THOMAS & FRIENDS: MY FIRST RAILWAY LIBRARY

When a fierce storm rips through the Island of Sodor, a bolt of lightning knocks down a tree--right onto the train station's roof! James the Red Engine, Percy the Small Engine, and Henry the Green Engine are sent off to fetch supplies to repair the damage. When they don't return, little blue Thomas the Tank Engine grows worried, and decides to set out on his own to help. Sure enough, his fears are confirmed: one after the other, the engines have encountered mishaps, and Thomas is happy to save the day. After all, he is a really useful engine.

The adventures of Thomas and his friends, both on television and in books, have won many young devotees over the years. Based on the Railway series by the Rev. W. Awdry, the simple, colorful stories will please Thomas fans, if not literature buffs. Bright idyllic landscapes and a plethora of big-faced trains provide a surreal experience best appreciated by the smallest readers. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie Coulter