Trains! Who does not love them! From toddler train picture books for bedtime to nonfiction train books for tweens, children never seem to outgrow them. There is just so much science and technology at work behind the working of a train. The below list includes books for all ages – toddlers, preschoolers to tweens. Get onboard and let the fun ride begin!
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15 Fascinating Train Books For Kids
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Here is a list of train books for kids that will help your little one to learn more about this transport system.
You can find these books in your local library or nearby bookstores. If they are unavailable locally, you can click on the links or images below to purchase from Amazon.
Toddlers & Preschoolers
Trains Coming Through! introduces toddlers to the world of trains. Give your child a lesson on different engines types – steam, electric. The picture book also talks about passengers and other types of trains and what are they used for.
the text is easy with one one-two line on each page. (Ages baby-3 years)
Let’s Go Thomas! Ride with Tomas and meet his friends. Take part in steering the train through the track. Toddlers are sure to love the interactive steering, making the reading time fun. Also, listen to catchy tunes and different train sound effects. (Ages 1-3 years)
The Train Rolls On is a fun book also teaching about perseverance and teamwork. A train needs to deliver a bunch of animals to the zoo for its grand opening. It faces many obstacles on the way but chugs on.
The rhyming texts make it a fun read-along for toddlers and preschoolers. (Ages 3-8 years)
Fun Facts: Earlier trains were powered by humans, horses, or gravity – before the locomotive engine was invented.
Trains Then and Now is has everything about trains – starting with history! But all in easily readable and understandable toddler-preschooler format. Kids will learn about freight trains, passenger trains, elevated trains, streetcars, etc.
The pictures are embossed making it for a touch-feel sensory experience. (Ages 2-6 years)
Alphabet Trains has a train for every letter of the alphabet. So teach your child – A for Autotrain, B for bullet-train, G for glacier express. Each page has one letter along with bright colorful scenery to go with.
Practicing alphabets can not be more fun! (Ages 3-7 years)
Train Coloring and Activity Book is suitable for train-loving kids. Keep your little one occupied with hours of fun activities – mazes, dot-to-dot, word-searches, and more. A perfect book to keep preschoolers occupied for hours. (Ages 3-6 years)
Thomas & Friends 5-Minute Stories is for the train-loving little ones. It has a total of 12 stories from the actual show. The stories are small and easy to read. Perfect for storytime before bed. (Ages 3-7 years)
Kindergarten & Beginner Readers
Santa and the Goodnight Train is the perfect Christmas book for train-loving kids. Hop in for an unforgettable ride, following Santa’s sleigh. The pictures of the Winterland are captivating.
This one is the worthy successor to the popular The Goodnight Train. (Ages 4-7 years)
Steam Train, Dream Train is a fun bedtime storybook with different animals and trains. Hop in on the night ride with dinosaurs, kangaroo, tortoise, and many more animals for company.
The text rhymes and pictures are done artistically. Kids will also learn about many fun things about train rides – like moving from car to car. (Ages 4-6 years)
Eyelike Stickers: Trains is an activity book for little train lovers. It has over 400 stickers featuring everything about trains. Train lines, signals, different types of engines, tunnels and so much more. (Ages 4+)
Fun Fact: The word ‘Train’ originates from a French verb meaning to draw or drag.
How Trains Work by Lonely Planet Kids explains how trains work. Read about the evolution of trains through the different eras. What happens at the train station? How does the city rail network, transport people?
Lift the flaps and learn all about trains. The information is presented in a small blurb and easy reading format. (Ages 6-8 years)
Trains! Read about the Jacobite – a Scottish train that plays the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies. Learn about different train technologies – steam, diesel, electric, automotive and more. there is even a page about “The Rocket!” for the ‘Thomas’ fans.
The print is large and the words are small, making it suitable for new readers. (Ages 6-9 years)
Trains Coloring Book For Kids is a collection of pages with trains in different settings. The illustrations are cute in cartoon style. The level of difficulty is suitable for kindergarten and above. (Ages 4-8 years)
Tweens
DK Eyewitness Books: Train is a visually rich nonfiction book for tweens. Read how the first railroad was built. Learn about the American railroad – starting with history. How does steam locomotive work? All the information is present along with big real pictures.
Don’t miss the helpful train timeline at the end. A must-have book for train enthusiasts of all ages! (Ages 8-12 years)
The Train to Impossible Places is a middle-grade fantasy book. Board the mystical train that travels through all the impossible places. The polar express is a troll-operated service delivering from ocean-bottom shipwrecks to snow-globes. (Ages 10-14 years)
Train Activities For Kids
- Practice letters, spelling, sounds with this train track word building activity (paper and glue)
- Teach your preschooler math with these fun & educational math train activities (the educators spin on it). Learn about counting, sorting, sequencing using train models.
- Here is an electromagnetic train science project (123 homeschool 4 me) to teach STEM to kids. It can be done by preschoolers to elementary kids.
Train Sets for Kids – Fun & Educational
Check out these educational train toys for kids. Build a train set with Lego, or wooden blocks. Or simply let your child have fun playing with them. Click on the picture for more details.
