The Little Engine That Could

The Little Engine That Could is a children's book about optimism written by Watty Piper in 1930. The phrase from the book "I think I can" has been used as encouragement ever since.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Watty Piper
2. Genre: Children's Book
3. Illustrator: Lois Lenski
4. Publication Date: 1930
5. Publisher: Platt & Munk
6. Pages: 48
7. ISBN: 9780399244674
8. Adaptations: film
9. Promotes self esteem and self reliance
10. Alternate Title: The Pony Engine
11. It is debated whether Watty Piper is a psuedonym for the publishing house Platt & Munk or a pen name for Mabel Caroline Bragg

Synopsis

The Little Engine That Could is a story about a stranded train in search of an engine that will take it over the mountain. After the stranded train asked many larger engines and got turned down, the little blue engine agreed to do her best and try.

Chanting "I think I can, I think I can" she succeeds in what the bigger stronger trains refused to even try.

Critical Response

"The classic story of optimistic thinking that has delighted generations of children. When the other engines refuse, the Little Blue Engine tries to pull a stranded train full of toys and good food over the mountain." — Powell Books

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