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The Primrose Railway Children

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The Primrose Railway Children by Jacqueline Wilson

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By Jacqueline Wilson

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50 reviews

Catch The Primrose Railway Children on your screens this winter with CBBC’s adaptation starring Kevin McKidd!

From multi-million bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson and inspired by E. Nesbit’s timeless classic, The Primrose Railway Children is a gorgeous, heartwarming story of family secrets and new adventures.

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?

’It’s a brave author who reimagines E. Nesbit’s classic The Railway Children, but this thoroughly modern update by Jacqueline Wilson is a delight.’ – Daily Mail

Reviews

19 Jul 2025

This is a fiction book about a girl called Phoebe Robinson who's dad mysteriously disappears after going to work for a meeting one day to make a big film he wanted to make since forever. But when Phoebe is meant to be in school her, her sister (Becks) and her brother (Perry) are taken by their mum to a horrible cottage in the middle of nowhere. Wondering where their father is desperately, their mum still keeps the secret of where their dad is. But when they finally find out they get a big shock.

03 Feb 2025

I liked Phoebe best because she had wild imagination and cared for her dad.
I liked the part when Phoebe can hear her dad from far away or can she?…
I recommend this to people that like mystery books.

01 Sep 2024

I thought it was really good.

13 Aug 2024

I love the book and my favourite character is the mum as she has so much to do and she does it all by herself

11 Aug 2024

A modern version of the exciting orignal railway children, written by Edith Nesbit. There are obviously many similarities between the two tales, however they both are not the exact same as there are many different parts in the new version written by Jaquiline wilson, along with it being a longer story with modern things included.
A must read.

05 Aug 2024

I thought that the primrose railway children was one of my favourite books that I have read. I absolutely loved the characters and felt like I could not stop reading the book. Every page was astonishing without any chance of let down. I think everyone should know the tale of the primrose railway children.

16 Jul 2024

It is really good

14 Jul 2024

This is a fiction book and I very much reccomend to people who want a spin on a classic. Reccomend greatly

13 Jul 2024

I really enjoyed this book. It had loads of things, mystery, excitement and some sad parts added up to create a fabulous book to enjoy.

11 Jul 2024

It was soo flabbergasting, funny, and lovelydovey and also the boyfriend part and the jail and pet part

15 Jun 2024

A Jaqueline Wilson classic of adventure and mystery . Find out about phoebe and her family exploring primrose railway and the mystery of her dad

14 Jun 2024

A fun mashup of life and countryside!

20 Jan 2024

One of the best books I’ve ever read

16 Sep 2023

That was a good train ride

09 Sep 2023

This book has an exciting plot twist towards the end and is the emotional story of three children leaving their father behind and going to a cottage near the Primrose Railway.

03 Sep 2023

It was a really good book. Must read

28 Aug 2023

I thought the book was very well written and had lots of humor added in. I definitely would recommend this book to all ages as it's relatable to all. The characters in it are funny and you can relate a lot to them as well. As you start reading it you can't wait to go onto the next chapter. Defo would recommend to anyone.

18 Aug 2023

The Primrose Railway Children is a brilliant book but Jacqueline Wilson. My favourite character was Phoebe, she is the youngest child and light brown hair. She always tells the truth, unless she lies to protect someone. I would definitely recommend this book to someone else.

11 Aug 2023

So fantastic

11 Aug 2023

I loved this book. Although I was unsure about reading any of Jaqueline Wilson's books that were not illustrated by Nick Sharrat , The Primrose Railway Children was just what I would normally expect from this fabulous author (and illustrator) . Who ever you are , you must read this book.

09 Aug 2023

I loved the book because it's adventurous and I love adventures the book is fiction and I loved the character Becks the best because she reminds me of my sister. There were many facts about different types of animals and I recommend it to every one who loves adventures!!!

07 Aug 2023

This book was very dissopionting for me. some really lovely chapters but the majoroity was not as I would of hoped and was underwhelming

04 Aug 2023

Loved it. Recommend it to 9 +.

03 Aug 2023

This book is absolutely amazing and I would personally recommend it to anyone who likes books set in real life. It's about a girl called Phoebe, her sister Becks and their brother Perry. One day their dad seems to disappear and their mum makes the family move to the countryside...

02 Aug 2023

This is the perfect match for me - funny, dramatic , and and amazing!

01 Aug 2023

it is a fiction book my favourite character were phoebe and rebecca it is an amazing book.

28 Jul 2023

It’s really good!

28 Jul 2023

I liked this book a bit.

25 Jul 2023

When Phoebes beloved great dad suddenly disappears, her family has to leave everything behind and go live in a cottage . The cottage isn’t wha they expected ; no working toilets, no hot water and they haven’t got a toaster and mixer. One day, the family discovers a railway station. Phoebes brother Perry is obsessed with steam trains , phoebes older sister Becks likes a boy that works there and Phoebe likes the railway master Mr Thomas Brown

18 Jul 2023

I really enjoyed this book but it was very long I really liked the part when pheobe finally visited her dad in jail

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