Children often enjoy learning about trains. Trains are thrilling and can take you on new adventures to exciting places. Children also love learning about how things work, and trains are certainly impressive machines. For many people, train rides are some of the most exciting parts of childhood. Whether going to grandma’s house for the weekend or simply riding around the block, there’s something about a train that makes kids want to get on board.
There are lots of amazing books out there for children who love trains. The size, power, and sounds of trains are thrilling for young readers. Many children love learning about the different types of trains, their functions, and where they travel. Others may enjoy following the journeys of characters who ride trains.
Here’s a list of some of the best children’s books about trains that you can read with your child, even if they aren’t ready old enough to read themselves!
Check Amazon- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 1 through 3.
- A board book about the ins and outs of train operation.
Check Amazon- 48 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 3 through 7.
- Part of the Little Engine That Could series, made up of 21 books.
Check Amazon- 48 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 4 through 8.
- Winner of numerous awards, including School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.
Check Amazon- 208 pages.
- Recommended for readers ages 8 through 12.
- A heartwarming tale about the love between a father and his son.
Check Amazon- 32 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 2 through 5.
- A story that tries to capture the excitement of trains.
Check Amazon- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 2 through 4.
- Covers a type of train for every letter of the alphabet.
Check Amazon- 30 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 1 through 3.
- Filled with lyrical text and whimsical illustrations.
Check Amazon- 40 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 4 through 8.
- A classic children's book about two trains crossing country from east to west.
Check Amazon- 14 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 2 through 4.
- A board book highlighting the sights and sounds of trains.
Check Amazon- 32 pages.
- Customers recommended this book for children ages 2 through 3.
- A bedtime counting book for train lovers.
Top Picks: The Best Children’s Books About Trains
1. The Little Train by Lois Lenski
The Little Train is a children’s book rated highly by parents and teachers. In this book, a man named Engineer Small drives a small train from Tinytown to the city and then back again. The train picks up passengers and cargo as it passes through tunnels and stops at stations.
The book has simple and colorful illustrations that children can follow as they read. This helps them learn to read without getting confused by words or pictures on the page. It also teaches them everything they need to know about how trains work. The book even has a detailed diagram of a steam engine!
Lois Lenski is among the most influential children’s book writers and has won numerous awards for many of her books, including the Newbery Honor and the Children’s Book Award. The Little Train is available in hardback and paperback formats, as well as a board book version. However, the board book version is shorter and does not contain all of the original story.
Pros and Cons of The Little Train by Lois Lenski
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is highly rated by parents and teachers. | The board book version is shorter and does not contain the original story in its entirety. |
| The story is simple and cute. | |
| It has colorful illustrations that are easy to follow. | |
| The book has a detailed diagram of a steam engine. | |
| The author has won many book awards. | |
| It is available in hardback and paperback formats, as well as a board book version. |
- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 1 through 3.
- A board book about the ins and outs of train operation.
2. The Little Engine That Could: 90th Anniversary Edition by Watty Piper (Author), Dan Santat (Illustrator), and Dolly Parton (Introduction)
The Little Engine That Could is a classic children’s book that has been around since 1930. It is a simple story about a Little Blue Engine that pulls a train full of wonderful things across a mountain. The engine is much smaller than the others in the train yard, but she believes in herself and is able to accomplish her task, despite her small size. This book is fun because it’s about overcoming obstacles — something we all deal with daily.
The colorful and straightforward illustrations make this an excellent book for young children who are just learning to read. The illustrations are bright and charming, created by Caldecott Award-winning artist Dan Santat. In addition, the text is written in an easy reader-level language. There aren’t any complex words that would make it hard for kids to follow what’s going on in the story.
The Little Engine That Could: 90th Anniversary Edition has been re-imagined to celebrate how long this story has inspired children everywhere. The introduction includes a letter from Dolly Parton. However, the illustrations and story were tweaked a bit from the original for this anniversary edition, which some customers did not like.
