Child Book Review 10: The Little Engine That Could - Retold by Watty Piper

WHAT IS IT ABOUT? This is definitely a classic as classics go. It's about a little train, filled with good things for little boys and girls. The train's job is to deliver the stuff to the other side of the mountain. The train encounters some trouble in doing so and it is up to a little blue engine to help the train get to its destination.

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THIS BOOK? The illustrations by George and Doris Hauman are nice and appealing to both kids and adults. This book will surely hold kids' interest as it is filled with references to toys and food that children will enjoy reading about.

WHAT DO OUR KIDS LEARN? Kids will learn about different types of engines (e.g. passenger, freight) -- their features and what they do. It also communicates the lesson that no matter how small or inexperienced we may be, a desire to genuinely help will allow us to accomplish an objective against all odds. The little blue engine was not big. It had also never been to the mountain. Its mantra though was "I think I can...I think I can" and he found out, eventually, that he could. Really.

This story teaches us and our kids that what the mind can conceive, it can achieve. Anything is possible if we just put our hearts to it. Happy reading.

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