Smokey

by Bill Peet

When Smokey the steam engine hears that he's headed for the junkyard, he decides to have one last, long journey. But unexpected obstacles keep Smokey from enjoying his ride and he ends up at the bottom of a pond, certain that his useful days are at an end.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Trains, Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Kids

40 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 1983

About the author

Bill Peet was an American children's book illustrator and a story writer for Disney Studios. He joined Disney in 1937 and worked on The Jungle Book, Song of the South, Cinderella, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Goliath II, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Fantasia, The Three Caballeros, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and other stories.

After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Smokey is about a worn out old coal train that helps to move all the train cars into position for the big locomotives. He longs to travel and see the world like the big engines do. One day, he overhears that he is being retired, so he sneaks out and finally gets to see the world.

Immediately, Bill slurs the Natives of the land by having them chase the train after reading his smoke signal as offensive, but the scene does tarnish the book. They look like an old cowboy movie from the 50s. Smokey moves past this terrible plot device and is resting the night in a forest when he hears a huge diesel barreling toward him and he has to race not to cause a wreak. Eventually he jumps off the rails and ends up in a pond. His smoke stack is smashed and his smoke now looks like curly-cues. A teacher saves him and uses him to teach school children letters, which would be stinky.

While I was reading this, it all felt so familiar. I’m almost certain this was something I heard read as a child. It feels like it’s tickling a memory somewhere. I can’t say for sure. It’s an okay story, but the Native Indian thing wasn’t necessary.

Nephew was bored. He has never been a fan of trains or anything with big trucks or stuff like that. He likes the unusual stuff. He thought this was boring too. He gave it 2 stars. He thought the Indians chasing the train was funny.

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bill Peet has such an affectionate way to draw an old train, or an old automobile, or an old horse, and here he tells a satisfying tale. I'd give it five stars except that some American "Indians" have an embarrassing role in the story. Granted, the entire story is silly — which is part of its charm — but today is not 1962 and you should not present Native Americans as idiots. Since my grandson is half Indian (from India), I had to explain what in the heck an American "Indian" was, and then I had to explain that real Native Americans weren't at all like what was depicted in this story. He found the Indian thing bizarre, but so much is bizarre in the life of a five-year-old that he simply accepted it and loved the book. He loves trains.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An cute story that my 5 yr old liked, but my 2 yr olds, who love trains had a harder time getting into. It's the old problem of the story being too long and the pictures not quite colorful enough to hold the preschoolers attention but the older kids are over trains and so the story wasn't quite as interested. However, the story overall was very good, so it still held their attention some of the time, and for that it has merit. I'll probably end up trying this one again down the road sometime.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay for Bill Peet! While I didn’t like this one as much as Katy the Caboose, my son kept wanting me to read it. Smokey is an old engine who is a bit worn down. After overhearing some other engines talk about how will be retired to the junk yard, he decides to go on an adventure. He is chased by Native Americans who misinterpret his smoke signals (this part was a little racist, but the book was written in the 1960s, so congruent with the times). He is almost run off the rails by a fast freight train and end up in a farmer’s duck pond. After the farmer complains to the North Central Line, they come and rescue him and bring him back to the train yard. His smoke stack has been bent in his fall into the pond, and now he can puff letters and numbers. A teacher returning from summer vacation sees the letters and gets her school board to buy Smokey from the North Central Line, where the kids fix him up. He goes from a sad black and white engine to a colorful one, after the kids paint him. He learns simple words and happily teaches the kids for many years. Recommended for ages 3-7, 3 1/2 stars.

[Fjóla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rather fond of those Bill Peet stories. They're a little old fashioned, a little dark (the main character is typically not where he wants to be in life, and bordering on depressed). But they're so charming, the text (all in rhyme) and the rich colored illustrations are so enjoyable. Smokey doesn't want to go to the dump yard, so he takes off. In The Caboose Who Got Loose, Katy wanted to get off the rails, not to be endlessly dragged from place to place. So, they run into misadventures, usually to find a dash of happiness in the end. While I usually find these stories a tad sad, I really enjoy the nostalgic aspect of them. And if you like this one, you'll probably like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this story with my son as a bedtime story when he was really into trains. I love Bill Peet's illustrations and it's fun to compare the pictures in his books to his work in the Disney movies. Thinking of that is what lead me to share this one during storytime with some of my students. When Smokey's smoke stack is bent my eager Kindergarten and 1st graders are quick to recognize the new letters and numbers Smokey can make.

