Charlie Ciu-Ciu

by Beryl Evans (Pseudonym), Stephen King, Ned Dameron (Illustrator)

Il macchinista Bob ha un segreto: il suo locomotore, Charlie Ciu-ciu è un essere vivente... e anche il suo migliore amico. Un libro per bambini comparso per la prima volta nel terzo volume della "Torre Nera" e scritto da Stephen King sotto pseudonimo: nel romanzo, l'autrice della storia è Beryl Evans e la favola è stata scritta nel 1942. Questa nuova edizione di "Charlie Ciu-Ciu" è un facsimile della stampa originale del 1942.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Graphic Novels

24 pages, Hardcover

First published November 22, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database. For more information please see Beryl Evans.

Pseudonym of Stephen King.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book straight out of The Dark Tower saga! Illustrator Ned Dameron pitched the art just perfectly! The very important last page of the story is also picture perfect, do ya 'ken? A must buy for fans and collectors of The Dark Tower books as this is deep in Dark Tower lore, and rather cleverly so. 9 out of 12, Four Stars. (Written by Stephen King, in case you were not aware, - the 'named author' is a character in the Dark Tower universe!)

2020 read

[Adina ( on a short Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

For an uninformed readership, Charlie the Choo-Choo appears to be an innocent children story written by Stephen King. Well, it is much more (do you actually think SK writes children stories?) and the true meaning of this story will only be revealed to the reader in the 3rd book of The Dark Tower series, The Waste Lands. So, read it as an companion to that novel.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie the Choo-Choo has a secret. He can talk! But what will happen to Charlie and Engineer Bob once Charlie is replaced by a diesel locomotive?

Straight from the pages of The Waste Lands comes Charlie the Choo-Choo, the book within a book inspired by Blaine the Mono.

The tale reminds me a lot of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Charlie and Engineer Bob are great until they are heartlessly replaced but still get one more shot at glory when the chips are down.

The artwork is suitably creepy. Charlie looks like he'd gladly gnaw the heads off of any one riding him. Stephen King writes in a style that is reminiscent of children's books, although he can't stop himself from making it a little on the wordy side.

I was planning on giving this to my nephews by I may just keep it for myself, on the shelf right next to my Dark Tower books. Four out of five stars.

[LTJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Charlie THE Choo-Choo” by Beryl Evans (Pseudonym of Stephen King) bridges two novels in The Dark Tower series. This 24-page children’s picture book is meant to be read between “The Waste Lands” and “Wizard and Glass.” Once you finish this, it will blow your mind due to the ending of Waste Lands and what awaits here.

Before my review, if you’re interested in tackling this book series, here’s a list below of the reading list I’m using to conquer The Dark Tower. I researched this for months and even got the help of fellow Constant Readers, librarians, and many horror readers who confirmed this was the best route for the ultimate Dark Tower reading experience…

The Stand
The Eyes of the Dragon
Insomnia
Hearts in Atlantis
‘Salem’s Lot
The Talisman
Black House
Everything's Eventual (The Little Sisters of Eluria)
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
Charlie the Choo-Choo
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

I always read on my Kindle Paperwhite (12th Generation - 2024 release), but this was a special case that it was better to enjoy this on my iPhone. The illustrations by Ned Dameron are creepy, and seeing them in color added to the overall immersion. Combining that with King writing the subtle yet terrifying story made this quite a memorable reading experience. I highly recommend enjoying this in color on either your mobile devices or tablets.

I’d never spoil anything for you, but if you’re reading The Dark Tower series for the first time, this book is so worth it in between the third and fourth novels. You’ll immediately catch what I’m talking about, which will freak you out. It’s short, sweet, and delivers in such a unique and satisfying way.

I give “Charlie THE Choo-Choo” by Beryl Evans (Pseudonym of Stephen King) a perfect 5/5 for being the creepiest children’s picture book I’ve ever read. Looking closely at the zoomed-in illustrations added a new dimension to certain characters that will send a chill down your spine once certain things are revealed. I loved it and can’t wait to continue my journey to The Dark Tower.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m getting off this choo-choo train and going to look for a wizard and glass.

[Kyriakos Sorokkou]

DTProject2017 | Supplementary Text 1

In Stephen King's 3rd book of The Dark Tower series called The Waste Lands on chapter III, section 22, the young protagonist Jake Chambers buys a fictional picture book by a fictional author called Beryl Evans. He reads the whole book and we read it along with him with the exception that he sees the pictures and we just get a description of them.

