The Great Race (Thomas & Friends)

The book has a great layout. The writing is consice and printed in large fonts, perfect for early readers. My 3-year old son loves it. Sometimes I read it for him and some other times he just likes to flick through the pages.

My 5 1/2 year old enjoys this book because he loves Thomas and can recognize most of the words. His younger brother (3 1/2) enjoys listening, as well.

"It is a big day in the train yard. `Let's get ready!' says Thomas the Tank Engine. Swish, swish. The train yard is ready." -From the book Thomas and the other trains are very excited today because children are arriving for a school trip! However, Thomas has work to do on his branch line. He hurries through his tasks so he'll be able to transport the children, but then encounters a series of delays-including a broken down Bertie the Bus. What will Thomas do? How will the children arrive safely? Thomas and the School Trip (also called The Great Race) is a Step 1 Book (Step Into Reading) geared to children in Preschool to Grade 1. The script is quite large, and the language is simplistic to help beginner readers. Unlike many Thomas the Tank Engine stories, especially the ones geared to older children, there is no taunting or rudeness among the engines. Everyone cooperates and helps each other.

Most Thomas fans know the story of the race between Thomas and Bertie. This book simplifies the story and has easy to read large print. My young Thomas fan pulls this book off the shelf first every day. If your child likes Thomas he'll want to learn to read this book.