The Premise:
A little coal-powered engine believes in itself so much that
it makes it up to the top of a steep hill.
The Good:
This heartwarming and inspirational tale is most likely
based on a true story. It glosses over the unseemly aspects of railroad
building to let the reader focus on the tale of triumph and the power of
positive thinking. The Little Engine’s mantra “I think I can” is catchy and
should be memorable for most readers.
The Bad:
The physics in the book are dubious, at best. The reader is
asked to suspend belief as a smaller engine with less torque is able to
out-perform larger, more powerful engines based on “willpower”. How many pounds
per square inch does “willpower” produce? And, really, who decided to lay down
tracks at that steep of a grade, anyway? It seems as though the author(s) did
little-to-no research and instead decided to bend the science to fit their
needs.
The Verdict:
Read it before bedtime. While preachy and highly inaccurate,
the book’s repetition of “I think I can” is rhythmic and repetitive enough to
lull the reader to sleep.