The Runaway Train. Benedict Blathwayt

Richard Briers, the reader, and the accompanying production values make the CD especially enjoyable to listen to. Fun story and wonderful, highly detailed illustrations. My son is crazy about this series.

This story is a nice addition to our growing collection of train books. My boys (ages 2 and 4) love to study the minutely detailed pictures as we read the story. My only quibble with The Runaway Train is that it's more repetitive than another 'Little Red Train' book by the same author, The Great Big Little Red Train (my boys' favorite, and the inspiration for buying a second book in this series)

My children love this book! The story is cute. It is about this little red train that takes off without its driver, who left the train to help a little old lady. The remainder of the book covers all of the adventures the driver goes through in order to catch up with his engine. The illustrations are beautiful and full of detail. We spend several minutes studying each page, looking for all of the minute detail in the picture. My children have had this book for two years (now 7 1/2 and 5) and they still enjoy the book.

Excellent for developing pre-reading skills with repetitive phrases building up the drama of a driver requesting help from everyone he meets as he tries to catch up with his train. The gorgeous, detailed illustrations alone will keep children busy, seeking out all the helpers as they reappear in every scene.