You Can!: Words of Wisdom from the Little Engine That Could

by Watty Piper, Charlie Hart, Jill Howarth (Illustrator)

Overview

The classic character that has inspired generations of children to believe in themselves will now inspire readers of every age in this book filled with encouraging words of wisdom.

Everybody needs a little downtime for maintenance.
There will always be obstacles you don't anticipate.
Wake up ready for an adventure.

The Little Engine That Could is one of the most popular and enduring children's stories of all time, and for more than eighty-five years, this classic character has encouraged readers to try their hardest to achieve their dreams. This story of determination and inspiration has now been reimagined in a charming, illustrated gift book that will speak to readers no matter what the age and no matter what the challenge. This is the perfect gift for graduation, and for everyone who may need to be reminded, "You Can!"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524784683
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/27/2018
Series:	The Little Engine That Could
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	661,018
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	10 - 18 Years

About the Author

Watty Piper was a pen name of Arnold Munk, an owner of the publishing firm Platt & Munk. Arnold Munk was born in Hungary and, as a child, moved with his family to Chicago. He later moved to New York, where he died in 1957. Arnold Munk used the name Watty Piper as both an author of children's books and as the editor of many of the books that Platt & Munk published.

Editorial Reviews

03/26/2018
This collection of guiding wisdom, inspired by The Little Engine That Could, features the engine in illustrations strongly reminiscent of George and Doris Hauman’s classic art. Earnest words of advice set against pastel-colored pages accompany each image. In one, the Little Engine receives some loving care from a bear, elephant, and toy soldier: “Keep yourself in good working order. Everybody needs a little downtime for maintenance.” Elsewhere, the Little Engine must choose between three different tracks: “Knowing which track to choose can be scary. But nothing feels better than finally getting started!” Howarth emphasizes the importance of kindness, generosity, and making friends: “Being of service to others means you’ll always have plenty of friends along the way,” while it’s also important to “go at your own pace!” Howarth’s visual vignettes carry warmth and vintage charm. The slender format accentuates the book’s gift potential, while the advice comes across as germane to readers embarking on new adventures or needing extra encouragement: “If you think you can... you can!” Ages 5–up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

2017-11-22
A medley of aspirational sentiments and newly fashioned illustrations—both inspired by those of the classic tale.The result is as ill wrought as it is ill conceived. Hart boils down the various versions of the original story's major themes to a series of pithy formulations. These range from the mundane, "A positive attitude always helps when the going gets tough," to such excruciatingly trite lines as "Remember that it's always darkest before the dawn," and "There's always a light at the end of the tunnel!" He then fills in the page count with assorted tangential apothegms: "Always run on time"; "Everyone needs a little downtime for maintenance" (followed later on by "It's okay to take a break"); "Don't forget that everyone travels on their own track." Evidently not having seen the final text, Howarth follows up this last with a contradictory view on the next page of two engines on the same track ("Go at your own pace!"). An earlier sequence involving a fallen tree finds it placed in three different places in as many illustrations. In general she sticks to traditional portrayals of the anthropomorphic locomotives and the toys in her diminutive scenes but gives one of the two toy dolls brown skin.Strong evidence that sometimes you really do just think you can. (Picture book. 6-8, adult)

Kirkus Reviews