Education: Cousin Frankie Gets Her Due

"Puff, puff, chug, chug, went the little blue engine. 'I think I can—I think I can—I think I can . . .' " Over the mountain at last, with its load of Christmas toys for the children on the other side, the engine puffed happily: " 'I thought I could —I thought I could—I thought I could.' "

For some 40 years, small boys and girls all over the U.S. have enjoyed the triumph of The Little Engine That Could. The tale has appeared in many versions, sold millions of copies—apparently one of those anonymously written classics that are part of a...