Thomas and Friends: Henry and the Elephant (Step into Reading) (Paperback)

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

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The engines are very excited when the circus comes to Sodor. Everyone wants to pull the special freight cars and coaches. Henry carefully pushes an empty truck into the dark tunnel to clear the track. Imagine his surprise when something starts to push back!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375839763
• ISBN-13: 978-0375839764
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,003 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I like it., July 27, 2007

A Kid's Review

cute book. I know mu sisters will like this. and i will be fun for my baby sister to learn about useful engines and to help others in need. so im adding this to her wish list now.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Adventure for Newer Readers - a review of "Henry and the Elephant", July 5, 2007

By	Pam Tee "Harmless" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Let me tell you about my experience with the Thomas and Friends 'Step-into-Reading' books. Some of them are very good. The 'retelling' of the story works and the book is a total success. Others, like this one, fall a little short. In this case, there are gaps in the storyline you could fit an elephant into. Likewise, for a book meant for those who need help reading, there are some larger vocabulary words than you might expect.

More difficult words include: grumbled, something, grunted, foreman, scary, hardest, backwards, and laughed.

That said, I still give this book fairly high marks SIMPLY because of the subject: Henry! And as long as your child is already familiar with the story, he/she probably won't note the continuity problems. And I have found with my son (now 5) that he will soon learn any new words simply because he is so darned motivated to read about one of his favorite Steamies. So...

Four Stars. Very Good Artwork. Okay Read-aloud. The retelling of the story is rather dubious, but that fact is more than offset by the motivational topic. "Henry and the Elephant" can be enjoyed by non-reading youngsters, and I would say that it would serve as a reader for children with about 6 months solid reading experience under their belts. [No 'official' reading level designation could be found by this mom.]

Find following some text from the book so you can judge for yourself:

The Foreman had a plan.
Henry could push trucks
into the tunnel.

"Wheesh," said Henry.
Henry did not like
tunnels.
He was scared.