Loving all things transportation and trains is a stage or sometimes obsession almost every child goes through. Here are 5 books that range from creative, to informative, to historical. They will feed your train lovers brain, and hopefully inspire more creative play.
Old Tracks, New Tricks by Jessica Peterson
Brand new train tracks come home from the toy store. They are ready to play, but the trains like things their way. Eventually the old tracks, the new tracks, and finally the trains, all learn to work together to create new track tricks. This book is a fantastically creative take on train books. The photography is beautiful, and it will inspire creative play in your child. It has talking bubbles, perfect for partner reading with your beginning reader. I would recommend this book for preschool through second grade, depending on your child’s interest.
To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here: Old Tracks, New Tricks
Locomotive by Brian Floca
There are so many uses for this book in a classroom setting. You can use it to show examples of personification and onomatopoeia during a poetry unit. It explains how steam trains work, it can be woven into a STEM unit. Locomotive also explains the expansion of the United States as trains changed our country. It also won a Caldecott. It is an older grade picture book, 3rd through 5th, it is children’s literature at it’s finest.
To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here: Locomotive (Caldecott Medal Book)
Trains by Byron Barton
This is a classic, simple picture book for your toddler and preschooler. I love books like this because so much learning is packed into a little book. The story arc follows the train through an entire day, teaching a child day and night. It teaches different types of trains, and the people that keep a train running. It also incorporates rich vocabulary, such as freight, engineer, and caboose. Children build vocabulary through reading. Books with simple words mixed with larger vocabulary are perfect for preschool age children.
To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here: Trains Board Book
If you add one book to your child’s library this year, add this one. The story is true; it is about the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh. It is magical. The story is told through the voice of a mother tucking her child in at night. It won the Caldecott Award for the illustrations, and they are unbelievable. My students loved this book.
This book is child approved; my class of Kindergarteners requested it be read twice. I love Sophie Blackall, her illustrations are incredible. This is the true story of her jet lagged sun keeping her awake all night…parents will relate as much as kids who cannot sleep.
Nina Laden is genius in composing magical picture books for children. She wrote this while walking on the beach and finding a feather. The simple poem teaches cause and effect. It offers the invitation to share happy memories before a child goes to sleep.
This lyrical book shows the seasons through bears waking and hibernation. This is a good choice for a child that loves wild animals or non-fiction. It has simple rhyme and lovely illustrations.
The illustrations are rich and vibrant with imagination. The simple text proposes there are sweet animals that take you off to dream land for big adventures. Short, sweet, and filled with eye catching creativity.
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