Thomas The Train Great Race Game: All Aboard!

Thomas the Tank Engine overload is a phenomenon many of you — particularly the moms of toddler boys — might be familiar with.  It’s hard to find a ‘casual’ fan of Thomas; for reasons I still can’t quite explain, kids latch on to this PBS-produced show with a ferocity so intense that they often refuse to let go. As a result, there are numerous Thomas-branded items on the market. If you find yourself living in the ‘all-Thomas-all-the-time’ zone, I’ve got a fantastic, affordable game for you this holiday season in Thomas The Train Great Race ($25), by Briarpatch.

Suitable for up to four players and designed for ages 3 and up, this isn’t quite a board game, and it isn’t quite a card game, either. Four player ‘engines’ climb and then descend a hill by answering simple counting questions derived from scenes depicted on a series of playing cards. Correct answers earn a matching coal block that will power the engine all the way to the finish line.

This game is fairly straightforward and basic, which is why I agree with the age recommendation. Some questions are a little more obvious, like counting the number of people standing in front of a train. Other questions, like how many blue engines appear in a larger group of engines, require children to draw distinctions first between things like colors and shapes before their counting can begin in earnest. Because there is such a range in terms of difficulty, a younger child should be able to draw enough easy questions that they won’t become frustrated and tempted to give up, while an older child will get enough challenging questions that they won’t become bored and walk away. If you have a Thomas freak on your hands, they won’t be disappointed…but even if your child hasn’t fallen under the Thomas spell this is still a great game for teaching basic counting skills.

– Missy