Train of Thought

A big-hearted story from incredible new talent Jess Horn and illustrations by Hayley Wells, Train of Thought is a fun-filled ride through the twists and turns of a runaway imagination.

Andy has a brilliant imagination, and it carries him to the most amazing places. Mom calls it his train of thought. But, when it’s time for real-world tasks, Andy’s train doesn’t always stop! Can Andy find a way to be a treasure hunter and sit down in time for dinner?

A celebration of different ways of being and thinking, Train of Thought will delight readers aged 3 to 7 - and everyone and anyone who can relate to getting swept up in their imagination!

EMBRACE IMAGINATION: empowers young children to use their creativity and imagination to overcome challenges.

CELEBRATE NEURODIVERSITY: written from the lens of a neurodiverse child who hyperfocuses, Train of Thought offers constructive and affirming ways of talking about neurodiversity.

ENCOURAGE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL): an excellent aid for kids who can sometimes struggle with self-awareness and self-regulation.

AN ADVENTURE-PACKED RIDE: Hayley Wells’ illustrations are bursting with colorful detail, as Andy’s train journey takes him from one inventive world to the next.

PERFECT FOR:

• Kids (and grown-ups!) with big imaginations
• Parents, grandparents and carers of neurodiverse children
• Teachers, librarians and story-time readers
• Train and transport enthusiasts
• Fans of Milo Imagines the World (Matt de la Peña) and On a Magical Do-Nothing Day (Beatrice Alemagna).

Jess Horn is an Australian children’s author, passionate about empowering kids and sparking imagination. Her stories are full of humor and heart, often exploring the world from a neurodivergent perspective. With a background in speech pathology and disability services, Jess now pursues her love of words by weaving in a subtle message of inclusivity, encouraging readers to think outside the box. Jess lives with her rainbow family-of-four in Sydney, Australia. Aside from writing, she enjoys coffee (who doesn’t?) and spoonerisms (doo husn’t?!).

Hayley Wells is an Essex-based illustrator with an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art. Their work has been shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, featured on television, and published worldwide.

When they’re not illustrating, Hayley can be found growing vegetables at their allotment or falling over on roller skates.