By: Watty Piper 1930 (Platt and Munk Publishers)
An inspiring and engaging story
for young children since it was first published in 1930. Not only does the
cheerful, hardworking Little Engine's positive attitude ("I think I can, I
think I can") encourage children to try their best, but also the pictures
in this classic edition make a memorable, enjoyable tool for teaching children
about colors, objects, and numbers. For children new to the story, there's a
bit of suspense over whether the train will make it over the mountain, but
nothing in the least frightening, and kids familiar with the book will still
enjoy that arc over and over. Note that there are other editions of this book,
with different illustrations, but it's worth tracking down this classic
version.
This book is universal, an essential book for any
parent who wants their children to have confidence in themselves and a belief
in what they can achieve if only they try hard enough.
The story has roots that go way back, but the
text most of us are most familiar with can be traced back to many versions. I
grew up with this book and it helped me through a very tragic portion of my
life.
Sample Questions:
- Why did the toys want to get over the mountain?
- Who decide to help them?
- Why did the others think the engine could make it over the mountain?
Activities and Discussions:
- Build the blue engine out of a shoe box and other materials.
- Write a song based on the plot of the toys.
- Make a puzzle map with the blue train getting over the mountain.
About the Authors:
Illustrators:
Other books written by Platt and Munk Publishers:
Reference
Piper, W., & Lenski, L. (1930). The little engine that could. New York: Platt and Munk.
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