A few months ago, in November 2016 this fictional picture book was published as a real, tangible book with the pictures that Jake saw and it feels original. Why's that?
There's no indication of Stephen King as the writer of the book on the cover, only a quote by him on the front cover saying:

If I were ever to write a children's book, it would be just like this!
STEPHEN KING

Clever, since we now Stephen King is the creator of both the author (Beryl Evans) and the story.

It also says that this is the 4th edition since its 1st in 1942, even though in the book we learn that it had originally been published in 1952. This and a few differences in the colours of the pictures are the only differences between the fictional and the actual book.

So instead of reading Chapter's III, section 22 I read this book and I felt as if I was with Jake reading it at the same time.

Now I have to continue with the main text, the book itself (The Waste Lands)

Now you are probably going to ask me whether I liked the book or not. Well,

Don't ask me silly questions, I won't play silly games.
I'm just a simple choo-choo train, and I'll always be the same.
I only want to race along, beneath the bright blue sky,
and be a happy choo-choo train, until the day I die

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the uninitiated, this is just a slightly odd children's book. To those of us who have travelled through certain territories, however, it's something else entirely...

Long days and pleasant nights to you all...

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was one hell of a ride. And I mean every word of that *lol*

I've decided to read Stephen King's Dark Tower series this year and this story features in the 3rd installment. So I was delighted when I found out that someone had actually published it for real!

The story is that of Charlie, a steam train engine, and of his conductor Bob, an engineer. They live a pretty good life until the day Charlie is replaced by a newer model because the world has moved on.
But old doesn't always equal unable to do the job, especially when one is talking about Charlie, and naturally there arises a situation that lets the duo prove just that.

While reading the 3rd Dark Tower book I had the same questions the character reading the children's story had. How did the water get into the diesel engine, for example? And yes, just like the novel's character, I had an uneasy feeling reading this (though that might also be because of later events in the novel). For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, never mind me, just keep riding that train round and round and round and round again. *evil grin*

Very nice and "innocent" illustrations with some great details.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

If feels like this has a connection to Stephen Kings Midworld from the Dark Tower. This is a Choo- Choo named Charlie who can talk. He is fast and makes a fast run blowing his whistle from Topeka to St. Louis. One day he is replaced and is sad. Then he is given another chance and ends up pulling kids in an amusement park.

The smile on Charlie's face can look a little evil and a little happy. It is a tiny unsettling. A decent book.

[Andre Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for any Stephen King fan to have! The artwork is creepy as you'd expect from a children's story by the master of horror! It's a quick, fun read, and an awesome add to the King collection!

[Johann (jobis89) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Don't ask me silly questions, I won't play silly games.
I'm just a simple choo-choo train, and I'll always be the same.
I only want to race along, beneath the bright blue sky,
and be a happy choo-choo train, until the day I die."

Charlie The Choo-Choo is a children's book based on a book detailed in Stephen King's Dark Tower series and is written under the pseudonym of Beryl Evans.

Ever since I heard this was being released, I was SO SO excited - who doesn't love Charlie the Choo-Choo? An ingenious idea! So I settled down to read this story this afternoon (clearly envisaging future scenarios where I force my future children to listen to me read this book - no touching, of course), and was just enchanted by how amazing it was!

A fun, quick read with absolutely wonderful illustrations. Charlie The Choo-Choo looks a bit scheming and sinister for me...but he is nothing but pleasant in this tale. Can't fault it - it's exactly what it should be!

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a huge fan of King's The Dark Tower series, of course I had to pick this up! It was really great seeing this story come to life after reading about it in the original series, it almost felt surreal! I really loved the illustrations as well, I thought they were just perfect and really suited the tone of the story! And of course I can't leave this review without mentioning the quote from the King himself on the front cover, that definitely got a chuckle out of me!

[Mindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone who loves The Dark Tower series. I mean seriously, it's a picture book featuring characters from a King universe. What more needs to be said?

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this can be read on its own for its own sake, I wouldn't really recommend it. The story is fine aside from some rather obvious sexual innuendo (Thank you, Stephen King!), but the real horror is in the drawings.

What appears to be laughing, happy children in Charlie's passenger cars are actually crying, wailing, and zonked-out. Charlie's expression seems to be one of a slightly dim, thuggish brute.

The subtlety in this children's book is really delightful. Scary. Disturbing. :) I love it.


YES. This is written by Stephen King, and it firmly belongs in the reading order of the Dark Tower series.
(Dark Tower - 3.5)

So evil. And when read with DT, as the same book referred to in The Waste Lands, it takes on a magnitude more of existence. :)

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie the Choo-Choo by Stephen King

(Review from 2023 down below👇🏻 Keine Review auf Deutsch, da die Geschichte nur auf Englisch erhältlich ist.)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)

For my second read, I read „Charlie the Choo-Choo“ while Jake read it in „The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands“. Which was really fun, especially since the text is exactly the same. 😁 It was even more like being there with the protagonists.

