Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mild adventure in sweet Thomas holiday special.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Letter Express
What's the Story?
In THOMAS & FRIENDS: THE CHRISTMAS LETTER EXPRESS, Thomas the Tank Engine and his train friends are busy on Christmas Eve. Thomas is delivering ingredients to make cookies for Santa, a bunch of trains are setting up decorations on Christmas Mountain, and Percy is delivering Christmas mail. A gust of wind blows one of Percy's letters into his cab, and he accidentally doesn't deliver it. Percy is distraught when he realizes that the undelivered mail is a letter to Santa, and Santa won't know the child's wish. Percy, Thomas, and the rest of the trains try to catch up with Santa to deliver the letter, but Santa's too busy delivering presents. They come up with a plan to get Santa's attention, but then the lights on Christmas Mountain break. Can Thomas and friends figure out how to deliver the child's wish to Santa before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
This is a perfect gentle holiday special for Thomas fans who celebrate Christmas. Preschoolers will delight in the idea of the trains trying to find Santa, and will love the super sweet happy ending of The Christmas Letter Express. Grown-ups may note that the story is just OK and the plot twists seem like time-fillers. Kids won't mind though—they'll be swept away by the magic of their favorite trains celebrating Christmastime.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Percy's determination to deliver the last Christmas letter. Why was it so important to Percy to not give up?
Families can talk about Bruno and why he wanted the decorations to be hung the exact same way as last year. Does your family have any holiday traditions? Do you think traditions need to happen the same way every year?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 21, 2024
- Cast : Kai Harris , Charlie Zeltzer , Chuck Smith
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Holidays ( Christmas ) , Family Stories , Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Transportation ( Trains )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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