Puff-Puff, Chugga-Chugga (Hardcover)

by Christopher Wormell (Illustrator) "Once there was a little train that ran along a line between the conductor's cottage and the town, and back again..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
"I have a funny feeling today will be a busy one," the train conductor thinks to himself in the opening of Wormell's (Blue Rabbit and Friends) latest success. And he's right. Hilariously rotund Mrs. Walrus, Mr. Bear and Mrs. Elephant each pour themselves into a car of the train. In town, they virtually clean out the shelves of the fishmonger, baker and greengrocer. Wormell portrays the tiny locomotive as the wooden-toy variety, with open cars in bright colors of red, blue, yellow and pink, linked by tongue-in-groove hitches. The cozy train is overwhelmed by its passengers, precariously balancing their packages. Just when the dwarfed conductor seems to be at the end of his rope, Mrs. Elephant sneezes, hurling the riders and their groceries hither and yon and derailing the train. A distinctly British brand of ingenuity and unflappability in the face of calamity informs the animals' calm response ("It's just a question of leverage," says Mrs. Elephant matter-of-factly to the panicked conductor, as she helps put the train back on its tracks). But even readers on this side of the pond will find the resolution witty. Wormell humorously emphasizes the animals' amazing girth in contrast to the toy train's diminutive size, while simultaneously evoking the calm beauty of the Victorian picture book. Every tableau is a feast of elegant, formal lines and patinaed colors. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreS-The conductor of a small toylike train has a funny feeling that his day is going to be a busy one. His first passenger going to town to do shopping is Mrs. Walrus. "Oh dear-She won't fit. But she did." The little train puffs and chuggas to pick up Mr. Bear next-and he's enormous, too, but he fits. The man's concern deepens as he approaches Mrs. Elephant. On the return trip, the huge animals and their massive purchases miraculously still fit into the little train. "It's just a question of balance," says Mrs. Elephant. Then disaster strikes when a bee flies into her trunk. Wormell's characters are delightfully illustrated in clear, bright oil-pastel crayons that define elements but with a soft edge that lends an old-fashioned quality to the artwork. Preschoolers will love the repetitious "puff-puff, chugga-chugga" as the little train makes its way along the track, and the concluding statement at the end of each double-page spread ("And it was"/"But she did"/"So they did," etc.) adds to the fun. However, when the conductor leaves the animals asleep in a big heap and goes off to his cottage for his good night's sleep, children may wonder how the animals are going to get home. Still, the book guarantees preschool audience participation and it's also good for a one-on-one lap-sit.-Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689839863
• ISBN-13: 978-0689839863
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #547,205 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, August 28, 2001

By A Customer

I love this book because I like the pictures. I like the part in the story where the elephant sneezes and the conductor says "Oh no!" I like the part where the animals take so much food on the train. It is also fun to find the bee. We love this book at our house! The End.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Postiive Attitude Book, June 22, 2001

By	Austinlvr "movie lover" (Merritt Island, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful little story about a train engineer and his passengers . . . an elephant, a walrus, and a bear. He is very sure they won't fit in his train, but they do. After they do their grocery shopping they try to reboard the train. The train enigneer is sure they won't fit now, but they do. However, on the way home the elephant sneezes and all of the groceries and the train cars go flying. The conductor thinks everything is ruined. But the animals decide to have a picnic and enjoy the food. The conductor is still unhappy though because he thinks his train can't be put back on the tracks, but, of course, it can.

It is a very cute story that teaches children to look on the bright side, everything usually works out... The pictures are wonderful and there are great sound effects children love to hear.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read-aloud train book for little ones!!, November 11, 2001

By A Customer

This book has been a big hit when used with groups of kids from kindergarten through second grade! The pictures engage the children, the story "pattern" delights them, and the surprises that popped up were equally enjoyable. Kids can not keep from responding aloud, "Puff, puff, chugga, chugga!" and "...But they did!"