The Water Wheel (2022 magazine story)

"It's brilliant to see the water wheel in action. I guess you could call it wheely useful!"

- Thomas

The Water Wheel is a magazine story illustrated using images from the CGI television series.

Plot
Thomas has a really important job to do; he has deliver a new water wheel made from bamboo to the village. Thomas has never seen anything made of bamboo before, but Hong-Mei explains that bamboo is used to make many different things in China as it is tough, strong and light.

The water wheel is so important, that Thomas decides to take a short-cut to get the wheel to the village as fast as possible. Unfortunately, as Thomas goes into a tunnel, the water wheel is knocked from its trailer and bounces away down the hill. Thomas carries on, completely unaware that the wheel has gone.

Thomas meets Yong Bao who asks what he's doing and Thomas tells him. Yong Bao asks where the water wheel is, but before Thomas can answer, it bounces onto the track right in front of them both. Thomas races after it. The water wheel bounces up and down mountains, fields and through villages with Thomas following close behind. Finally, the water wheel lands in the river with a big splash. Thomas puffs slowly to the village to tell the residents the bad news.

Just as Thomas is explaining what's happened, the villagers spot the water wheel; it has floated down the river to the village. The villagers are overjoyed and use the water wheel to take water from the the river to the rice fields. Thomas has to admit that it is "wheely useful".

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Yong Bao
 * Hong-Mei
 * An An

Trivia

 * This story is based on the twenty-second series episode of the same name.