Ride The Rails To Reading

What began as a series of bedtime stories, created by a father for his son, has youngsters "on track," and has been fostering a love of reading for more than 60 years.

With rich characters and exciting adventures on the Island of Sodor, Thomas and his engine friends engage young children, inviting them to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

Now this "really useful engine" is full-steam ahead on his greatest journey yet: inspiring children to "Come Ride the Rails to Reading." Here are some tips for parents:

• Read to your children every day and help them sound out words that are unfamiliar.

• Create an interactive experience during story time. Add gestures and special sounds to specific characters.

• Encourage children to create their own stories or make up new endings to favorite Thomas tales.

• Be an example. Let your children see you read-a book, a magazine or a newspaper.

• Take a trip to the library. Help children look up new Thomas titles or research more about trains.

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"May the Best Engine Win" is available now, with new titles being released at regular intervals. To learn more, visit www.thomasandfriends.com. Parents and children can be "really useful" by reading and helping improve literacy.