When Katie writes to her Uncle Herbert asking for a present for her 11th birthday, she doesn’t expect him to arrive with a full-sized steam locomotive with tracks that he’s secretly installed in their back garden! As Katie and her younger brother, Tom, try out the present, they quickly discover that there’s much more to the train than meets the eye; in fact, it’s a magic train that they must build themselves (they add 2 restaurants, a candy car, a library and a swimming pool). Once built, they head off on a magical adventure around the world where Katie becomes the conductor of the train whilst helping a range of animals who Katie and Tom are able to talk to.
This is a gentle adventure which will remind readers of the importance of looking after the environment and is a great way of introducing children about endangered species. It’s also a story that will teach children the importance of never giving-up, especially when things get tough, and of the need to make decisions when adults aren’t around to help.
With echoes of The Polar Express and Narnia, The Silver Arrow will appeal particularly to children in lower KS2 but will engage older children as well.
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