Customer Reviews

Smokey (Sandpiper Books)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We first gave this book to our 4-yr-old in 1984. It has been a favorite of every child since and we need a new copy! Poor Smokey, afraid of being relegated to the junkyard decides to escape the dreary day-to-day activities of a switch engine. Mr. Peet fully utilizes his poetic genius while describing the escape. Smokey eventually is returned to the train yard with a damaged smokestack. You'll have to read the end to find out what an ingenious teacher has in store for Smokey.

Smokey is one of my two all-time favorite books from childhood (the other is Dr. Seuss' now hard-to-find "The King Who Wore Stilts"). My son loves it, too. Bill Peet's adoration of trains is certainly evident in this loving tale about a little switching engine who changes tracks in life. Its a great tale for adults, too.

We have quite a library of Bill Peet books, and we always come back to this one.

Old, hard working, Smokey the coal engine overhears he's headed for the train junkyard, and decides to make a run-for-it. He runs into troubles out on the wide open rails, but soon finds a productive way to spend his happy days.

This was the first Bill Peet book I bought for my oldest boy, now 24. They didn't have the audio version then so I created my own and sent it with the book to him in England to listen to. He listened almost every night according to my irate ex wife! Now I'm reading it to my second son and it's one of his favorites too amongst all of Bill Peet's books. I am now a narrator of digital children's books and I cannot tell you how I wish other writers could write and illustrate like Bill did. Every book is a jewel, and every one inspires a vivid picture in the kid's head and for me as a professional reader, the way he writes gives me tremendous inspiration to put every ounce of enthusiasm I have into my interpretation. He makes me a good actor and creates so successfully, the vision in our heads that every children's writer strives for. You will love this book. Oh, and so will your kids!

This is a fun read - I enjoy reading verse, and this flows nicely and doesn't feel forced. But there are sections that would now be considered politically incorrect. Combine it with "The Caboose is Loose" for a young train lover.

I never grew tired of reading this book to my children. Am sending copies to my nephews but I can't part with the original because it is my favorite.

I loved Bill Peet books as a child, and I still really like them today. I remember every character and every plot from 20 years ago. The illustrations are cute and captivating, the characters are engaging, the stories and well told, and each book has a meaning. There are few authors who can create such a fine balance in childrens' books.

My almost 4-year old son loved this book from the first time we borrowed it from the library. He asked us to read it to him daily until we returned it. He keeps asking us to borrow it from the library again and again so I finally gave in and bought it. :)

These are written at a 4th to 5th grade reading level, making them great read a louds for the younger crowd and also good reading material for a child reading on 3rd to 5th grade reading level. Yes, they are picture books, but children who are overwhelmed with reading chapter books may enjoy these and even children who do enjoy reading chapter books will stay enjoy reading a good picture book.

Many picture books are written at a 2nd to 3rd grade level, but bill peet books are written at a little higher level making them good reading for a little older child.

My son and I love Bill Peet books. The author seems to have a terrific mix of humor, creativity and good artwork. This book is wonderful. The rhyming text is enjoyable to read. My son talks about things he sees in the artwork which he doesn't do with most picture books. Am really glad I picked up this book.