Discover the best children’s books about cars and trucks! Engage young readers with fun stories, bright illustrations, and exciting adventures.
Plus we’ve included car and truck themed book activities to go along with these popular children’s books.
- Car Books for Kids
- Car Themed Book Activities for Kids
- Little Blue Truck Books
- Little Blue Truck Book Activities for Kids
- Truck Books for Kids
- Construction Truck Books
- Construction Book Activities for Kids
- Bus Books for Kids
- Bus Themed Book Activities
- Train Books for Kids
- Why Should You Read Books About Trucks and Cars?
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Best Children’s Books About Cars & Trucks
Young children love books about cars and trucks because these machines are big, powerful, and always on the move—just like their active imaginations! The bright colors, loud sounds, and exciting actions of vehicles capture kids’ attention and spark curiosity about how things work. Books featuring cars and trucks often have engaging storylines filled with adventure, teamwork, and problem-solving, making them both fun and educational.
Reading about vehicles also helps children learn new vocabulary, develop an understanding of cause and effect, and explore real-world concepts like transportation and construction.
Plus, the interactive elements—like beeping horns, rumbling engines, and crashing dump trucks—make these books especially exciting for little readers!
Car Books for Kids
Kids love reading books about cars because they combine excitement, adventure, and imagination. The fast speeds, cool designs, and thrilling journeys capture their curiosity, while stories about races, rescues, and friendly vehicles make reading fun.
Car books also help children learn about movement, problem-solving, and teamwork in an engaging way, making them a favorite choice for young readers.
C Is for Car: An ABC Car Primer by Ashley Marie Mireles
Race Car Dreams by Sharon Chriscoe
The Berenstain Bears and the Big Road Race by Stan Berenstain
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen
Hello, World! Cars and Trucks by Jill McDonald
Wheels: The Big Fun Book of Vehicles by Tom Schamp
Bye, Car by Naomi Danis
What Kind of Car Does a T. Rex Drive? by Mark Lee
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw
Buster’s Trip to Victory Lane by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Alphabeep!: A Zipping, Zooming ABC by Debora Pearson
Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
Race Car Count by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Monkey on the Run by Leo Timmers
Cars by RH Disney
Who Is Driving? by Leo Timmers
Indestructibles: Things That Go! by Amy Pixton
Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! by Bill Martin Jr & Michael Sampson
Car Themed Book Activities for Kids
- Car Color Sort: Outdoor Math for Littles who LOVE Matchbox Cars
- Learn the alphabet with Cars: How to make Letter Matching Roads
- Transportation Theme Preschool Unit | How Many Cars Equals 1 Pound?
- SPLASH, GIGGLE, and LEARN. How to set up Car Wash Subtraction
- Learn and Zoom the ABC’s Outside : An Alphabet Car Activity for Kids
- Use Life Sized Pattern Block to Create Cars and Trucks
Little Blue Truck Books
Kids love Little Blue Truck books by Alice Schertle, with illustrations by Jill McElmurry, because they are filled with engaging rhymes, cheerful illustrations, and valuable life lessons. The stories follow a friendly blue truck as it travels through different adventures, meeting animals and helping others along the way.
The books emphasize kindness, teamwork, and perseverance, making them both fun and meaningful for young readers.
Reading these books with your child not only helps develop language skills through rhythmic, playful text but also teaches social-emotional lessons in an engaging way.
The vibrant illustrations and sound effects—like honks, beeps, and animal noises—make read-aloud time interactive and enjoyable. Plus, the gentle themes of friendship and cooperation create great opportunities for discussion.
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle
Good Night, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck’s Valentine by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck Feeling Happy by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck Book Activities for Kids
- Create this adorable Little Blue Truck Craft for hours of playtime fun with farm animals.
- Explore these fun printable activities from Little Blue Truck!
- Add a little science fun with this Magnetic Farm Activities for Kids.
Truck Books for Kids
Reading children’s books about trucks to kids sparks their curiosity, builds vocabulary, and enhances cognitive development through engaging storytelling. It encourages a love for reading by connecting with their interests while also supporting speech development and imaginative play. Additionally, reading together strengthens parent-child bonds and helps children understand real-world concepts in a fun and interactive way. Here’s a few of our favorite truck books…
I Love Trucks! by Philoemen Sturges
Lift-the-Flap Tab: Trucks by Roger Priddy
Trash Truck by Max Keane
Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine
Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
The Old Truck by Jerome Pumphrey
Tow Truck Joe by June Sobel
Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz
The Happy Man and His Dump Truck by Miryam
Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough
Construction Truck Books
Kids love the Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site series by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, because it combines two things many young children adore—big, powerful construction vehicles and soothing bedtime stories. The books feature hardworking trucks like excavators, cranes, and bulldozers, each with its own personality, working together on different jobs before winding down for the night.
The rhythmic, rhyming text and warm, detailed illustrations make these stories both exciting and comforting.
Reading these books with your child is a great way to encourage a love of reading while reinforcing routines, teamwork, and perseverance. The gentle, lyrical language and calming themes help create a relaxing bedtime experience, making them perfect for winding down at the end of the day.
Plus, the engaging truck characters make learning about cooperation and responsibility fun!
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: Spring Delight by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: Taking Flight! by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: A Thankful Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site Gets a Fright! by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: You’re Just Right by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: Garbage Crew to the Rescue! by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site: Road Crew, Coming Through! by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? by Brianna Caplan Sayres
Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney
The Excavator Who Didn’t Want to Dig by Kelly Pacheco
The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler
Construction Book Activities for Kids
- Explore how to make a Magnetic Contruction Site Sensory Bin.
- Make roads and parking lots with this Chalkboard Town in a Box Idea.
- Bring your Construction Vehicles to the Sand at the Beach for some extra fun.
Bus Books for Kids
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
Wheels on the Bus by Raffi
The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky
The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera
Bus Themed Book Activities
Train Books for Kids
Want more Transportation Books? Explore the best collection of Train Books for Kids!
Why Should You Read Books About Trucks and Cars?
Reading books about cars and trucks to children has several benefits, especially for young kids who are fascinated by big vehicles. Here’s why you should consider it:
- Encourages a Love for Reading – If a child is interested in cars or trucks, books on the topic can make reading enjoyable and engaging, fostering a lifelong love for books.
- Expands Vocabulary – Car and Truck books introduce words related to construction, transportation, and mechanics, helping children develop language skills. Words like “excavator,” “dump truck,” and “crane” build their vocabulary.
- Supports Cognitive Development – Learning about how cars and trucks work and what they do encourages problem-solving, curiosity, and critical thinking.
- Strengthens Parent-Child Bond – Reading together provides valuable one-on-one time, strengthening emotional connections while making learning fun.
- Encourages Imaginative Play – Many kids love playing with toy trucks, and reading books about them can inspire pretend play, which is crucial for creativity and social development.
- Teaches Real-World Concepts – They often explain how things are built, how deliveries happen, and how different vehicles help communities function, giving kids a basic understanding of the world around them.
- Helps with Speech Development – Reading aloud helps children hear and practice new sounds, improving pronunciation and communication skills.
- Provides a Sense of Comfort – If a child is passionate about vehicles, books featuring them can be calming and reassuring, especially at bedtime.
Whether your child loves big trucks, speedy race cars, or friendly little vehicles, these books offer fun adventures and valuable lessons. Reading about cars and trucks fuels imagination, builds vocabulary, and makes story time exciting.
Explore these fantastic books and spark your little one’s curiosity today!
You may also enjoy these activities with your child…
