Animals Everywhere!

Thomas and Friends

by W. Awdry, Richard Courtney

Thomas rolls to the rescue after some mischievous monkeys let the animals loose from a visiting circus. Boys ages 3 to 7 will love this early reader featuring their favorite Thomas & Friends engines.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Trains

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2011

About the author

Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, better known as the Rev. W. Awdry, was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.

The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. The first book (The Three Railway Engines) was published in 1945, and by the time Awdry stopped writing in 1972, The Railway Series numbered 26 books. Christopher subsequently added further books to the series.

Reviews

[Danielle Robertson Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obvious this is an adaptation of a TV episode. The story skips around just a bit (Thomas sees an animal then without additional text or explanation the animals are inside the train). Requires just a teeny bit of improv but is still an enjoyable read for a 3-year-old.

[Spinster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the worst Thomas book I've been forced to read. Per usual, James is a jerk.

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple level 2 reader. Animals escaped from the zoo and Thomas helps to find them.

[~☆°♡ Kat Gibson ♡°☆~]

Can someone explain why everyone was so nonchalant about animals running rampant around the town...? And they just called Thomas a whole clown. That's some disrespect if I've ever seen it

[Peacegal · Rating 1 out of 5]

In this easy reader, the beloved Thomas the Tank Engine helps round up a large variety of wild animals who have escaped from a circus. (Can you blame them?)

The American public is thankfully starting to turn away from animal-based circuses, and for good reason. Many other nations have actually banned the use of exotic wildlife in circus shows. It's time for children's entertainment to follow, and stop using the increasingly discomforting images of wild animals in the circus as a theme.

[Leila T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Thomas books are not my favourites for several reasons, but this one was silly in a good way.

[Katie]

II

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of books that make light of dangerous situations to children. Lions and bears and circus animals escaping is not exactly the direction I was expecting with this book.