"The Little Engine That Could" retold by Watty Piper, from the 'Pony Engine' by Mabel C. Bragg, color & b/w pictures by Lois L. Lenski, published by The Platt & Munk Co. Inc., New York, 1930. First Edition in original first state dust jacket without "Trade Mark" under the title.

Points of the first edition: "The Little Engine That Could" is the last title offered on the listing of the NEVER GROW OLD SERIES page which is adjacent to the half-title page, and with the 2-line imprint "No. 358 Made in U.S.A. / The Platt & Munk Co., Inc." on the dust jacket and front cover. First State dust jacket without "Trade Mark" under the title. Second State front cover with "Trade Mark" under the title.

Original dust jacket [some wear and soiling, small damage on the back cover, typed label with former owner's name "Edward Gitsecke" inside dj: see photos], hard boards, red cloth with paper illustration on the front board [some soiling and wear, a few cloth damages on spine: see photo]; 6.1/4" x 8.1/4"; illustrated endpapers, color frontispiece, unpaginated, c.28 pages, fully illustrated, printed on heavy glossy coated paper, some soiling and a few page surfaced damages [text and pictures are not impacted]; good / very good condition. See photos.

"The Little Engine That Could is an American folktale (existing in the form of several illustrated children's books and films) that became widely known in the United States after publication in 1930 by Platt & Munk. The story is used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."

"In the tale, a long train must be pulled over a high mountain after its locomotive breaks down. Larger locomotives, treated anthropomorphically, are asked to pull the train; for various reasons they refuse. The request is sent to a small engine, who agrees to try. Despite the steep climb and heavy load, the engine slowly succeeds in pulling the train over the mountain while repeating the motto: "I-think-I-can."

The story of the little engine has been told and retold many times. The underlying theme is the same-- a stranded train is unable to find an engine willing to take it on over difficult terrain to its destination. Only the little engine is willing to try and, while repeating the mantra "I think I can, I think I can", overcomes a seemingly impossible task."

"There are more illustrations- one on every page- in the newer edition, but I get a much richer experience from the journey I take with the 1930 version of the story. The later edition, with illustrations by George and Doris Hauman, has come to be the one most people are familiar with (even Amazon lists it as the "Original Classic Edition"), and the original 1930 printing has become harder to find (grab it if you see it !), but putting the two side by side makes me appreciate Lois Lenski's version more..." [excerpts from the article by J.J. Sedelmaier]

Lois Lenore Lenski Covey (1893-1974) was a Newbery Medal-winning author and illustrator of picture books and children's literature. Beginning in 1927 with her first books, 'Skipping Village' and 'Jack Horner's Pie: A Book of Nursery Rhymes', Lenski published 98 books, including several posthumously. Her work includes children's picture books and illustrated chapter books, songbooks, poetry, short stories, her 1972 autobiography, Journey into Childhood, and essays about books and children's literature. Her best-known bodies of work include the "Mr. Small" series of picture books (1934–62); her "Historical" series of novels, including the Newbery Honor-winning titles 'Phebe Fairchild: Her Book' (1936) and 'Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison' (1941); and her "Regional" series, including Newbery Medal-winning 'Strawberry Girl' (1945) and Children's Book Award-winning 'Judy's Journey' (1947).

Lenski also provided illustrations for books by other authors, including the first edition of 'The Little Engine that Could' by Watty Piper (1930), and the first four volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace's 'Betsy-Tacy' series (1940-1943).



US: Priority (c.2-4 days) --------- $20.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-4 weeks) -- $45.50
World: Priority (c.2-5 weeks) --- $56.50