All aboard! At Mommy University, we don’t need a conductor to tell us to get excited about books and certainly not books involving trains! Our children have become fascinated with these massive means of transportation. Inducted into this interest by a useful engine named Thomas, our children have taken rides through New Jersey, enjoyed exhibits and climbed aboard at Franklin Institute. Thus reading about engines during story time is cherished by our little ones and will be by your children as well.
Whether it is to read in the morning, right after school or before bedtime, reading is an important part of any child’s routine. We hope this list can make your story time even more exciting. We have included Amazon affiliate links to make your shopping experience easier and more convenient!
Mommy University Presents
10 Awesome Train Books
Trains by Byron Barton
A sturdy board book with an upbeat paced tempo and simple graphics, my toddlers loved this book. The words don’t overwhelm the page as children are introduced to a variety of trains.
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Kevin Lewis
We picked up this book at the library and since my children loved it so much we added it to their holiday list. This book has a great rhythm almost as if you are singing a song and along with the graphics, I think this is a great bedtime read.
Freight Train by Donald Crews
This book is great for a young conductor as each page focuses on one part of the train and identifies it by name. The focus of bold colors on different pages will help children learn their colors as they enjoy a fun journey.
Train by Elisha Cooper
Train is well-known for the amazing illustrations as it brings children on a ride that transitions to different types of trains and rides. Parents also tend to appreciate this book as much as their children.
Locomotive by Brian Floca
Known for focusing his books on a journey, Brian Floca’s Locomotive offers the older children that are about to finish picture books with a beautiful story. Traveling through the United States, the main characters and those reading the story are looking at the landscape, importance of each component of the train, and the structure of buildings.
The Little Train by Lois Lenski
Originally published in the 1940’s, The Little Train was reissued while maintaining most of the original story and graphics. Some pages have been omitted and some graphics cropped, but the imagery has the old world look that will appeal to children who love trains. It will expand on your train enthusiast’s knowledge of how to operate a train, and they will walk away with an enhanced vocabulary.
Thomas the Tank Engine Books
There are so many Thomas the Tank Engine books that it is difficult for me to narrow down and make specific suggestions so I recommend reading them all! Not only did we inherit a pile of Thomas books, we have also received many as gifts. In each Thomas story is a simple message that encourages positive values through simple graphics and sentences.
Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker
This is another great book for the train enthusiast. The reader is taken on a surreal and sleepy journey that has a calm tempo which makes it a wonderful bedtime story.
The Little Engine that could by Watty Piper
The classic story that we have all heard about the little engine that could promotes the belief in self-confidence and overcoming obstacles. This is a classic quick read for a young child’s library.
National Geographic Readers: Trains
For young children, there is not a lot of fact books compared to the fictional options but the National Geographic Readers book offers a lot of information on how trains have impacted the United States.
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