Pros and Cons of The Little Engine That Could: 90th Anniversary Edition by Watty Piper (Author), Dan Santat (Illustrator), and Dolly Parton (Introduction)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is a classic story that has inspired children since 1930. | The illustrations and story were tweaked a bit from the original, which some customers did not like. |
| It has a great message about believing in yourself and overcoming obstacles. | |
| The illustrations are bright, colorful, and straightforward. | |
| The text is written in an easy reader-level language without any complex words. | |
| The introduction includes a letter from Dolly Parton. |
- 48 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 3 through 7.
- Part of the Little Engine That Could series, made up of 21 books.
3. Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Author) and James E. Ransome (Illustrator)
Overground Railroad is an award-winning children’s book about an incredible family who embarks on a challenging and historic journey to the north. Written by a dynamic husband and wife team, this book is about trains, families, and an important piece of African American history. Children may already be familiar with the Underground Railroad, but with this book, they can also learn about the Great Migration and the Overground Railroad as well.
The book centers around Ruth Ellen and her family. The family is forced to sit in the colored section of the train and is not allowed to eat in the dining car. Ruth finds solace in reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass to her mother on the train, and describes her journey from cotton fields to the Blue Ridge Mountains through poetry.
The book is at an easy reading level, meaning it can be read by children who are learning how to read on their own or by parents reading aloud with their children. It is 48 pages long and is aimed at children 4 to 8 years old. The illustrations are beautiful, and the textures and patterns of the clothing really bring the characters to life.
Pros and Cons of Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Author) and James E. Ransome (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book has won several awards. | |
| It is written and illustrated by a husband and wife team. | |
| The story teaches children about the Great Migration and the Overground Railroad. | |
| It deals with segregation and important parts of African American history. | |
| The story integrates other literary forms as well, like the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and the protagonist’s own poetry. | |
| It is 48 pages long and is aimed at children 4 to 8 years old. | |
| The illustrations are beautiful, and the textures and patterns of the clothing really bring the characters to life. |
- 48 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 4 through 8.
- Winner of numerous awards, including School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.
4. The Train of Lost Things by Ammi-Joan Paquette
The Train of Lost Things tells the story of a boy named Marty who loves his dying father with all his heart. But, Marty’s dad is sick and doesn’t have much time left. His father gives him an extra-special birthday gift — a jean jacket with multiple buttons. Marty treasures this gift, but he loses it, he goes off to find the magical Train of Lost Things with the hope that the train picked up his missing jacket.
As Marty moves through his incredible journey, he reflects on the strength of memories and the unbreakable bond he has with his father. It’s this powerful realization that ultimately leads to a heartwarming end.
This book is 208 pages long and is aimed at children 8 to 12 years old (grades three through seven). There are many sad elements of the story (a child trying to cope with a parent that has cancer, lost relationships, lost memories, lost treasures, etc.), but the overall message of the book is one of hope.
Pros and Cons of The Train of Lost Things by Ammi-Joan Paquette
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is filled with magic and adventure, along with real-life challenges like loss and grief. | There are many sad elements in the story. |
| It is 208 pages long. | |
| This book is aimed at children 8 to 12 years old (grades three through seven). | |
| There are many sad elements of the story, but overall the story is about hope. |
- 208 pages.
- Recommended for readers ages 8 through 12.
- A heartwarming tale about the love between a father and his son.
5. Here Comes the Train by Charlotte Voake
Here Comes the Train is a children’s book written and illustrated by Charlotte Voake. In the book, a father takes his children on a bike ride every Saturday. They bike to watch the train high above the train tracks and get excited every time the train comes. The story is simple and easy for young children to relate to, as it deals with emotions that they can recognize in their own lives.
The book is aimed at children between two and five years old who are just beginning to read independently. The text is simple enough for a child with limited reading skills to understand but also contains some longer words that will help students build their vocabulary. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, featuring animals like dogs and cats riding on the train alongside people.
Pros and Cons of Here Comes the Train by Charlotte Voake
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is a simple story of a father spending time with his two children. | |
| It is aimed at children between two and five years old. | |
| The text is simple enough for children with limited reading skills but also contains some longer words for building vocabulary. | |
| The illustrations are colorful and engaging. | |
| The book contains familiar sights like dogs and cats. | |
| The story is simple and easy for young children to relate to and deals with emotions that they can recognize in their own lives. |
- 32 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 2 through 5.
- A story that tries to capture the excitement of trains.
