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Beryl Evans
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Charlie the Choo-Choo: From the world of The Dark Tower Hardcover – Picture Book, November 22, 2016

by Beryl Evans (Author), Ned Dameron (Illustrator)
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,960 ratings
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Fans of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower will definitely want this picture book about a train engine and his devoted engineer.

Engineer Bob has a secret: His train engine, Charlie the Choo-Choo, is alive…and also his best friend. From celebrated author Beryl Evans and illustrator Ned Dameron comes a story about friendship, loyalty, and hard work.
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  1. Reading age
    3+ years, from customers
  2. Print length
    24 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    9 x 0.4 x 8 inches
  5. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  6. Publication date
    November 22, 2016
  7. ISBN-10
    1534401237
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1534401235
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beryl Evans is the pseudonym adopted by Stephen King for his picture book Charlie the Choo-Choo. Stephen King has written over fifty worldwide bestsellers. His acclaimed works include Carrie, The Shining, The Stand, Misery and 11.22.63. He is also the author of The Dark Tower fantasy series. Many of his books have been turned into celebrated films, including Stand by Me, The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption.

Ned Dameron has done illustrations for Dungeons and Dragons, as well as some for reprints of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s works. He has produced cover artwork for many popular novels, including The Waste Lands by Stephen King and The Second Generation by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 4th edition (November 22, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 24 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1534401237
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1534401235
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3+ years, from customers
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 0.4 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 1,960 ratings

About the author

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Beryl Evans

Beryl Evans

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,960 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story enjoyable and fun to read to kids, with beautiful illustrations featuring a nice vintage look. Customers consider it a wonderful addition to Dark Tower collections and a fantastic gift for Stephen King fans. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its fanciful language that recalls another era. The book's creepiness receives mixed reactions, with some finding it creepy enough to be brilliant while others find it disturbing. Customers disagree on whether it's suitable for children.

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76 customers mention "Story quality"71 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of this children's book, describing it as a cute little short story that's fun to read to kids.

"...original book it was referenced in, and is a perfect addition to any Steven King fans collection!" Read more

"...Nice child’s story, yes?..." Read more

"...This is a fun story that may elicit many questions from children. What is coal? How does a train run on coal? Who was singing?..." Read more

"This children's book has all the elements of a Stephen King novel: Descriptive setups of characters and the environment, interesting characters with..." Read more

44 customers mention "Art style"44 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the art style of the book, noting its beautiful illustrations with a nice vintage look, and one customer describes it as very nicely animated.

"...She absolutely loved it, it perfectly depicts the description of everything written in the original book it was referenced in, and is a perfect..." Read more

"...are from the studio of Ned Dameron who provided the brilliant renderings for The Waste Lands...." Read more

"...How does a train run on coal? Who was singing? The illustrations by Ned Dameron are bright, vivid and colorful, and they depict Charlie the Choo-..." Read more

"Don't even think about it...just buy it! Fantastic illustrations that are just as depicted in The Waste Lands...." Read more

25 customers mention "Addition"22 positive3 negative

Customers find this book to be a wonderful addition to their Dark Tower collection, with one customer noting it's a great tie-in to the series.

"...I love the tie-in to his Dark Tower series, and have been thinking of how much a child who reads this will enjoy reading Dark Tower in the future..." Read more

"...I read a lot too but this particular series is so out there that I doubt I would have syuck the the series if I were reading it...." Read more

"...The book was in excellent condition. A good addition to my children book collection (although not for very young ones)." Read more

"This book is definitely a good addition to the Dark Tower series; it’s almost like a prop from a parallel world. Looks good and fits the narrative." Read more

19 customers mention "Gift value"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a fantastic gift for Stephen King fans, making it a nice addition to their collection.

"Great gift for any The Dark Tower fan! The recipient looked very confused and said "Oh my! I know this book!!!..." Read more

"...Great for the King collector." Read more

"This is a fantastic gift for any fan of The Dark Tower books by Stephen King. Long days and pleasant nights!" Read more

"...Great gift for a tower junkie." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one customer noting how it reflects Stephen King's evolving style over the years, while another points out its fanciful language that evokes another era.

"...As a King fan, I do love how his writing has evolved over the years and how he avoids being pigeon-holed into any single genre...." Read more

"Great story and great illustrations. Steven king did amazing. It looks scary, but my 2 year old absolutely loves Charlie and engineer bob" Read more

"...goes along with kings writings and is just super cool!..." Read more

"...The fanciful language recalls another era and makes the book quite a joy to read and there is a highly valuable lesson to be learned within...." Read more

6 customers mention "Curiosity"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, with one noting it may elicit many questions from children and another highlighting its deep insight into human nature.

"...This is a fun story that may elicit many questions from children. What is coal? How does a train run on coal? Who was singing?..." Read more

"...coming out, and said, "I have to have that!" It's a well-bound curiosity, beautifully illustrated and craftily executed with even a fake..." Read more

"...to Stephen King's Dark Tower book series, but found it an interesting (perhaps a little unconventional) children's book in its own right...." Read more

"...makes the book quite a joy to read and there is a highly valuable lesson to be learned within. The book was originally written in 1942...." Read more

34 customers mention "Creepiness"20 positive14 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's creepiness, with some finding it creepy enough to be brilliant and perfectly scary, while others find the illustrations and story unsettling.

"...It's creepy but also seems like a real children's book." Read more

"...started smiling and absolutely loved it! 💕 It's unsettling, the pictures evoke discomfort, the story unease...." Read more

"The perfect mix of creepy and funny. I gave this to a friend who is a huge Stephen King fan, and he loved it." Read more

"Not scary at all, this book is actually quite delightful...." Read more

10 customers mention "Book for kids"4 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's suitability for children, with some finding it an ordinary kids' book while others note it's not a typical children's book.

"...It's a cautionary tale, not a typical children's book...." Read more

"...It's creepy but also seems like a real children's book." Read more

"Please be aware that this IS NOT a childish’s book...." Read more

"...Some of the pictures are a bit scary but it would actually serve as a children’s book and I loved it. Glad to add one more book to my collection." Read more

Plenty of zip and zowie for Dark Tower fans
5 out of 5 stars
Plenty of zip and zowie for Dark Tower fans
I bought this book strictly for the connection to Stephen King's Dark Tower book series, but found it an interesting (perhaps a little unconventional) children's book in its own right. A close look at the illustrations does reveal that Charlie the Choo-Choo might be just a little "off," but the story is a pretty straightforward tale of friendship, loyalty, and usefulness. This is a neat little book for fans of Stephen King, perhaps less so for little kids who just want to hear a bedtime story. If you are trying to indoctrinate the littlest Stephen King fans in your household, realize that the pictures (check out Charlie's facial expression in the photo below) and storyline might be a little unsettling or sad to the smallest kids.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • John Ballew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Addition
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    So my girlfriend is a huge Steven King fan and has all of his books. We were reading The Dark Tower series together (me reading it for the first time) and they refer to this book in one of them. After seeing that VSauce mentioned this book actually being available on youtube, I decided it'd be a perfect addition to her collection since I knew that she didn't even know it existed. She absolutely loved it, it perfectly depicts the description of everything written in the original book it was referenced in, and is a perfect addition to any Steven King fans collection!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Miss Barbara
    5.0 out of 5 stars Never sinister but a tad off kilter. For kids and King fans alike.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Charlie the Choo Choo emerges from the pages of Stephen King’s Gunslinger series, from The Wastelands, to be exact. King wrote this children’s story under the pseudonym of Beryl Evans and the initial release was at San Diego Comic Con this year. Issues have been offered by scalpers on the internet for well over 5 C-notes.

    This is the exact picture book that fans of the series pictured in their heads. Charlie the Choo Choo and Engineer Bob are never exactly sinister in this rendering but surely “off kilter” in a way that makes your ill at ease. The illustrations are from the studio of Ned Dameron who provided the brilliant renderings for The Waste Lands.

    The basic story is how Charlie is scheduled to be replaced by the Burlington Zephyr Diesel Locomotive. Charlie is left to rust in a vacant field, over grown with weeds and serving as a home for field mice. Nice child’s story, yes? But there’s that edge, there is something that is instilled in the book more by the illustrations than by the words.

    I wouldn’t worry about giving this book to children but the better choice would be to gift it to your friends and relatives who are fans of the King.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars A sinister cautionary tale!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great gift for any The Dark Tower fan!

    The recipient looked very confused and said "Oh my! I know this book!!! HOW do YOU know this book!?," started smiling and absolutely loved it! 💕

    It's unsettling, the pictures evoke discomfort, the story unease. It's a cautionary tale, not a typical children's book.
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  • prisrob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie the Choo-Choo, Music and Good Wholesome Fun
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Do you like trains? Have you ever taken a ride on a train?

    The author, Beryl Evans, has written a riveting book about Charlie the Choo-Choo, and his Engineer Bob. They both worked for the Mid-World Railway Company, and their route was from St Louis to Topeka. This was a very busy line, and Bob and Charlie were the very best. They were the fastest and the best. Charlie was a 402 Big Boy locomotive, and he ran on coal. Together had many, many fun runs together, until one day, Bob could hear someone singing. When you read this book, you will discover who was singing, and several other big secrets.

    Adults will enjoy reading this book to their children, and children who can read by themselves will also love this story. This is the kind of story with a lesson to be learned, and often those are the very best. This is a fun story that may elicit many questions from children. What is coal? How does a train run on coal? Who was singing? The illustrations by Ned Dameron are bright, vivid and colorful, and they depict Charlie the Choo-Choo and Engineer Bob in all their glory. What a wonderful life for both of them. And, now we have newer trains, but are
    they as much fun as Charlie Choo-Choo? As Stephen King, another author, has said, if he were to write a children's book it would be just like this!

    Recommended. prisrob 11-22-16
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Mighty Quinn
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for fans of King's Dark Tower series
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Don't even think about it...just buy it! Fantastic illustrations that are just as depicted in The Waste Lands.

    And don't forget to get The Little Sisters of Eluria and Wind Through the Keyhole so that your Dark Tower collection is complete!
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  • Nathan
    5.0 out of 5 stars I got more out of this than my child likely ever will
    Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This children's book has all the elements of a Stephen King novel: Descriptive setups of characters and the environment, interesting characters with clear motivations, and even inanimate objects coming to life in unexpectedly odd and sinister ways. Really all that's missing is the homicide.

    I'm an avid Stephen King fan of course, but my child isnt. I'm not sure what impression it would leave on her.

    The characters are drawn to look a bit insane and demented, the colors are pretty drab, and there's even a mention that the main character train driver's wife died. On top of that the train sings a song that ends with "till I die".

    Fully what I expected of course, but more of a gag than something you'd actually want to rrad to your child and expect them to enjoy. Who knows though, maybe my daughter will end up just as attracted to spooks as I am.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jelvi
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas gift for my niece
    Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The gift was intended for my niece Charlie. The narrative is intended to be intriguing and induce nightmares in children, but she and her mother (a fan of Stephen King) thoroughly enjoyed it.
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  • Six Alain
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pour ceux qui se souviennent de Blaine le Mono
    Reviewed in Belgium on March 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Ceux qui ont lu la saga de "La Tour Sombre" savent de quoi on parle. L'histoire du petit train est un élément culturel américain, digne de ceux que le maître King sait si bien détourner, et donc les illustrations sont parfaites avec ce sourire désagréable de la locomotive et les hurlements (joie ou terreur ?) des enfants emmenés à bord...
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  • Miss R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cuento infantil de Stephen King
    Reviewed in Spain on July 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Es un cuento infantil que habla de nuestros mayores y de cómo los dejamos de lado en cuanto dejan de ser útiles. Los más pequeños no apreciarán los detalles de los niños gritando en los vagones del tren o los dientes irregulares y mirada siniestra de Charlie al cantar. Más pequeño de lo que cabría esperar.
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  • Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Magnífico.
    Reviewed in Mexico on July 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Este libro no es más que un producto de Merchandise de la saga La Torre Oscura (escrito por el mismo Stephen King— extraído de TDT3 The Wastelands). Un especie de juego entre lector y autor, ya que nos permite tener un libro que los protagonistas poseen —es lo que Beedle el Bardo a Harry Potter—. No es indispensable para The Dark Tower, ya que lo tienes en las novelas, solo si eres coleccionista y se está dispuesto a formar parte del juego.
    Las ilustraciones son las adecuadas para el estilo del libro, no son muy de mi agrado; pero son las correctas.
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  • Renato Klisman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Belíssima edição
    Reviewed in Brazil on October 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Perfeita para quem é fã da torre negra!
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