Are you a parent longing for those sleepless nights with your little one? Do you find yourself wishing for more quality bonding time at 3 AM? If your child’s obsession with cheerful trains has become overwhelming, renowned author Stephen King may just have the perfect solution: his new children’s book, Charlie the Choo Choo.
Penned under the alias Beryl Evans, this tale revolves around Charlie, a rather “gruff” (a.k.a. unsettling) engine with a sinister grin and lifeless eyes, who shares a bizarre friendship with his conductor, Engineer Bob. The plot takes a dark turn when Bob learns from his boss, Mr. Briggs, that Charlie’s days are numbered, as he’s set to be replaced by the modern Burlington Zephyr diesel locomotive. As Charlie rusts away in the train yard, he reflects on his life and impending demise—a cheery thought to share with your kids just before bed, right? “Good night, kiddos! Remember, we all end up old and forgotten.”
While Amazon markets this book for ages 4-8, we might suggest reconsidering that age range. King created Charlie the Choo Choo as part of the promotional campaign for his upcoming film, The Dark Tower, which is based on his acclaimed book series set to release soon. Notably, the film features Idris Elba, in case that influences your movie-going plans.
In The Waste Lands, the third installment of The Dark Tower series, a boy named Jake encounters the fictional Charlie the Choo Choo in a bookstore. As he examines the cover, Jake feels an eerie distrust of Charlie’s grin: “You look happy, but I think that’s just the mask you wear, he thought. I don’t think you’re happy at all.” What a delightful precursor to a good scare!
So, in essence, King has crafted a real children’s book based on a fictional one from his previous work, where the character reading the story perceives the train as malevolent. Although Charlie the Choo Choo is not categorized as a “scary book,” the image of that train could make any parent reconsider letting it near their kids—especially given that the narrative is supposedly about friendship and loyalty. But then there’s that unsettling song:
“Don’t ask me silly questions, I won’t play silly games, I’m just a simple choo-choo train, and I’ll always be the same, I only want to race along, beneath a bright blue sky, and be a happy choo-choo train, until the day I die.”
And in a twist, after being left alone in the yard, Charlie modifies the last two lines:
“Now that I can’t race along, beneath a bright blue sky, I guess that I’ll just sit right here, until I finally die.”
Yikes! Talk about a bedtime story gone wrong. Charlie the Choo Choo may be best suited for fearless children and adults who appreciate The Dark Tower series. While we have a soft spot for King’s work, that cover alone—a train that seems to have taken out Thomas the Tank Engine—is enough to give anyone pause. However, for those looking forward to the film featuring Idris Elba, this book could serve as a quirky collectible.
In summary, Charlie the Choo Choo offers a blend of friendship and eerie undertones, perfect for those who revel in a bit of darkness in their children’s literature. For more on pregnancy and home insemination, this excellent resource is invaluable. And if you’re interested in home insemination kits, check out this authority on the topic for comprehensive options.