„Engineer Bob has a secret: his train engine, Charlie the Choo-Choo, is alive ... A children's book and future classic about friendship, loyalty and hard work. Fans of Stephen King's bestselling series will recognise Charlie, the Choo-Choo, adapted from a section of his novel The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands.“

Meanwhile I finished the 3rd volume of the series and I think I can see why this childrens book is creepy. 😳🫣 Charlie is not the sweet little choo-choo train that I thought… 😉 Overall I liked that book very much but I can also see, why some people say that there is no point in reading this without reading „The Dark Tower“.

*************************************************

Review from 2023

Charlie the Choo-Choo by Stephen King

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)

I read this short „children‘s book“ without having read „The Dark Tower“-Series yet. I really liked the illustrations and I liked the little story as well. I know that there are for sure some creepy things behind this and I will gladly revisit this one after I read „The Dark Tower“-Series. I guess I never really thought that SK would really write children’s books, so I wasn‘t surprised when Charlie had a set of teeth to let you feel a little creeped out. 😉 Still a fun short story! 👍🏻

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Charlie the Choo-Choo' by Stephen King (under the pseudonym of Beryl Evans) - is based on a fictional children's novel which is apparently central to the world created in King's 'Dark Tower' series of books.

As such, it will be of definite interest to readers of 'The Dark Tower' and I'm presuming will have more relevance to and resonate with those readers - but for others, it just about stands up in its own right as a half decent children's story about an engineer and his steam locomotive (the eponymous Charlie).

The book is nicely presented and well illustrated by Ned Dameron, but overall it's probably really only for fans of 'The Dark Tower' and Stephen King completists only.

[Wayne Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that a child or a Stephen King fan can enjoy... especially if they are a fan of the Dark Tower series.

[Zacks Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting off November strong and simple!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

** The Stephen King Goodreads Discussion Group is doing a re-read of his works from the beginning to the end. It’s been a long time since I have really immersed myself in Uncle Stevie’s world, but a rate of a book a month, I am all in. My goal is to read and review each one with as much honesty and reflection that I can give. **

Background – “Charlie the Choo-Choo; From the World of the Dark Tour” is a children’s book written Stephen King, using the pseudonym of Beryl Evans, and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in November 2016.

Length-wise - my small hardcover does not list a page count and there is no Kindle version.

Plotline – This is an illustrated children’s book (not really) in which Engineer Bob, who works for the Mid-World Railway Company, on the St. Louis to Topeka train run. Engineer Bob drives a 402 Big Boy steam locomotive train engine named Charlie the Choo-Choo. The two of them are best friends and are keeping a big secret. Charlie is actually alive and they will do anything to stay together, making their runs, and helping others get to their destinations.

Thoughts and Reflections – I am finding it hard to provide feedback on this short children’s book with an overlapping edge of darkness to it. The story by itself is another version of the little engine that could. But what really makes it a Stephen King creation is the accompanying art that is impossible to ignore. The pictures have a haunting feeling to them, especially Charlie’s engine face, which is maniacal with a lurking sense of evil behind it. It’s impossible to read the story while looking at Charlie, and not think that there is something seriously wrong with this engine… I kept waiting for him to go berserk at some point in the story, and was rather surprised when he didn’t.

I am not sure if I would really consider this to be a real children’s book and I don’t think it is something that I would give to my young grandkids. Still, it is definitely the kind of book that King would write if he was aiming at the children’s market. It really comes across as a haunted version of the cute and inspiring little engine that could. However, my guess, is that this is really focused at his faithful “Dark Tower” fan base because although you can read it as a kids book on one level, it is really a backstory and inside salute to his DT readers who truly understand how morbid Charlie the Choo-Choo will become in the future.

Other Notes – “Charlie the Choo-Choo” was published in King's previous novel “The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands”. In chapter 22 it was the book found by Jake. The story was intended to be creepy, scare children, and give them nightmares.

The book also appears in the first episode of the Apple TV miniseries based on another King novel, “Lisey's Story”.

Overall – “Charlie the Choo-Choo” makes an interesting double entendre (an adult pre-horror trying to hide behind a children’s illustrated story. King also teaches us of the depth of true loyalty, as well as reminding us you never know what is lurking beneath the surface…

[José · Rating 4 out of 5]

English | Español

"Don't ask me silly questions
I won't play silly games
I'm just a simple choo-choo train
And I'll always be the same.

I only want to race along
Beneath the bright blue sky
And be a happy choo-choo train
Until the day I die.

