The Little Engine That Could facts for kids
The Little Engine That Could is a famous American children's story. It has been told in many illustrated books and films. The story became very well known in the United States after it was published in 1930 by Platt & Munk. This tale teaches children important lessons about being optimistic and working hard. Many teachers even consider it one of the top 100 books for kids!
Contents
The Little Engine That Could: A Story of Hope
How the Story Began
The famous phrase "I think I can" first appeared in print in 1902. It was in a Swedish magazine article. An early version of the story was published in 1906. It was called "Story of the Engine That Thought It Could." This appeared in a newspaper as part of a sermon.
Other short versions of the tale came out around the same time. One was called "Thinking One Can" in 1906. Another was "The Pony Engine" in 1910. This version was written by Mary C. Jacobs. Later, Mabel C. Bragg, a teacher, wrote a different version. She added fun details like the train carrying toys for kids.
The first time the title "The Little Engine That Could" was used was in 1920. It was in a book series called My Book House. This version described a train full of Christmas toys. It was going to children on the other side of a mountain. Olive Beaupré Miller, the editor, said the story was like a folk tale. This means it was a story passed down through generations.
The most famous version came out in 1930. It was published by "Watty Piper." This was a pen name for Arnold Munk. He owned the publishing company Platt & Munk. He hired Lois Lenski to draw the pictures for the book. In 1954, new, colorful pictures were added by George and Doris Hauman. Their artwork helped make the book a true classic.
The Main Story: Never Give Up!
The story is about a long train that needs to cross a tall mountain. Its main locomotive breaks down. Other bigger engines are asked to help. But they all refuse for different reasons. They think they are too important or the job is too hard.
Finally, a small engine is asked to try. This little engine agrees to help. Even though the climb is steep and the load is heavy, the engine slowly makes it. It keeps repeating its famous motto: "I think I can." This shows its determination.
The main idea of the story is always the same. A train is stuck and no big engine wants to help. Only the little engine is brave enough to try. By saying "I think I can, I think I can," it overcomes a task that seems impossible.
One early version describes a small railroad engine. It usually just moved a few cars around the station. One day, a long freight train needed to cross a hill. Big engines refused, saying it was too hard. So, the train asked the little engine.
The little engine puffed, "I think I can." It bravely pulled the heavy train. It kept puffing faster and faster, repeating, "I think I can, I think I can." As it got near the top, it slowed down. But it still kept saying, "I think I can." It reached the top and went down the other side. It was proud, saying, "I thought I could, I thought I could."
A Disney version from 1976 tells a similar tale. A toy-filled train breaks down at a mountain. A toy clown tries to find help. A shiny passenger engine and a big freight engine both say no. Then, a little blue engine arrives. She is just a switcher engine. She has never been over the mountain. But she agrees to help. She successfully pulls the train over the mountain.
Different Ways the Story Was Told
Later versions of the story made it even more appealing to children. The stranded train became one carrying yummy food and fun toys. So, the little engine was helping kids directly. This made its success even more exciting!
In these newer versions, a new character appeared. This was the clown ringleader of the toys. He tries to find help from several locomotives. But they all turn him down. The number of engines in the story also became standard. There's the happy engine that breaks down. There's a proud passenger engine who thinks he's too grand. And a powerful freight engine who feels too important. Some versions even have an old engine who says he's too tired.
The little blue engine always shows up last. She might be a bit unsure at first. Some books show her saying she's just a switcher engine. But she always steps up and saves the day. She helps the children get their toys and food.
Each engine is known by how it looks or what it does. They don't have names or strong personalities. But in the 1991 animated movie, the engines get names and bigger personalities. The express engine is Farnsworth. The freight engine is Pete. The old engine is Jebediah. The toy train's engine is Georgia. And the little engine is Tillie. The clown is named "Rollo." Another engine, Doc, helps recover the broken Georgia.
The 2011 movie expanded the story even more. In this version, the little engine works in Dreamland. She helps carry dreams to the real world.
Bringing the Story to Life
Movies About the Little Engine
This classic children's story has a clear message. It was made into a 30-minute animated film in 1991. This movie was made in the United Kingdom. It named the engine Tillie. The film also added more to the story. It showed Tillie's journey of self-discovery.
In 2011, a 3-D movie called The Little Engine That Could was released. Universal Studios produced it. Famous voices like Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alyson Stoner, and Corbin Bleu were in the movie.
The Little Engine as a Song
The story was also turned into a song! Burl Ives recorded "The Little Engine That Could." It was written by Gerald Marks and Milton Pascal. The song was released in 1964. It was part of his album Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck and Other Children's Favorites.
Toys and Real-Life Trains
From 2005 to 2008, a real-life replica of the Little Engine That Could traveled across the United States. This "I Think I Can" Rail Tour visited many places. The replica train was built in 2005. It was made by the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania. This company also built the Thomas the Tank Engine replicas. The last tour was in 2008. The replica is now owned by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. It is on display at their depot.
The American toy company Whittle Shortline makes wooden toy trains of The Little Engine That Could. These are an alternative to Thomas & Friends wooden toys.
More Adventures of the Little Engine
There are many other books about the Little Engine That Could, including:
- The Little Engine That Could and the Big Chase
- I Knew You Could!
- And The Fire Rescue
- Choo Choo Charlie Saves the Carnival
- And The Snowy, Blowy Christmas
- Good Night, Little Engine
- Three Little Engines
A Lasting Message
A recording of the story from 1949 by Paul Wing is very special. It was added to the National Recording Registry in 2009. This means it's considered an important part of American history.
See also
- The Little Engine That Could – the 1991 animated movie based on the book
- The Little Engine That Could – the 2011 computer-animated movie
- Thomas the Tank Engine and James the Red Engine – other famous train characters
