James in a Mess and Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories (Thomas & Friends)

My grandson loves trains and especially Thomas. I bought him several Thomas books for Christmas so he could take some home and leave some at Grammy's house. We read Thomas before naptime almost every day.

This book has 4 fun stories, based on the TV series. They will be familiar to fans of the show. It is illustrated with pictures rather than illustrations. The stories are a little more complex and advanced, so they won't necessarily hold the attention of toddlers, however, my 5 year-old wants them read over and over. The stories are well written and move at a good pace. The pictures are nicely done, and my 2 year-old enjoys looking at them. If you have Thomas fans at your house, you will like this book.

Not only does this collection of tales contain the usually wonderful Thomas tales, but it features actual photographs to accompany the stories. These add a realistic touch to the sticky mess James gets in after making fun of another engine, only to have a load of goo land all over him! All the tales (several more follow) follow suit. For example, 'Percy Proves A Point' is a fun illustration of the pleasant surprises that await someone who push themselves just a little harder than they thought they could...and the joy of celebrating those victories with friends.