Stop, Train, Stop! a Thomas the Tank Engine Story (Thomas & Friends) (Beginner Books(R)) [Hardcover]

Rev. W. Awdry (Author), Jane E. Gerver (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Beginner Books(R)

Illustrated in full color. When Thomas the Tank Engine decides to bypass his usual stops and speed directly to the end of the line, havoc ensues. Passengers bounce up and down in their seats and in their beds, no one can get on or off the train, and everything in the baggage car gets mixed up!  

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Illustrated in full color. When Thomas the Tank Engine decides to bypass his usual stops and speed directly to the end of the line, havoc ensues. Passengers bounce up and down in their seats and in their beds, no one can get on or off the train, and everything in the baggage car gets mixed up!  

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1St Edition edition (April 18, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679858067
• ISBN-13: 978-0679858065
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.4 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thomas Book for Small Fry - a review of "Stop, Train, Stop!", February 8, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Stop, Train, Stop! a Thomas the Tank Engine Story (Thomas & Friends) (Beginner Books(R)) (Hardcover)

"Stop, Train, Stop" is an odd little book. For one thing, it purports to be a "beginning" reader, and for another thing, Thomas not only has Annie and Clarabelle but dining, sleeping, and luggage cars!

Now as most people know [;-)], Thomas' branch line is not long enough to warrant either a sleeping or dining car. (Sometimes its frightening how much this mom knows about Sodor-but I know I'm not alone.) Still, the plot is interesting enough that most fans won't be too worried about this discrepancy. And Owen Bell does a nice job in illustrating this little story.

The story takes place one day when Thomas decides not to stop at any of his assigned stations. Instead he rushes head-long and willy-nilly to the end of the line, only to find that this rushing about didn't make him as happy as he thought it would. Turns out Thomas missed his friends along the way. He missed seeing the cows that `moo' hello to him, and he missed the children that wave as he goes by.

In it's own way, "Stop, Train, Stop!" is a stop and smell the roses allegory. It explains to children how `bad' things can happen if you rush about your business. [Certainly the cook on the dining car and the passengers weren't happy!]

Which brings us to the other oddity about this book, that Random House considers it to be a "beginning" reader. Now, I'm no expert, but I do have a beginning reader --kindergartener-and she certainly can't even begin to read this as there are frequently 20 or more words per page and a heavy use of past tense.

But judge for yourself from the text below. The first page has more text than most pages.

Every day Thomas the Tank Engine
chugged from the start of his line
to the end of his line
and back again.
"All aboard!"
called the little blue engine's conductor.

Three and a Half Stars. Okay story that young Thomas fans will no doubt like. A sort of stop and smell the roses tale.

Addendum:

Well time has passed and I've discovered all sorts of things like the Accelerated Reading (AR) scale. And I was mostly correct. While "Stop, Train, Stop" is an early reader, it isn't a true beginning primer as it is listed as a 2.0 on the Accelerated Reading scale. To the newly initiated this means that the book is suitable for First Graders in the fifth month of school.

And just so you know, the AR description is a general "guide" that rates books on a relative scale of difficulty. Children can certainly read at levels above or below their group range, so that this number should only be used as a aid to help choose books that are appropriate and not frustrating.

~Pam T 2007

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the very young book lovers!, August 23, 2000

By 

Rachael S. Pensiero (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stop, Train, Stop! A Thomas the Tank Engine Story (Board book)

This book uses simple language and a simple plot that is just right for very young children. I bought this book for my son when he was about six monthes old and he loved it even then. Now he is two and it is still his favorite. It has also proved to be fairly durable. I do agree with another reviewer that it is not the most facinating book for adults to read, but...This is a great "starter" book to help your young child learn to love to read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simply written, but very popular in my house!, January 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Stop, Train, Stop! a Thomas the Tank Engine Story (Thomas & Friends) (Beginner Books(R)) (Hardcover)

This book would be an excellent first reader for a Thomas fan. It's very simply written, but would really hold a beginning reader's interest. My sons don't read yet, but they love to have it read to them, although I must admit it's not the most fascinating book for the adult reader! They love the scenes where the train is going too fast and all sorts of things are splashing and crashing around because the train is going too fast.