6. Alphabet Trains by Samantha R. Vamos (Author) and Ryan O’Rourke (Illustrator)
Alphabet Trains is a great way to teach your child about the alphabet and learn more about trains at the same time! The illustrations in this book are colorful, and each page has a different train with an animal or human on it. The animals are adorable and have fun expressions on their faces. There is also a little boy riding on one of the trains who looks like he is smiling at you as you read the story aloud to your child!
This book is written in rhyme, making it easier for children to memorize what they hear when they read it aloud together. It also helps them remember what they’ve learned when they read it themselves later on down the road. If you’re looking for an excellent way to introduce your child to learn about letters, this book might be what you need! There is also a glossary at the back of the book that explains the different types of trains featured in the story.
Pros and Cons of Alphabet Trains by Samantha R. Vamos (Author) and Ryan O’Rourke (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is great for teaching children the alphabet and about different types of trains at the same time. | |
| The illustrations are fun and colorful. | |
| Each page has a different train with an animal or human. | |
| The animals are illustrated as cute and friendly. | |
| The book is written in rhyme. | |
| There is also a glossary at the back of the book that explains the different types of trains featured in the story. |
- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 2 through 4.
- Covers a type of train for every letter of the alphabet.
7. The Goodnight Train by June Sobel (Author) and Laura Huliska-Beith (Illustrator)
The Goodnight Train is a simple, easy reader-level book that has been highly rated and sold many copies. The story follows a train on its journey through the night and is accompanied by colorful illustrations depicting adventurous scenes. The train passes by things like sheep, mermaids, and ice cream clouds!
The Goodnight Train is an excellent choice for young readers because it features easy sentences with short words and few syllables. This makes it an ideal starting point for those who are just learning to read or still working on their spelling skills.
It also features simple sentences made up of only two clauses at most, making it an ideal choice for those struggling with reading comprehension because they can easily follow along without having to overthink what they’re reading.
However, a few customers reported that the book can be hard to read in dim lighting and the words blend too easily into the illustrations. In addition, the illustrations are fun but a few customers thought they were too busy for a bedtime book.
Pros and Cons of The Goodnight Train by June Sobel (Author) and Laura Huliska-Beith (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a simple, easy-reading book. | The illustrations and words blend together in dim lighting, making this book harder to read at night. |
| The illustrations are colorful and magical. | Some customers thought the illustrations were too busy for a bedtime book. |
| It features easy sentences with short words and few syllables. | |
| The story features fun scenes like sheep, mermaids, and ice cream clouds. |
- 30 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 1 through 3.
- Filled with lyrical text and whimsical illustrations.
8. Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown (Author) and Greg Pizzoli (Illustrator)
Two Little Trains is a children’s book that has been a bestseller for decades. Written by the same author as Goodnight Moon, the story is simple, depicting two trains traveling east to west. It uses short sentences and lots of onomatopoeia, which makes it easy to understand and fun to read for kids.
This book is at an easy reading level, meaning that most children between the ages of four and eight can read it independently. The text has a rhythmic cadence and lots of repetition, which is great for young readers. The illustrations are colorful, bright, and lively, making it easy for younger readers to follow along and engage with the story.
Pros and Cons of Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown (Author) and Greg Pizzoli (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book has been a bestseller for several decades. | |
| It is written by the same author as Goodnight Moon. | |
| The story is simple and easy to follow. | |
| It uses short sentences and lots of onomatopoeia. | |
| The text has a rhythmic cadence and lots of repetition. | |
| This book is at an easy reading level, meaning that most children between the ages of four and eight can read it independently. | |
| The illustrations are colorful, bright, and lively. |
- 40 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 4 through 8.
- A classic children's book about two trains crossing country from east to west.
9. Trains Chug by Rebecca Glaser
Trains Chug is an excellent example of an easy reader-level children’s book. The sentences are short and straightforward, but packed with many rousing words for children like “Zoom!” and “Honk!” Kids love repeating these onomatopoeias over and over again.
In addition, the book is filled with colorful photographs that highlight things that children see in their day-to-day lives. The pictures help children understand what is happening in each scene. This book is an excellent introduction to nonfiction literature. It is 14 pages long and aimed at children two to four years old.
