Bluey Trains

Illustrated by Rafferty Amor

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

One for  young readers just starting to read on their own, this illustrated chapter book for 6+ readers features a famous Australian tv icon. Yes, I am talking about Bluey, that Australian blue heeler who has captured hearts world wide. Board books and picture books featuring Bluey abound and now here is a series of chapter books aimed at beginning independent readers.  No single author is given credit, it all belongs to Ludo Studios.

Bluey is an inexhaustible blue heeler puppy, who lives with her mum, dad and little sister Bingo. She loves to play games with her family so she takes the everyday events of her family’s life and transforms them into extraordinary adventures. This means role play.

This book, based on an actual Bluey episode, is all about trains, including coping with an annoying guy on the train, played by Bluey in the make believe, taking a sick animal to the vet, and so on.

The events in this book are somewhat chaotic, familiarity with the tv series is almost a prerequisite to understanding the format. That said, children who love Bluey will enjoy this book and hone their reading skills as they are already familiar with the characters and their relationships. Others in the series are Bus and Taxi.

Puffin 2024