This post is going to be on children’s books about trains – a book list perfect for a young train lover. It will include board books and picture books that your toddler, preschooler, and kindergartener will love. My son is now 7.5 and he still eagerly listens to even the simplest of these books when sister pulls one out.
My middle child is a boy and he was obsessed with trains, trucks, and dinosaurs. I’m sure you relate! Every trip to the library included many books on those 3 subjects. The books he pulled out of our bookshelves at home were on one of those things.
To help out other parents with kids obsessed with these things, I am going to share books lists on what we checked out of the library and own to help you on your own search.
Today we will tackle all the children’s books about trains!
Use this list to see what your library has and then you can buy your child’s favorites! You can also use Amazon on most of these to get previews of what the pages are like.
The first two on this list we own and our copies are worn and falling apart – that’s how many times we’ve read them.
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What have been your kids’ favorite train books?
Children’s Books About Trains
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Kevin Lewis
This was my son’s all time favorite book! It’s easy but he loved this and read it daily up until he was probably 5 1/2. Though, even at 7 1/2, if my daughter pulls it out to read he’ll some come running over. He still called it his favorite book when we took it out for the pictures.
Freight Train by Donald Crews
I’d say this was Spencer’s second favorite book. Our copy is very tattered. Another quite easy one great for young kids (1 and 2 year olds even, though he still loved this when he was older).
That’s Not My Train by Fiona Watt
I’ll be honest and say we have not read this book by we have read many others of the Usborne “That’s not my” series. Again, perfect for even the 1 year olds but at 5 my daughter still grabs these from the library on a regular basis.
Trains by Byron Barton
Another simple board book option for your train loving toddlers.
Trains Go by Steve Light
The last of the board books on this list. I love that board books hold up so much better under normal toddler use!
A Train Goes Clickity Clack by Jonathan London
An easy, fun picture book that we also own. Recommended for 18 months to age 5.
Trains Coming Through by Stephanie Morgan
This book, although not a board book, is advertised for ages 0-3. Again, though, they will still love it when they are older.
Trains by Gail Gibbons
My kids all love books by Gail Gibbons. This one is a simple one that is again perfect for your 2-4 year olds.
Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
These next three are by the same author. This one is a story and preschooler (age 3-5) kids love it. The other two would be recommended for younger ones – they introduce colors and numbers with little rhymes. So most likely baby – age 3 or 4. Again, I recommended checking books out from the library and then deciding what you want to buy.
Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3 by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
Steam Train, Dream Train Colors by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
This Train by Paul Collicutt
Fun, easy book with just a couple words on each page. Your train lovers will enjoy this from probably age 1-4.
My Big Train Book by Roger Priddy
We do not have this book, but we have the Priddy Big Truck Book and it was a favorite of my sons. He pulled it out to look through by himself or have it read to him many times. Don’t discount giving little kids non-fiction books for those topics they are obsessed with! Recommended age is 1-4. (Though he read it past that.)
The Goodnight Train by June Sobel and Laura Huliska-Beith
Even though this book is for ages baby-3, it’s one that my just turned 5 year old still reads. In all of these books, she still finds them fun and enjoys the pictures. There are 2 other books in this series if your child likes the first one. The Goodnight Train Rolls On and Santa and the Goodnight Train.
The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet
These two books by Bill Peet are more like a traditional picture book. There are more words on each page but they are fun and I love his illustrations. They say recommended for ages 3-7.
Trains: Steaming! Pulling! Huffing! by Patricia Hubbell
This is another book we haven’t read but our library has some of her others in this series that we’ve read many times. They are easy and fun. We’ve read these from about ages 2-6. (Though it is simple for a 6 year old)
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
I’m sure you know this book. It’s one we’ve probably all read as a child. The listing recommends it for ages 3-7.
Prairie Train by Marsha Wilson Chall
A fun story about a girl who travels via train to go and visit her grandmother. Ages 4-8.
Locomotive by Brian Floca
This story is a bit more lengthy. It’s a picture book for ages 4-8. A 3 year old might still sit through it depending on attention span. (Don’t forget you can always abbreviate the pages too)
The Little Train by Lois Lenski
It’s not an exciting book nor does it really have a story, but it’s fun for train lovers (or fans of Lois Lenski). Ages 2-5.
Train Song by Diane Siebert
As the name suggests, this book is written in song/or poem form. It lists the recommended age as 4-8, but I think age 2 or 3 to 7 is more accurate.
Steam, Smoke, and Steel: Back in Time with Trains by Patrick O’Brien
This book is for age 3 or 4 to 8. For the younger kids, you can skip the lengthier text pages and just read the caption.
Trains (Mighty Machines) by Jean Coppendale
A fun, non fiction book of trains and train facts for train lovers from 3-7.
The Big Book of Trains by DK
My son has always gravitated toward non-fiction books in the Youth section over fiction books for the topics he’s crazy about. (That means dinosaurs, construction trucks, and trains.) Starting from even 4 and 5 he’d sit and pour over the pictures in these books and we’d read (or summarize) the information on the pages for him. Don’t limit your library adventures to just the board book and picture book section.
One last tip! Don’t forget to check out your kids’ favorite series to see if there are train themed books. From Curious George to Daniel Tiger or even early readers like Henry and Mudge you might find some more options.
What other children’s books about trains am I missing?
