By Charlotte Steiner
Copyright 1947
Stories about little trains helping bigger trains are not
uncommon in the picture book world. What
small child doesn’t want to hear a story about a smaller, weaker character
overcoming the odds to triumph over an older, seemingly stronger
character? A child’s life is constantly
steered by adults, so the idea that he could somehow save the day
all by himself is understandably appealing.
In The Little Train that saved the Day, a hard-working little freight train happily goes about his
business each day, pulling things wherever they need to go. He waits patiently
for a big, shiny excursion train filled with passengers to pass by. As the
little train goes about his work, he passes a group of happy people picnicking
near a lake. The children wave, but the little freight train does not stop, for
he does not carry passengers. At the end of the day, as the little train makes
his way back home, he again passes the lake. This time, the picnickers line the
tracks waving down the little train.
“A small boy shouted, ‘Stop! Please take us back to the
city. The excursion train has broken down.’”
The passengers all climb aboard and that little freight train
carries them all back to the city. He has saved the day!
It just goes to show you that as small as you are, you never
know when you will be called upon to do that big job.
