Have you ever accidently come across a book that was exactly what you were looking for even though you didn’t realise you were looking?

Late last year Meredith (Oh, the Thinks you can Think) and I were browsing online while we chatted on the phone, as we often do. We were both looking at online bookstores, discussing the merits of various books we were considering buying for our kids for Christmas. Meredith stumbled across a book called Peter’s Railway by Christopher Vine and, knowing that I have a train obsessed 7-year-old, she sent me the link.

Not only was the book aimed at the right reading level and one we hadn’t seen before, it was perfect for my son. No, not perfect, PERFECT!

Peter’s Railway is about a young boy and his grandfather who build a 1/8 scale model train line to connect their two homes in the English countryside. The books combine story and information, sharing both the adventures of building and using the train line and the technical side of things – how a locomotive engine works, how carriages and wagons buffer together, wheel flanges, track construction, pistons and cylinders – all that in book one alone.

I bought the first two books in the series for my son for Christmas and he has already read and re-read them. Reading the first book together before he went to bed, he turned to me and wistfully commented ‘I wish that this story could be real in my life.’ He gave a quiet sigh and snuggled in as we returned to the story.

I have a review of Peter’s Railway scheduled at Kids Book Review later this month. I purchased book 1 and 2 from Fishpond, but will buy additional books from the series from the author/publisher website, Peter’s Railway, where I can have a personalised dedication written in the books from the author. If you have children who love trains, I highly recommend these books.

Over the years, I’ve come across several books that seem to resonate with me somehow. Books where the appreciation goes beyond a well written story or well expressed idea, but somehow strikes a more personal chord. Dr Seuss’ Hooray for Diffendoofer Day is one. There have been a few novels and a couple of non-fiction books that were eerily relevant.

Have you ever come across a book that was just perfect for you or someone in your family? A book that seemed like it was written just for you?