Note: I'd forgotten about was the car chase scene where the "Hupmobile" of Indians chases Smokey after thinking he'd sent them insulting smoke signals. The scene isn't exactly PC, so I'm wondering if it's something I should address with my classes. Perhaps I could use this story later on in a lesson about stereotypes and unfavorable depictions?

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another wonderful Bill Peet book. Loved this story that relates a common message in many of his stories: everyone does not have a singular purpose.
Smokey has worked in the train yard for many years. He helps push cars around and switches tracks. But he never leaves the train yard. He loves to listen to the big freight trains' stories, and dreams about someday pulling his own cars down the track. One day, Smokey hears from the freight trains that he's going to be retired to the junk yard. Smokey has seen the junk yard, and he doesn't want to go there! So he decides to once and for all leave the train yard and have an adventure. Unfortunately all does not go as planned. What will happen to poor Smokey?

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping in mind that this book was originally published in 1962 I have given it 4 stars despite the stereotypical Native American characters with an inappropriate names for today's standards (Chief Crazy Hawk and Little Wolf Ears... being a Native myself I would left out the word "Crazy" since it was offensive to me.)
The story is similar to Mike Mulligan only the main character is a steam engine instead of steam shovel.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who enjoys trains will absolutely love this 'second chance' story of Smokey. But even if you don't have a fascination with trains; you'll still enjoy this story of a little train that is old. He overhears that they are going to take him where he's heard other old trains go and get sad. And he doesn't want that for himself. He takes off on one last journey to see the sights he's never seen before. And in the process finds a second chance at life with a teacher and her classroom!

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little rhyming book, best if you are enchanted by anthropomorphic trains. (I never was, putting this near the bottom of the Bill Peet collection for me, but as always the illustrations are charming.)

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a mother of avid train fans, and an enthusiast myself I enjoyed this book. THe story is fine, the pictures and ryhme are fine. But I didn't find it as entertaining and nicely paced as "The Caboose Who Got Loose." Katy Caboose's adventure was more entertaining.

[Brenda Lower · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bill Peet book I wasn't familiar with! Wow! Very classic Bill Peet. I loved what Smokey becomes at the end! While a little long for smaller children, Peet's books are great for those that can read that aren't quite up to chapter books. I love his stuff!

[Rayni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved trains. I felt sorry for Smokey & was glad that he found a way to be helpful after retirement. Bill Peet is such an excellent author.

[Terryann Saint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply love everything Bill Peet ever did.

[Stacia Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming story that shows the idea of one man's junk is another man's treasure. I didn't see the ending coming so was pleased and surprised...a satisfying read.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute. I like that the train was still valuable despite his crash....in fact, that damaged pipe was what made him valuable. Rhymed.

[Sarah]

There's an unfortunate section about Indians, but otherwise this is another fascinating silly rhyme from Peet.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The depiction of the "braves" is a little cringe-inducing, but it's a relic from another time.

[Beckie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Bill Peet all my life. I was so excited to share this classic with my kids.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great rhyming story by Peer, this time about an old engine that finds a new purpose in his retirement.

[Mama’s Hysa Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is of course a favorite as it is about a train. ;) But really, we are loving almost every Bill Peet book that we pick up and this one was no different!

[Hannah Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children learn it's okay if they don't know everything, but that they should try.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know there are a few low ratings on this book, but I quite enjoy Bill Peet's writings, as well as his pictures are enjoyable also. He brings excitement and joy to tragic story lines in ways that draw one in. The ending of this one was a bit humorous as it was quite unrealistic. 3.5 stars

[Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Smokey! Read this with my son who loves trains and we’re both big fans of this book. Bill Peet is a treasure and I absolutely love his feel-good storytelling. This one has an especially sweet ending that makes me willing to read it over and over again.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story, and favorite of my train-loving grandsons. We read this at least once a week (often more) and have done so since summer.

A little dated (it's not a new book) with an illustration of American Indians and smoke signals, but that's a teeny part of the book.

[Isa Mangal · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book depicts Native Americans as savages who are out to kill the train engine because the engine sent smoke signals to them.

[Thad C · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book with gorgeous illustrations!

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Native American section is shockingly offensive. If you skip those few pages, it’s a nice enough story. But read The Caboose Who Got Loose instead — it’s much better!

[Racheal Roos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Bill Peet is fantastic.