Pros and Cons of Trains Chug by Rebecca Glaser
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a great easy-reading children’s book. | |
| The sentences are short and straightforward. | |
| It is packed with fun onomatopoeias. | |
| The photographs are colorful and highlight things children see in their day-to-day lives. | |
| It is a great introduction to nonfiction. | |
| This book is 14 pages long. | |
| It is aimed at children two to four years old. |
- 14 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 2 through 4.
- A board book highlighting the sights and sounds of trains.
10. The Sleep Train by Jonathan London (Author) and Lauren Eldridge (Illustrator)
The Sleep Train is an excellent book for parents to read with their children. The story is fun and engaging with an enchanting rhythm, and the illustrations are captivating. The 3D illustrations created by talented artist Lauren Eldridge bring the story to life with an entire train filled with intricate details. Each character is colorful and playful, which makes them appealing to children.
The author uses simple language that children will understand. This helps them follow the story and enjoy it because they can understand what is happening in the storyline. It also helps them learn new words by associating those words with pictures or actions within the text itself.
Whether you’re looking for a perfect bedtime story about trains or want to teach your child how to count, Sleep Train is a great choice. This book is a nice blend of bedtime, counting, fantasy, and adventures. The colorful scenes are soothing for bedtime, and children get to learn what each type of train car is called.
Pros and Cons of The Sleep Train by Jonathan London (Author) and Lauren Eldridge (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The story has an enchanting rhythm and uses simple language. | |
| The illustrations are colorful, unique, and captivating. | |
| The story is brought to life through the 3D sculptured illustrations and intricate details. | |
| It is also a great counting book and an excellent bedtime story. | |
| The colorful scenes are soothing for bedtime. | |
| This book also teaches children what each type of train car is called. |
- 32 pages.
- Customers recommended this book for children ages 2 through 3.
- A bedtime counting book for train lovers.
How to Choose the Best Children’s Books About Trains
Trains are a popular subject for young children, so there are lots of books available. Let’s take a look at some of the important factors to think about when looking for the best children’s books about trains:
- Language
- Age
- Content
- Illustrations
Language
Babies don’t need a lot of detailed information in their books, Instead, choose a book that has great pictures and simple words. Younger children also love books with rhyme, onomatopoeia, and a nice rhythm. As children get older, the language can become more complex with more detailed information.
Age
It’s important to consider the age of the children you are purchasing the book for. If the book is for a baby, you’ll want to choose a book that has large, bold, and colorful pictures that are simple and easy to look at. When children are a year or two, they like books that have familiar characters and objects, and as children get older they start wanting more detail and information in the story.
Content
Think about what type of train book are you looking for. Are you wanting a book that gets into the details of what trains look like and how they function? Or a book that is fun and playful? Consider what subjects and styles your child likes before purchasing a book.
Illustrations
Visual illustrations are a must when it comes to children’s books, especially for younger kids who cannot read yet. The pictures help them to understand what is going on in the story. When children begin learning to read, the pictures also help them to connect the words to what’s going on with the story. In addition, captivating illustrations can keep children engaged in the story much longer than plain, boring ones.
The 10 Best Children’s Books About Trains Available Today FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why do kids like trains?
Trains are big, powerful, and exciting machines. Children often love the feel of the rumbling engine, the sound of the whistle, and the movement of the wheels along the tracks. In books, trains often lead to adventures and amazing journeys that allow children to explore exciting new places.
What can trains teach children?
Trains can help children learn about direction and distance, as well as geography and history. Additionally, trains can teach children about teamwork and communication, since trains require lots of people to keep them running smoothly. They can also inspire children’s creativity, as they imagine all sorts of exciting adventures they could have while traveling on a train.
Why is it important to read to children?
Reading to children is crucial for their cognitive and language development. Young children who are read to regularly have larger vocabularies and perform better in school than those who do not have this opportunity. Reading to children also fosters a love for learning and can stimulate their imagination and creativity. It provides an opportunity for children to learn about the world around them and can be a bonding experience between parent and child. Additionally, reading to children can promote positive behaviors and social skills as they learn about characters and their actions in books. Overall, reading to children has numerous benefits and is an important activity for parents and caregivers to engage in.
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