From Bob McKinnon comes this modern retelling of the beloved classic, Little Engine that Could, that asks young readers, “How does your journey differ from others?” It also serves as a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from their track.
Available in your favorite bookstores.
Have you ever asked yourself this question? Or wondered why your life turned differently than you expected or from others you know. On this site, you’ll find tools, writing and podcast episodes that explores this question and others. Watch Bob’s TEDx talk to learn about his journey and the science behind how we see our lives and those of others.
Children’s Books
I think I can, I think I can, I think I… can’t? What’s an Engine to do when even believing in yourself won’t get you to the top of the mountain? In this modern retelling of the beloved The Little Engine That Could, The Little Blue Engine and her friends attempt to reach the town on the other side of the mountain, but they quickly realize that not every engine is on the same track, and they all face different obstacles in their journey. In Three Little Engines author Bob McKinnon asks young readers: How does your journey differ from others?
While paying homage to the beloved classic, author Bob McKinnon acknowledges that although positive thinking and confidence are important, they are not always enough to help you succeed. In many instances, success requires a helping hand. This book is a gentle introduction to the idea of socioeconomic mobility and inequality in America. Heavily inspired by his own experiences, McKinnon teaches the youngest of readers how to recognize opportunity and inequality in the American Dream, and, most importantly, how to extend a helping hand to those on different tracks of life. At its heart, Three Little Engines is a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from your track.
Three Little Engines is now a New York Times best seller! Order your copy today from your favorite online bookseller or your local bookstore:
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Newsletter
Standing
Earlier this week, I stood on the exact spot where Malcolm X was assassinated in the Audubon Ballroom. The feeling was familiar; having previously visited the Lorraine Motel and Ford’s Theatre where Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln were also killed by assassin’s bullets. It is a solemn experience, marked by sadness and reverence. The contrast of the good and evil we are capable of is palpable.
This experience is not reserved for singularly significant individuals. Having stood on the beaches of Normandy and above the deck of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor evokes a similar sense of awe; marveling at the collective sacrifice and senseless loss.
I am moved when I stand still in these footsteps of history. Realizing that each of the above would have been spared had they not stood up for something larger than themselves. Trying to imagine the extent to which the loss and grief felt by their families was mitigated by the importance of cause.
Each of the fallen noted above – including every soldier – was younger when they were killed than I am now.
As macabre as it may sound, I have on occasion found myself visiting a cemetery where no loved one or ancestor of mine rests. Standing above the likes of Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott, Kennedy, Gehrig and Carnegie while they lay below. On these sojourns I also take note of less familiar names. Untended tombstones marking years of beginnings and ends. The small dash in the middle serves as a cheap proxy for the fullness of their life.
I wonder how often someone stands in front of each grave and how this correlates to what the passed soul stood for during the length of their dash.
Standing in history, known and unknown, should give us pause. Offering a moment to reflect on what we really stand for. Asking ourselves, “Who will want to stand in the places where we once stood?” and “Will they feel any reverence or gratitude for the stands we made?”
This Week’s Recommendation: I am currently reading the latest book from one of my favorite authors, George Saunders. Vigil is a creative wonder. Imagining a person on their death who resists coming to terms with the consequences of his large life. Makes you wonder about what conversation will you have with yourself when your time comes.
Please share this to someone whose stands you appreciate.
Monday Morning Notes
Delivered to your mailbox each Monday morning, these short notes offer an opportunity each week to reflect on who and what contributes to where we end up in life. Readers tell us it’s a great way to start their week on a positive note. See the latest note below:
Standing
Earlier this week, I stood on the exact spot where Malcolm X was assassinated in the Audubon Ballroom. The feeling was familiar; having previously visited the Lorraine Motel and Ford’s Theatre where Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln were also killed by assassin’s bullets. It is a solemn experience, marked by sadness and reverence. The …
Attribution with Bob McKinnon
Attribution is a podcast, where people from all walks of life, reflect on who and what has contributed to where they ended up. Our hope is after each episode, you feel a little more inspired, grateful, or supported, then when you first hit play. Check out the latest episode below:
Episode 35: Class Matters w/ Richard Kahlenberg
Richard D. Kahlenberg is an education and housing policy researcher, writer, consultant, and speaker. He is also Director of Housing Policy and Director of the American Identity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute. The author or editor of 19 books, his latest is Class Matters: The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America’s Colleges. This was a deep and challenging conversation about class, race, higher education, affirmative action and social mobility.