Peter lives in the English countryside with his parents and twin siblings, Kitty and Harry. Peter’s grandparents live nearby, across some fields and on the other side of Bluebell Wood. Peter and his grandfather devise a plan to build a railway to connect their homes so that they can see each other more often.
Peter’s Railway contains a series of short stories following the adventures of Peter and his grandfather as they build their railway. Between each story are brief fact pages explaining a detail from the story, such as how a locomotive makes its steam or how trains remain on the track. There is a brief glossary of terms at the end of the book as well.
With my own budding train engineer at home, I can guarantee that Peter’s Railway is perfect for young railway enthusiasts. The story and illustrations are entertaining for younger readers, with more detail and technical information for those who might be outgrowing the simplicity of the Thomas books.
We love Peter’s Railway. We already have the second book and will be collecting other books in the series as well. This is definitely one of my favourite book finds of 2011. The books are available through local online bookstores, but can also be purchased from the publisher/author with an included personal inscription - a perfect birthday or Christmas gift idea for any train-loving children you know.
Title: Peter’s Railway (Book 1)
Author: Christopher Vine
Illustrator: John Wardle
Publisher: Christopher Vine, £11.99 RRP
Publication Date: 2008
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
ISBN: 9780955335914
For ages: 5+
Type: Young reader