This is what happen when Stephen King writes a book for children xD

The artwork of this book is absolutely amazing, and it's a faithful adaptation of one of the most unsettling moments in the whole Dark Tower series.

You can read it online here: http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/07/2...

---------------------

«No me hagas preguntas tontas
No quiero entrar en juegos tontos
Solo soy un simple tren Chu-Chu
Y siempre lo seré

Solo quiero correr y correr
Bajo el brillante cielo azul
Y ser un tren Chu-Chu feliz
Hasta el día que me muera.»

Esta es una reproducción exacta del libro que compra Jake en el tercer tomo de la Torre Oscura y supone uno de los momentos más perturbadores (y de mis favoritos) en toda la saga.
No se puede decir mucho si no has leído la saga de la Torre Oscura, pero sin lugar a dudas es un lindo gesto para los fanáticos de la obra más importante de Stephen King.

Como es un libro que solo se repartió durante la comic con de San Diego, por el momento solo es posible leerlo a través de fotos sacadas por los afortunados que consiguieron una copia. Si te interesa, lo puedes leer en este enlace: http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/07/2...

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since it mentioned The Dark Tower, I thought the story would have the same nuts Charlie, but it turned out that it is just a sweet story for children, with a sweet Charlie, awesome illustrations but a not so sweet smile on Charlie’s face.

Bottom line is that it was a nice way to spent 10 minutes but nothing more for me. I’m definitely not in the targeted audience for this book, even though I loved The Dark Tower series and its insane Charlie.

Pictures of it here: http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/07/2...

[☠tsukino☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

La storia non è nuova, il prezzo del libro è esagerato però è un pezzo che non può mancare nella libreria di ogni Fedele Lettore ^^
E che dire della copertina?



A prima vista sembra un’atmosfera gioiosa ma, se si osserva con uno sguardo diverso, è abbastanza inquietante, si può dire che quei volti esprimano terrore e paura.

[Holly (The GrimDragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't ask me silly questions, I won't play silly games.
I'm just a simple choo-choo train, and I'll always be the same.
I only want to race along, beneath the bright blue sky, and be a happy choo-choo train, until the day I die.

A sinister, yet sweet, Stephen King picture book for Dark Tower fans! Epic concept. Brilliant marketing ploy. King is the ultimate badass!

[Victor The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie the Choo-Choo (My Kindle Review)

A surprisingly charming story this is. Based on the living monster train of Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series, we see Charlie in his own little “Thomas the Tank Engine” story with his engineer friend. It’s pretty different than what i was expecting, yet it’s a nice and fairly dark story for kids and “DT” fans. A- (91%/Excellent)

[Adriana Scarpin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esse livrinho consta na saga Dark Tower de Stephen King e foi lançado separadamente sob o pseudônimo de Beryl Evans como material promocional da mal fadada versão pra cinema. Devo confessar que esse é meu primeiro livro do King, sempre fiquei com o pé atrás de me aventurar em livros de mil páginas de um gênero que não sou entusiasta, mas como amo literatura infantil dei uma chance a esse aqui.
O curioso é que são as ilustrações da face do Charlie que tem um pé no horror, o texto em si só aparenta o horror da condição humana que toda boa literatura infantil lança mão para ser didática em termos morais e éticos.
Também não dá para evitar pensar que esse livrinho é uma espécie de Christine para crianças.

[Marc-Antoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHOOO-OOO!

[Ella Montei · Rating 1 out of 5]

i’m disappointed that the train did not eat the children.

[Ajeje Brazov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Direttamente dal terzo volume de "La Torre Nera": Terre Desolate, ecco la storia di Charlie, un trenino molto particolare, che col suo amico Bob, ci daranno una bella lezione su cosa sia davvero l'amicizia.

[Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic Novel (24 pages) Illustrated by Ned Dameron

Beryl Evans is a one time pseudonym for Stephen King, for the Charlie the Choo-Choo written in 1942 in the Dark Tower universe.

The 24 page graphic novel is written and put together as a children's book, but perhaps should be reserved for teens and older.

The illustrations are fantastic!




Recommend for fans of The Dark Tower Series

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really get this one. I mean, it's a pleasant enough story: old train engine has some great years carrying people and things, then is put out to pasture when the new fancy engine is built, then saves the day when the fancy engine breaks down. The extra zinger in this one is supposed to be that it's a disturbing children's book from Stephen King's Dark Tower series, but I didn't find it to be creepy or inspiring. The smile on the engine's face was bizarre, but without any disturbing dialogue to go with it, it seemed out of place. Kind of a strange book, but also fairly average.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight of Mid-World! I think Blaine the Mono (out of Stephen King's The Waste Lands) would love to get to know Charlie the Choo-Choo and his engineer. Think creepy Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel!