Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the little blue engine!

It’s Thomas’ birthday but all the other engines seem to have forgotten. Thomas gets on with his jobs for the day, but he’s not very happy. Meanwhile, his friends are busy working on a secret plan. Is Thomas in for a big surprise?

Read this beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating 80 years of Thomas to find out!

Look out for other great Thomas & Friends books including:

The Mystery of Lookout Mountain

Chasing Rainbows

Thomas & Bruno

The 12 Engines of Christmas

Meet Team Thomas

The Biggest Adventure Club

Thomas & Friends Feelings

Peep! Peep! Potty Star

Potty Star Sticker Activity Book

The Thomas & Friends Annual

Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for 80 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

‘A global icon, with more than 20 TV series made.’, BBC news

"Thomas the Tank Engine has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families … entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters. I certainly have fond memories of growing up with Thomas & Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures.", Prince Harry

The Thomas the Tank engines stories were created by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, who was born in Hampshire in 1911. He grew up close to the railway and was convinced that the steam engines all had different personalities. Later when he was grown up and his son Christopher became ill with measles, Wilbert told stories about Thomas and his friends to entertain him. Christopher asked for more and more stories and Wilbert began writing them down. The first of the Railway Series books was published in 1945, and Awdry wrote 26 Railway books in total before his son, Christopher, took over the series. There have since been multiple, hugely popular, Thomas the Tank Engine TV series and films.