A Great Magazine for Thomas The Tank Engine fans.

Thomas & Friends Magazine is a great magazine for Thomas The Tank Engine Fans. If you are a subscriber to this magazine, it comes to your mailbox 6 times a year. A subscription costs $19.97. Each issue is filled with stories about the Thomas The Tank Engine and his friends, and learning activities. My son has been receiving this magazine for 2 years now, and he eagerly awaits each new issue.

Each issue of Thomas & Friends Magazine revolves around a theme, sometimes the issue is about one engine like Henry, and other times the issue’s theme is more learning centered like shapes. Most issues of this magazine follow the same format which I have detailed below.

On the cover of the magazine, Thomas & Friends, there are pictures of the different engines that are featured in that issue. Also on the cover it states the theme for that issue. When you open the magazine, you will see a table of contents, which lists what is inside each issue. Along with stating the name of each story or activity, the table of contents also tells a little about each one. The next page, page 2 of each magazine is the read aloud story. This story is usually 3 pages in length, and tells a story about one or more of the engines. The pictures for this story are large and very clear and colorful.

The next two pages are called Counting Time. On these pages you will find pictures of various Thomas related items, such as engines, lumps of coal, wheels, etc. The idea is to have your child count the objects and then write the number in the red box that is at the end of the row of objects. After the Counting Time pages are two pages with about 4 different pictures featuring the engines from the island of Sodor. After reading, or being read, a few short sentences about each picture a question is asked. Some questions require the child to remember what has just been read, others ask the child to point to certain objects in the picture, and others ask the child to look at the picture and answer a question. The next two pages are entitled Coloring Time. Coloring Time is a huge picture of some of the engines to color.

Following the Coloring Time pages, is a pullout Work Book section. This Work Book section is usually 8 pages in length, and has one activity for each of the following skills: matching, counting, coloring, drawing,, connecting the dots, reading, following lines, and listening. In each issue there is also a pullout poster. This is a 2 page, brightly colored poster of Thomas The Tank Engine and/or his friends. Sir Topham Hatt’s Bulletin Board are on the next pages. These 2 pages are filled with drawings of the engines that were sent in by children. The next pages are more activities for a child to do, such as matching shapes, or finding the engines that are bigger or smaller. There is one last story in the magazine which is followed by questions. In most issues, there is a picture of a real train on the next to the last page. The final page, and back cover tells the children Goodbye and lists a few of the things that will be in the next issue.

My son, who is now three and a half years old and a big Thomas fan, loves this magazine. We first saw a copy of this magazine at a local train show 2 years ago. My son enjoyed that first issue so much that we became subscribers. Even though he was only one and a half years old when we started getting this magazine, my son loved hearing new Thomas stories, and with my help was able to do some of the easier activities in each issue. My only complaint about this magazine is that it is not very durable. After much use, all of our older issues are coming apart, but my son can still enjoy them they just are not bound together any longer. All in all this is a great magazine for children who love Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. It is fun to read, and has fun things to do in each issue. Each issue can be enjoyed many times.