New Thomas the Tank Engine Book Focuses on Feelings

If you have a son on the autism spectrum, chances are you're waaaay too familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine and all his railway friends. Thomas stories, videos and playthings are, for reasons unknown, fascinating to autistic boys. True, they're really neat little engines -- and the track system is sturdy and well-made. On the other hand, the stories were written during the 1920's and 30's by an English clergyman as cautionary tales -- and they're not exactly politically correct. And the toys cost... a bloody fortune!

If you've wondered how to make use of Thomas as a tool to support your son's social learning, wonder no longer. The National Autistic Society of the UK can now recommend How Do You Feel, Thomas? This new picture book is specifically designed to make use of the engines' simple facial expressions to help children better understand how and why emotions are expressed.