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The Little Train
Early one morning the little train wakes up in his home town, Little Snoreing, and decides to go on an adventure. He chugs and puffs his way through villages, past castles and over bridges.
But soon he gets tired, and the big city is a bit scary. there's only one thing for it; he'll have to head back!
THE LITTLE TRAIN, Graham Greene's first children's book, was originally published in 1946 with Ardizzone's illustrations commissioned 28 year later. First published by The Bodley Head in 1974, this new edition brings the classic little train back to life for a whole new generation.
But soon he gets tired, and the big city is a bit scary. there's only one thing for it; he'll have to head back!
THE LITTLE TRAIN, Graham Greene's first children's book, was originally published in 1946 with Ardizzone's illustrations commissioned 28 year later. First published by The Bodley Head in 1974, this new edition brings the classic little train back to life for a whole new generation.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
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About the author
Graham Greene
809 books6,168 followersHenry Graham Greene was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century.
Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. Through 67 years of writing, which included over 25 novels, he explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world. The Power and the Glory won the 1941 Hawthornden Prize and The Heart of the Matter won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the Best of the James Tait Black. Greene was awarded the 1968 Shakespeare Prize and the 1981 Jerusalem Prize. Several of his stories have been filmed, some more than once, and he collaborated with filmmaker Carol Reed on The Fallen Idol (1948) and The Third Man (1949).
He converted to Catholicism in 1926 after meeting his future wife, Vivienne Dayrell-Browning. Later in life he took to calling himself a "Catholic agnostic". He died in 1991, aged 86, of leukemia, and was buried in Corseaux cemetery in Switzerland. William Golding called Greene "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety".
Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. Through 67 years of writing, which included over 25 novels, he explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world. The Power and the Glory won the 1941 Hawthornden Prize and The Heart of the Matter won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the Best of the James Tait Black. Greene was awarded the 1968 Shakespeare Prize and the 1981 Jerusalem Prize. Several of his stories have been filmed, some more than once, and he collaborated with filmmaker Carol Reed on The Fallen Idol (1948) and The Third Man (1949).
He converted to Catholicism in 1926 after meeting his future wife, Vivienne Dayrell-Browning. Later in life he took to calling himself a "Catholic agnostic". He died in 1991, aged 86, of leukemia, and was buried in Corseaux cemetery in Switzerland. William Golding called Greene "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety".
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 1, 2018
Enjoyed by both of my children when they were young, but more by my son as he was more interested in trains than my daughter. Wonderful illustrations by Edward Ardizzone, show a small train that is tired of his usual journey, so goes off on a journey of his own, far from the safety of his familiar route the train sees new and interesting vistas but begins to feel scared as he reaches a city and longs for his own small village. We enjoyed the map of the area and the speech bubbles in the pictures. A great read for a young train enthusiast.
September 12, 2018
The little train had lived all his life at Little Snoreing*. And so begins the second in the series of 4 by Graham Greene for children. Not sure if this is the published order; just the order in which I am reading them.
The little train is not satisfied with his quiet life - as is often the case - and needs to go exploring to appreciate what he has. A charming story which shows that the best part of travel is often homecoming.
Parents and grandparents will enjoy reading this with little ones, not only for the story but also for the delightful watercolor illustrations which are worth lingering over. They are what earn the extra star from me.
Also both of my daughters were huge Thomas the Tank Engine fans and so loved all things trains in England. I can see the little train receiving a reproachful look from Thomas! ☺ But a mild one. Then they would have been the best of friends.
*Anyone who lives in Great Britain or is a student of all things British knows that there are many sister towns with adjectival names such as great, little, much, high, low, etc. It strikes many Yanks for the first time as rather quaint, but immensely delightful. What a COMPLETE use of the English language! It is also excellent for children to be exposed to books like this as it expands their vocabulary.
The little train is not satisfied with his quiet life - as is often the case - and needs to go exploring to appreciate what he has. A charming story which shows that the best part of travel is often homecoming.
Parents and grandparents will enjoy reading this with little ones, not only for the story but also for the delightful watercolor illustrations which are worth lingering over. They are what earn the extra star from me.
Also both of my daughters were huge Thomas the Tank Engine fans and so loved all things trains in England. I can see the little train receiving a reproachful look from Thomas! ☺ But a mild one. Then they would have been the best of friends.
*Anyone who lives in Great Britain or is a student of all things British knows that there are many sister towns with adjectival names such as great, little, much, high, low, etc. It strikes many Yanks for the first time as rather quaint, but immensely delightful. What a COMPLETE use of the English language! It is also excellent for children to be exposed to books like this as it expands their vocabulary.
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September 14, 2020THE LITTLE TRAIN (Wobbe A19, Wise A18)
An inconsequential, but charming little book for children, the first of several. I enjoyed it. It’s the story of a little train that has spent all its life serving a trunk line for the village of Little Snoreing, but wants more, wants to see the large world where the express trains run. When he gets his chance, it is too much, too frightening and the only thing he wants to do is to get back to Little Snoreing.
Is there a larger message here? Maybe, but I’m afraid I missed it, unless this another early rendition of Greene’s “Ways of Escape.” I am looking forward to reading about the motivation(s) for Greene to write this book, if I can find it in Sherry’s biography.
