The Railway Children

Return to the magic of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN in this heartwarming sequel by Lou Kuenzler. In the depths of WWII, 12-year-old Edie is nervous at the prospect of being sent to live with an unknown aunt whilst her mother flies planes for the ATA. Aunt Roberta welcomes Edie with open arms, but does a dark secret lurk at the heart of the village?

When their father is sent away to prison, three London children move to the country where they keep busy preventing accidents on the nearby railway, making many new friends, and generally learning a good deal about themselves.

Sit back and enjoy the journey! Phoebe Robinson loves making up stories - just like her wonderful, imaginative Dad. When he mysteriously disappears, Phoebe, Perry, Becks and their mum must leave everything behind and move to a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. Struggling to feel at home and missing her Dad terribly, Phoebe's only distraction is her guinea pig Daisy. Until the family discover the thrilling steam trains at the railway station and suddenly, every day is filled with adventure. But Phoebe still can't help wondering, what is Mum hiding and more worryingly is Dad okay? A captivating reimagining of The Railway Children from the award-winning, bestselling, beloved Jacqueline Wilson.

When their father is sent away to prison, three London children move to the country where they keep busy preventing accidents on the nearby railway, making many new friends, and generally learning a good deal about themselves.

A heartwarming novelisation of the sequel to one of the most beloved British family films of all time, The Railway Children. The Railway Children Return, out in cinemas April 2022, imagines ES Nesbit’s treasured story fifty years on, bringing an enchanting new adventure to a new generation of fans.

Suitable for younger learners Word count 9,295

When Roberta, Peter and Phyllis’ dad is suddenly and unexpectedly sent to prison, the children are suddenly pulled away from their comfortable suburban life. They move with their mother to the "Three Chimneys," a countryside house that sits near the railway. As the children settle into their new life, the railway allows them to meet and befriend a series of characters, some of whom need their help, and some whom might just be able to help them. First published in 1905 as a serial, "The Railway Children" has been popular with readers from its beginning. It has been adapted to the screen and the stage several times, and remain a children’s favourite to this day. Edith Nesbit Bland (1858-1924) was a British author, activist and poet, who published an extensive amount of children’s books under the pen name "E. Nesbit", which are still widely read today. Amongst her most famous novels are "The Railway Children," "The Story of the Treasure Seekers," and "Five Children and It".

The Railway Children - E. Nesbit - The Railway Children is a children's book by Edith Nesbit, originally serialised in The London Magazine during 1905 and first published in book form in 1906. It has been adapted for the screen several times, of which the 1970 film version is the best known. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography credits Oswald Barron, who had a deep affection for Nesbit, with having provided the plot. The story concerns a family who move to "Three Chimneys", a house near the railway, after the father, who works at the Foreign office, is imprisoned after being falsely accused of spying. The children befriend an Old Gentleman who regularly takes the 9:15 train near their home; he is eventually able to help prove their father's innocence, and the family is reunited. The family take care of a Russian exile, Mr Szczepansky, who came to England looking for his family (later located) and Jim, the grandson of the Old Gentleman, who suffers a broken leg in a tunnel.The theme of an innocent man being falsely imprisoned for espionage and finally vindicated might have been influenced by the Dreyfus Affair, which was a prominent worldwide news item a few years before the book was written. The Russian exile, persecuted by the Tsars for writing "a beautiful book about poor people and how to help them" and subsequently helped by the children, was most likely an amalgam of the real-life dissidents Sergius Stepniak and Peter Kropotkin who were both friends of the author.

Three children, forced to alter their comfortable lifestyle when their father is taken away by strangers, move to a simple country cottage near a railway station where their days are filled with adventure.

Mike Kenny''s imaginative stage adaptation of E. Nesbit''s much-loved children''s classic. Famously filmed, this story of a prosperous Edwardian family - mother and three children - forced into near-penury in the rural north of England captures the anxieties and exhilarations of childhood with great tenderness and insight. As Mike Kenny says of his remarkably faithful adaptation, aeYou donOCOt need a real train to perform this playa the most powerful prop is the imagination of the audience, the most effective tool the skill of the actors.OCO So this version of "The Railway Children," which offers three plum roles for young performers, is eminently suitable for schools, youth theatres and drama groups - anywhere, in fact, where the cry of aeDaddy! My Daddy!'' is likely to provoke a tear. ''Lavish, warm-hearted... one of the very finest childrenOCOs stories of the 20th century, and it is served superbly by Mike KennyOCOs adaptation''- "Whatsonstage.com" ''This glorious adaptation... profoundly moving... it never for a moment runs out of steam''- "Guardian" ''Mike Kenny''s script provides everything needed for a cracking evening at the theatre.''- "Amateur Stage" ''Mike KennyOCOs adaptation shows his mastery of playwriting for children and families... adults and children alike are enthralled by the clever mix of imagination and reality''- "Financial Times""