Summary of Book
This book is about a train that breaks down.  It has to deliver toys to boys and girls on the other side of the mountain.  A little blue engine happens by and decides to try and help the big red engine over the mountain by pulling it over.  It doesn't believe it can pull it initially but with determination it overcomes its obstacles as it slowly pulls the toys and animals to the other side.    

Before Reading (questions to discuss that would assist child in understanding and enjoying book):

• Start off by letting children hold and handle the book.  Talk about how bumpy the top is.  The side and bottom is also bumpy.  One side is straight.  Talk about the colors on the front of the book.  See if the children can tell you any of the colors. 
• Talk about the front and back of the book.  Allow children the opportunity to tell what they see.  Either build on what they know or introduce the concept of a train and a clown.  Talk about trains - what they sound like, look like, where they might go, etc.  Ask them to predict what they believe the book will be about.    

During Reading

1^st page:  What toy would you like to get?  How do you think the children feel knowing toys are coming?  Point to all the animals on the page and have a few stuffed animals that are in the train.  Let each child have a stuffed animal and chug along as you read the story.  As you discuss feelings, let the children try to show the different emotions with their faces (happy, excited, etc.).

2^nd page:  Talk about why the train may have stopped.  Ask why the toys were so thrilled to see the little blue engine. 

3^rd page:  Ask the children if they believe the blue engine will be able to pull the toys over the mountain.

4^th page:  What is happening?  Let children predict what will happen next.

Last page:  Discuss how the toys, children, and blue engine must feel after accomplishing such a big goal!

After Reading

• Talk to the children about the little blue engine.  Emphasize the blue engine's positive attitude.  Walk around the room playing like a train saying "Choo-choo!  I think I can, I think I can!"
• If you have the space, get up and let the children put their hands on the children' hips in front of them (you are the engine).  Be a choo-choo train, chugging and puffing along the way.  Be a train all over the yard.  Take turns letting children be the caboose.  Direct the children to do different things (ex. "Let's chug to the left," "Now let's chug around in a circle," etc.).
• Make a train from rectangles (the number of cars depends on the number of letters in your child' name) and write one letter of their name on each car.  Help the child glue the rectangles on another sheet of paper in a row in order so their name is spelled correctly.  Encourage children to add wheels, some stacks, etc.

Summary of Book
Henry gets ready for his first day of kindergarten.  He has all the excitement and fears of many children but realizes by the end that he really is in a great place.

Before Reading

• Read the title.  Ask the children to describe the cover picture.  Let them elaborate on a short story based on the cover.  While doing so, have them predict what will happen in the story.  
• Have children draw a picture about their first day of kindergarten as they see it will happen.  Write what they tell you when they describe the picture.

During Reading
Let your child answer the questions before Henry does.  For example, "What do you think we'll do first?"  Ask "Why did Henry want to go home?"  Talk about times you have been frightened.  "Do you think this book will have a happy ending?  Let's keep reading and see what happens."

After Reading

• Read the story substituting the child's name for the one in the book.  Stop at the page that has all of the supplies Henry packed.  Have the children name each one and describe how it might be used.
• Talk about how important it is to eat breakfast.  Food is our energy, like you put gas in a car to make it go (food is our gasoline!).  Let them talk about what they like to eat.  Have a paper with a large plate drawn on it.  Have magazines that have pictures of food items in them and the children can cut out pictures of foods and glue them onto the plate.  Write down what they say when you ask why they chose the foods and beverages that they chose. 
• Have a piece of paper with the food pyramid on it.  Encourage discussion on foods and their place in food groups.
• Use items from a prop box (paint brush, book, small blocks, crayons, ABC letters, game (such as Candyland), scissors, etc.) to retell the story and act out the activities that Henry does in his kindergarten class.  Find these objects as pictured in the book.  Talk about how they will be used at school and how much fun they will be.  Also, have a legal pad and magic marker in the box so adult and child may list together all the different reasons/activities that will make kindergarten fun.

List things your child hopes to learn and do in kindergarten.