Is your child enamored by planes, trains and other things that go? My daughter loves to point out all of the cars, trucks and planes that she sees. If she hears one while we are inside, she runs to the windows to figure out what it is. The loud noises, the bright colors and the shiny metal all combine to make machines very interesting for small children. There are so many great transportation books out there to complement this love of vehicles and machines. In addition, if you are preparing to travel with your family, reading a book about your mode of transportation can also be very helpful! Check out this list of transportation books to get you started.

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Cars and Trucks

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen is a funny book about a little boy named Jack who designs his ultimate car. He uses parts of different vehicles to create a fantastical car with fancy amenities only a kid could dream up. Kids will love the elaborate design of Jack’s fantasy car, and may be inspired to invent their own! The story is told in a swift rhyming pattern and is accompanied by bright, retro-styled illustrations.

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jill McElmurry is a modern classic which introduces kids to a little blue truck named Blue. Blue drives along saying hello to all the animals he passes. The big dump truck is too busy to make any friends, but when he gets stuck in the mud, who will help? This is a great story on kindness and friendship which is full of fun noises from the animals and trucks. The illustrations are fun and colorful, while the story is told in a peppy rhyme. There are many additional stories with this friendly truck as well.

Planes and Trains

Amazing Airplanes (Amazing Machines) by Tony Mitton and illustrated by Ant Parker is a great introduction to planes and flying for kids. From the check in at the gate to the control tower helping the plane to land, this book introduces young readers to all the parts of a plane trip. The book also includes a diagram which points out the parts of a plane. The bright illustrations and the cute animal characters will entertain young readers. This would be a great book to read to kids before going on a plane ride. Tony Mitton has also written similar books about helicopters, trains, boats, and more.

Steam Train, Dream Train written by Sherry Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld follows a crew of animals as they load up the dream train with cargo. As the crew loads the train cars with fun cargo like race cars and ice cream, young readers will learn the names of the different train cars. The illustrations are beautiful and fun, and kids will love the animal crew. The gentle rhyme scheme gives the book a nice flow and makes this a great read for bedtime.

Boats and Machines

Busy Boats (Amazing Machines) was written by Tony Mitton and illustrated by Ant Parker. This book provides young readers with an introduction to a wide variety of boat types. The story is told through a lively rhyme scheme and accompanied by vibrant and colorful illustrations. The book also delves into boat parts, as well as necessary equipment including oars and life jackets. This is a great way to teach kids about various boats in a fun way.

Big Board First 100 Machines by Roger Priddy is a visual guide which gives kids an opportunity to learn the names of a wide variety of vehicles and machines. The large, full color photographs of these vehicles are clearly labeled, so kids can learn to tell the difference between various styles of cars, trucks, construction vehicles and more. Roger Priddy’s First 100 Words is one of my daughter’s all time favorite books, and this is the same style. From a very early age, his books can entertain babies and toddlers with the large and bright photos, as well as teaching them vocabulary. He also offers First 100 Trucks, My Big Truck Book , and My Big Train Book as well. The board book versions of these books can withstand a lot, making them a great introduction to vehicles for little hands.

Encourage kids to pursue their interests!

There are so many great books available to teach your kids about different transportation vehicles. If your child shows an interest in vehicles and machines, these can be a great way to encourage their interests. You can also share these books with kids while preparing them for any traveling you plan to do. Do you have any favorite transportation books in your family? Share in the comments below!