I first came across this book in a second hand bookshop on Valentia Island during my summer holidays. I had never heard of it but after a couple of reads with the children it was clear that it was special. A quick internet search revealed that it has long been an American institution. A folk tale made famous after the publication of the book in the 1930s.
It features a train load of toys, sweets & other nice treats led by a clown trying to make it over a mountain and to the a town so the children have toys to play with and food to eat when they wake up in the morning.
The only problem is they don’t have an engine to pull them. The engines that come along are either too old or too important to help these poor little toys.
That is until the hero ‘Little Blue’ comes along and although the engine is very small and has never gone over the mountain before is willing to try. It finishes with the refrain from the engine ‘I think I can I think I can I think I can’
Children will love the bright colours and the exaggerated expressions on the toys faces as they move from happiness to despair as well as the lyrical text and the drama.
Parents will love the moral of trying your best at whatever you do along with the mention of the children being sad because they won’t have any spinach for their dinner.
It is now available online at the link below for €8.60