He breathed livid life into a ’58 Plymouth Fury in Christine, but Stephen King also gives voice to a mean machine on the tracks with Charlie the Choo-Choo, a children's story once read by Jake Chambers in The Dark Tower book series. Featuring train conductor Bob Brooks and his talking locomotive Charlie, the full-length picture book from Mid-World crosses over into our realm with the hardcover release of Charlie the Choo-Choo on November 22nd from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Penned by Stephen King under the pseudonym Beryl Evans, Charlie the Choo-Choo tells the story of how Bob first became aware that his train could talk, and the tight-knit friendship that followed, even when Charlie was forced off the tracks and into retirement amongst the weeds.
Writing for a younger audience as Evans, King keeps his believable dialogue and vivid descriptions enjoyable for all ages, taking readers on a journey through Mid-World that they won't soon forget. And for as much joy that lives between the covers of this children's book, there is just as much foreboding wonder to be found in this tale that brilliantly lives on the edge of family fun and family friendly frights.
While Charlie the Choo-Choo is ultimately a children's book, the illustrations by Ned Dameron add a gradually unsettling slant to Bob and Charlie's friendship, particularly through the creepy smile and uneasy eyes of the living locomotive. Dameron's artwork walks the tightrope between fantasy and subtle horror, and he absolutely nails the eerie aspects of Charlie the Choo-Choo that freaked out Jake Chambers in The Dark Tower series.
Because the spooky elements of Charlie the Choo-Choo are expertly veiled behind an inspirational tale of hard work, pure love, and perseverance, this book can be enjoyed by grade-school readers unfamiliar with The Dark Tower books just as much as diehard fans of Mid-World. This is an especially unique treat for fans of The Dark Tower series, though, so if you're looking for a great gift for the Stephen King aficionado in your life this holiday season, then take a ride with Charlie on the tracks.
To learn more about Charlie the Choo-Choo, visit Simon & Schuster's official website or the book's official Amazon page. For more details, you can also check out the official press release and preview pages below.
Press Release: Engineer Bob has a secret: His train engine, Charlie the Choo-Choo, is alive…and also his best friend. From celebrated author Beryl Evans (a pseudonym for Stephen King) and illustrator Ned Dameron comes a story about friendship, loyalty, and hard work.
Fans of Stephen King’s acclaimed Dark Tower series will recognize Charlie the Choo-Choo as the picture book that shows up in Book Three, The Waste Lands, written by the character Beryl Evans. An Easter egg for devoted fans, a mock-up of the book was recently distributed at San Diego Comic Con, where over 500 fans gathered to claim one of 150 copies available. Now in its completion, fans across the country can bring Charlie the Choo-Choo to their home libraries.
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.ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
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.CHARLIE THE CHOO-CHOO
By Beryl Evans, illus. by Ned Dameron
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 11/22/16 • 9781534401235 • $14.99"
Cover art and preview pages from Simon & Schuster:
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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