1. Train! by Judi Abbot. When his parents take him for a ride on a real train, Little Elephant is so excited...until he meets a cat who prefers planes and a penguin who only plays with cars. The familiar little-kid obsession with trains and things that go, combined with rhythmic text and bright illustrations make book a favorite of toddlers and preschoolers!
2. Freight Train by Donald Crews. The rainbow-colored train and simple text make this classic train book perfect for even the youngest readers. It's on my list of best board books for babies.
3. Trains Go! by Steve Light. Going beyond "choo choo," this extra-wide board book features the sounds of every train from diesel to steam to speed trains! We love the bright primary colors and fun onomatopoeia in this and the rest of the "things that go" board book series!
4. The Little Engine That Could Would any train book list be complete without it? This story of can-do attitude and perseverance is a classic for good reason! I love reading this one aloud using different voices for each of the trains.
5. Shark vs Train by Christ Barton and Tom Lichtenheld. In a head-to-head competition, who would win, a shark or a train? Well, that depends...are they selling lemonade, playing ping pong, or going off the high dive? This imaginative who-would-win book is plenty silly and tons of fun!
6. Trains Don't Sleep by Andria Rosenbaum and Deirdre Gill. This book takes you on a gentle train ride through day and night. The rhythmic rhymes and lovely illustration make this book a perfect bedtime read.
7. Train by Elisha Cooper. A bit lengthier than the standard picture book, this one is best for older readers with longer attention-spans. But if they love trains, they will love this book! Packed with information, this book takes you on a winding journey, hopping from commuter train, to passenger train, to freight train, to high-speed train. I love the beautiful water-color illustrations and the imagery of the text!
8. Locomotive by Brian Floca. Winner of the Caldecott medal and a Robert F. Sibert honor book, Locomotive is a cross-continental journey on the first American railway. Both lyrical and informative, this is a non-fiction, historical picture book masterpiece! Again, this one is a longer read and best for older kids and those who are genuinely fascinated by trains and history!
9. The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains by Annie Silvestro and Paola Zakimi. A little pine trees lives by a train track and loves hearing the trains rumble past. When she is dug up and taken to live in a family's home, she misses hearing the trains...until she realizes that the little boy in her new home loves trains just as much as she does. We discovered this sweet little story last Christmas and instantly fell in love.
10. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Another timeless classic, The Polar Express captures the wonder and magic of both trains and the Christmas season. This one always gives me tingles at the end!
Did I miss any? What are your favorite books about trains?
