Choo, choo! The best collection of train books for kids! If you have a train-obsessed child in your life, then you will want to read these terrific train books. Includes both fiction and non-fiction train-themed books for your reader! All aboard!!
Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate Links included. All opinions express are my own.
The Best Train Books for Kids
As a kindergarten teacher, I would read a variety of fiction and non-fiction literature out loud to the children in my classroom on a daily basis. Studies have shown that there are numerous benefits to reading out loud to your children including language, word knowledge, rhythm of words, and a caring bond with the care-giver.
As a parent, I try to apply this same philosophy in our home, by purchasing or checking out from the library an assortment of both fiction and non-fiction text. It is important to read a variety of different books with your kids!
- Don’t forget to talk about the story and pictures as you read.
- Make predictions.
- Ask questions!
Here are a few more tips for teaching your child to read as you explore these terrific train books!
Fiction Train Books
- Locomotive by Brian Floca
- The Little Red Caboose (Little Golden Book) by Marian Potter
- Freight Train by Donald Crews
- Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker
- The Goodnight Train by June Sobel
- How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton
- Trains by Byron Barton
- Terrific Trains (Amazing Machines) by Tony Mitton
- Train by Mr. Elisha Cooper
- Peace Train by Cat Stevens
- The Little Engine That Could (Little Golden Book) by Watty Piper
- The Little Engine That Could (90th Anniversary) by Watty Piper (Dolly Parton)
- Where Do Steam Trains Sleep at Night? by Brianna Caplan Sayres
- Santa and the Goodnight Train by June Sobel
- Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- Subway Ride by Heather Lynne Miller
- Subway by Anastasia Suen
- Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach
- The Littlest Train by Chris Gall
- I Love Trains by Philemon Sturges
- Trains Go (Vehicles Go!) by Steve Light
- Thomas and Friends: My Red Railway Book Box by Rev. W. Awdry
- Alphabet Trains by Samantha R. Vamos
- Train Man by Andrea Zimmerman & David Clemesha
- Trains Coming Through!: My First Book of Trains by Stephanie Morgan
- Trains Run! by George Ella Lyon (Author), Benn Lyon
- The Goodnight Train Rolls On! by June Sobel & Laura Huliska-Beith
- Clackety Track: Poems about Trains by Skila Brown
Although you see a set of Thomas books for little ones in the list above, I am NOT a Thomas the Train book fan. Sorry to offend those of you who enjoy them, but I find them dry, long winded, and not witty. We owned several and just passed them on for someone else to enjoy, because I didn’t like them.
The board books, however, weren’t all that bad. Short, sweet, and to the point, not great literature (In My Opinion) but ok for ADDING to your train book stash. PLEASE, even if you love Thomas the Train books, read some other train books with your children as there are truely some AMAZING stories about trains that you don’t want to miss.
Want more transportation books? Explore the best children’s books about cars and trucks!
Non-fiction Train Books
My 2 oldest children LOVE learning about trains. Trains are a great topic to introduce your children to using a non-fiction text. We actually own 5 out of the seven pictured books in this section and read them often! I keep them in the wooden train storage bin for easy play extensions. See if the books you choose have a glossary or an index.
Grab a fiction and a non-fiction story about trains and compare the two. How are they similar? How are they different? What clues tell our little readers that they are reading real information and not a made-up story? These conversations are important in developing reading skills.
- The Big Book of Trains (DK Big Books) by DK
- Lonely Planet Kids How Trains Work by Clive Gifford
- Train (DK Eyewitness Books) by John Coiley
- My Big Train Book by Roger Priddy
- Train: The Definitive Visual History by DK (Author), Smithsonian Institution
- My Best Book of Trains by Richard Balkwill
- All Aboard Trains by Mary Harding
- My First Book of Trains: All About Locomotives and Railcars for Kids by Kristina A Holzweiss
- Trains Then and Now (Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books) by Scarlett Wing
- Steam, Smoke, and Steel: Back in Time with Trains by Patrick O’Brien
- Trains: The World’s Most Scenic Routes by Publications International Ltd.
- Seymour Simon’s Book of Trains by Seymour Simon
- National Geographic Readers: Trains by Amy Shields
- Trains! (Step into Reading) by Susan E Goodman
- My Little Golden Book About Trains by Dennis R. Shealy
- Trains by Gail Gibbons
Train Book Activities for Kids
We have rolled through this Month with a TRAIN theme, complete with MATH, READING, CRAFTS, and SCIENCE activities for preschoolers all about trains.
I like to combine books with learning activities! Read a book, do an activity. This will enrich and extend your child’s reading experience.
Stop by these train ideas for some learning activity inspiration.
- Exploring Magnets with Trains; Simple Science
- Learn to Read with Trains
- Preschool TRAIN Math Activities
- Name Train Craft and Snack
- Moveable Cardboard Train and Train Track Craft
- Paper Train Tutorial for Imaginative Play
- Snowflake Train Game
- Train Themed Counting Game for Kids
- Math Games with Trains
- Reading Activities with Trains
- Fingerprint Train Ornament
Wow!! I didn't know there were so many books on trains! My knowledge is limited to Thomas!!
AMEN to not liking Thomas the Train books!! Most of the time I can't bear books that are written to promote a toy or TV show.
I bet your train collection of books and mine would probably be larger than the libraries =)
Terrific Trains is new to us. Requesting from the library now! Thanks so much.