Here’s a little of the back story. Greene was at this time a director of the publishing firm of Eyre & Spottiswoode. Dorothy Craigie (later Glover) was his mistress. Wise suggests that Greene kept his name off the first printing of the book either to protect his relationship with Dorothy or because he thought publishing a children’s book did not uphold his vision of himself as a serious writer. Craigie wrote a short children’s story titled Summersalts Circus and two science-fiction novels and at least one critic (Brian Alderson) has suggested that they were really written by Greene.
An inconsequential, but charming little book for children, the first of several. I enjoyed it. It’s the story of a little train that has spent all its life serving a trunk line for the village of Little Snoreing, but wants more, wants to see the large world where the express trains run. When he gets his chance, it is too much, too frightening and the only thing he wants to do is to get back to Little Snoreing.
Is there a larger message here? Maybe, but I’m afraid I missed it, unless this another early rendition of Greene’s “Ways of Escape.” I am looking forward to reading about the motivation(s) for Greene to write this book, if I can find it in Sherry’s biography.
Here’s a little of the back story. Greene was at this time a director of the publishing firm of Eyre & Spottiswoode. Dorothy Craigie (later Glover) was his mistress. Wise suggests that Greene kept his name off the first printing of the book either to protect his relationship with Dorothy or because he thought publishing a children’s book did not uphold his vision of himself as a serious writer. Craigie wrote a short children’s story titled Summersalts Circus and two science-fiction novels and at least one critic (Brian Alderson) has suggested that they were really written by Greene.
August 24, 2018
Read aloud for story time in the children’s department at work.
March 23, 2025
Puff puff puff
December 13, 2020
My 4 year old loves trains and has asked for this book night after night since we got it- he gives it 5 stars.
I love the style of the illustrations- they remind me a little of James Mayhew’s, though obviously he comes later... And I like the appearance of “Jock of Edinburgh”, who is presumably (judging by the number) the Flying Scotsman. We have a wooden version, so were excited to see “Jock”
make an appearance. Other good points are that it contains a double-spread map partway through, and the story is gentle enough in principle.
The problem for me is the language in places. I’ve had to edit it fairly heavily before I felt comfortable reading it- it mentions a king being put to death, and explorers dying of thirst in a desert, both of which would be new concepts for my son, and hardly pleasant ones. And it seems to me the little train gets too frightened by the big city and the ‘cruel men’ (who have done nothing to deserve that description), to the point of blind terror, and then he fears being abandoned and left to rust, no coal to get home. It needed toning down! The edited version is all right, but it’s so much better when a story doesn’t need a lot of editing to make it suitable.
I love the style of the illustrations- they remind me a little of James Mayhew’s, though obviously he comes later... And I like the appearance of “Jock of Edinburgh”, who is presumably (judging by the number) the Flying Scotsman. We have a wooden version, so were excited to see “Jock”
make an appearance. Other good points are that it contains a double-spread map partway through, and the story is gentle enough in principle.
The problem for me is the language in places. I’ve had to edit it fairly heavily before I felt comfortable reading it- it mentions a king being put to death, and explorers dying of thirst in a desert, both of which would be new concepts for my son, and hardly pleasant ones. And it seems to me the little train gets too frightened by the big city and the ‘cruel men’ (who have done nothing to deserve that description), to the point of blind terror, and then he fears being abandoned and left to rust, no coal to get home. It needed toning down! The edited version is all right, but it’s so much better when a story doesn’t need a lot of editing to make it suitable.
June 16, 2015
گراهام گرین یکی از نویسندگانی ست که در زبان فارسی از لحاظ شرایط و مترجم گرفتار بدشانسی شده و آن گونه که شایسته اش بوده، به خواننده ی فارسی زبان معرفی نشده. به عنوان مثال دو اثرش "مرد دهم" و "وزارت ترس" با نثر سنگین مترجم صاحب نامی چون پرویز داریوش به فارسی برگردانده شده که از زبان گراهام گرین فاصله ی بسیار دارد. برای شناخت شخصیت و آثار گراهام گرین، "مردی دیگر" اثر "ماری فرانسواز آلن"، توصیفی ست چند بعدی و گویا؛ مصاحبه ای روان شناختی در شناساندن نویسنده ای پیچیده و افسونگر. گویا این کتاب را خانم فرزانه ی طاهری به فارسی برگردانده. این برگردان را ندیده ام اما خواندن توام با دقت کتاب را به علاقمندان توصیه می کنم.
May 31, 2013
Very fond of this book - an absolute classic that my father used to read to me. Alas, my copy fell apart - but I've bought a new one for the kids and thus have introduced a new generation to it's charms.
May 16, 2015
The Little Train is a charming children’s book, part of a series written by Graham Greene and illustrated by Edward Ardizzone. Perfect for parents with young train-lovers!
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July 3, 2018I didn't even know Graham Greene had written children's books. Sure, it leaves out the tormented sexuality, but otherwise the template is familiar: the little engine from a sleepy branch line is tempted by transgression and the big wide world, only to learn that it's scary and lonely and cold out there once the thrill wears off. Gorgeous art, too, which really brings home the utter Englishness of it all.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews