Scholastic has a Thomas book club that runs for about 12 months geared for early readers, K-3.
The first package you get contains, a plastic play mat of Sodor, and 2 cardboard cut outs of friends of Thomas, plus plastic stands and 2 hardcover books and a mini cardboard bookcase decorated with Thomas to put all your books in. Each book flips over to another story. So you get 2 books but 4 stories.
Every month you receive two hardcover books with four stories. Over the year it takes to complete, you get 24 books (that all fit into that mini bookcase)and a total of 96 stories.
Most of these stories are contained in the "Thomas the Tank Engine - The Complete Collection" by Rev. W. Awdry. The stories in this giant, thick and heavy book only have a few tiny pictures per story. The Scholastic Thomas books contain more pictures.
It is important to note, that the Scholastic books contain the original illustrations of Rev. W. Awdry. The books measure 8 1/2 wide inches by 6 1/2 inches high. Print (story) is on the even pages, full page sized original illustrations are on the odd pages. Each story has six pages of printed story, and six illustrations.
For each story -- on the inside cover, there is a vocabulary/definition list of new words related to trains.
The intial intro package cost was around five or six dollars. Every month after, the package was priced about $12.98. including shipping/handling for the 2 books (four stories), and two character cardboard cutouts with stands to go with the original intro play mat of Sodor.
You can sign up for credit card automatic payments which are charged to your account after the books are shipped out.
You can cancel any time.
I found customer service very helpful if I had questions or problems. My son enjoyed getting new stories every month.
To sign up for the Thomas Book Club call customer service 1-800-411-6706 (Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 9:00 pm CST) or visit Scholastic Home Clubs.
