes that isn't found in today's train picture books. The story focuses on a steam engine's journey from Tinytown to "the city," led by Engineer Small, Conductor Little, and Fireman Shorty. The text is lengthy and prosy in comparison to today's picture books, and is probably best suited to 4 year-olds and older (or very attentive and train-obsessed 3 year-olds). However, my 25 month-old train freak will happily sit through the story at least once, but that's probably because he's the spawn of two librarians.

The board book is an abridged version of the original hardcover, and is only 32 pages in length (compared to the original 56 pages). About a third of the illustrations are omitted, and others are cropped. The colors are a bit different from the 2000 reissue--for example, the passenger cars are more of a reddish hue (like the 1 train on the NYC subway), rather than orange brown. Engineer Small is still the main character, but Conductor Little and Fireman Shorty are not even mentioned, although they do appear in the abbreviated story (it's actually Conductor Little who checks his watch, not Engineer Small). Most of the details about the steam engine and railway are summarized or omitted altogether, which was disappointing to my 25 month-old son. He was accustomed to the longer version that we'd borrowed from the library. This simplified board book version is suitable for 1-3 year-olds, and the youngest of railfans who want to graduate from Donald Crews' *Freight Train* or Byron Barton's *Trains*.

Five stars for the original version, and four stars for the board book edition.

As the tagline goes, "And that's all--about Engineer Small"!

I like trains a lot and this book tells about how you run trains, especially steam ones. Engineer Small and Conductor Little are really nice as they take you on a tour of the train and then on a journey. The pictures are fun and neat plus are detailed and name parts of the engine. There are even good safety ideas! I think any little boy or girl would like this book like I do!

My 4 year-old Thomas and Friends fan likes this little book which features Engineer Small and his black and shiny engine. While the book doesn't have the Thomas-and-Percy-like personalities which so engage small fry, it does have plenty of drawings of trains and a great deal more factual information than the Rev. Awdry series.

For example, I had no idea that trains have anything called a `sand dome'. This is a dome that looks like the steam dome only -according to Wikipedia-it holds sand in case the tracks get icy or slick and the engine can't gain traction. (huh-who knew?) The book also demonstrates how coal and water are added to the tender, and how switches and what-not are dealt with.

Four Stars. An informative book about trains for young children.

Another great Lois Lenski book. (This one and Cowboy Small are our favorites.) My son was 2 when we started reading all the train books we could find. This one and Chugga Chugga Choo Choo (by Lewis and Kirk) are our picks for best toddler train books. Both can be read over and over and over without getting boring, and this one is actually educational, as well as fun.

Illustrations are good.At present my son is a bit young to understand it.But he loves trains.So the book is a hit with him

The Little Train (board book version) has been a hit with our son since he was 6 months old. At 11 months, he started referring to any train he saw as, "huff! huff! huff!" thanks to this book. The Lois Lenski illustrations are second to none, and the colorful pictures keep our son engaged. Our son has yet to graduate to the hardcover version (which is apparently longer and more involving), and despite negative comments against the board book version I've read, I have to say that its shorter length is about all our 17 month old has the patience for... plus, he likes to rip paper pages, so the board book version has been perfect so far. This is one of our son's favorite of the "Small/Little" series of board books. Also recommended: "Policeman Small," The Little Fire Engine" and "Cowboy Small."

My four-year-old son is a died in the wool Thomas the Train fan. So when we were in the library yesterday, he picked this book out all by himself. We both enjoyed it very much.

For me, the lovely illustrations from the 1940s are what I found fascinating. They remind me of the books by Virginia Lee Burton ("Katy and the Big Snow" and "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel"), who wrote/illustrated during the same time period. They both have a special charm not seen in today's glossy computer graphic-driven children's books.

My son loved the detailed story of Engineer Small and Conductor Little driving the little train from the small town to the big city. He was delighted to hear terms so familiar to him (tender, steam dome, boiler) in a book other than one about Thomas the Train.

We are definitely going to find the rest of Ms. Lenski's books to enjoy!

As an adult I thought this book was going to fail with our three year old nephew, but he absolutely loves it. We read it over and over. He is obsessed with the drawbridge and the tunnel. He loves talking about the different types of cars on the train and why there are signals for trains. This book was a hit right off the bat. Don't be intimidated by the seriousness of the material. If you have child who loves trains, give this book a try and you will be surprised at how quickly this book will become a favorite.

This book is a favorite of our (train loving) toddler. The illustrations are sweet, the text is simple but engaging. This is what all books for toddlers should be.

My 7 month old loves this book. It's been her favorite book for a few months now. Just mention 'Lois Lenski' & her face lights up. This has beautiful illustrations & very informative as well as entertaining.
As a parent it is refreshing reading something from the 60's. I really enjoyed this book & look forward to more Lenski books I have ordered.