Isn’t it just fascinating how children love to learn about transportation and vehicles? When you use a child’s interest as inspiration for learning opportunities your kids will be more engaged and have fun learning- a win-win! Here are some great transportation books for preschoolers to get you started.
Transportation Books For Preschoolers
These books show all kinds of transportation, some from other places around the world.
Do You Know? Vehicles and Transportation – Definitely for older preschoolers and kindergartners, this book has loads of illustrations about all kinds of transportation.
The Little Book of Transportation by Zach Bush and Laura Friedman – How do people and goods get from one place to another? This book explores that question in a fun and kid-friendly way.
Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry – A family drives around town and finds all the different ways the residents are traveling.
Transportation! How People Get Around by Gail Gibbons – People all around the world have devised ways to get from one place to another. This book covers all kinds of transportation and introduces related concepts like carpooling.
Books about Trains
I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges – A lovely rhyming picture book introducing preschoolers to trains and the jobs they do.
Freight Train by Donald Crews – This is a great book with clear bright illustrations show all the cars of a train bringing the excitement of movement through day and night, country and city.
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper – A classic story of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls and the challenges the little train encounters along the way. This memorable tale will have everybody rooting for victory and chanting along!
Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis – As the simple large-lettered text chugs along, the child’s train set comes to life with bold and bright illustrations. In the course of the book, the toys bustle about to make sure the steam engine is loaded up with freight and finds its way (through the country, around the mountains, into tunnels, and across the river) to its destination–the city.
Books about Trucks
Little Blue Truck, by Alice Schertle – Little Blue Truck drives along the country roads. Calling “Beep!” to the animals he sees and hearing the animals respond with their sounds. And when Little Blue Truck needs help, his animal friends are there.
Truck by Donald Crews – In this wordless picture book, a large, bright red trailer truck packed with tricycles moves through pages of fog, truck stops, and crowded highways.
I Love Trucks! by Philemon Sturges – Travel with vivid paintings through the roaring world of rumbling trucks and reveal each truck’s special job.
My Truck is Stuck! by Kevin Lewis – In this lyrical read-aloud, young drivers are introduced to the ins and outs of hauling, beeping, and repairing — get ready for a fun ride!
Trucks by Byron Barton – This very simple picture book about transportation will delight the youngest, but still has plenty to offer older preschoolers and beginning readers.
Best Transportation Books
Books about Boats
Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky – A classic story of bravery and courage that is sure to delight the next generation of readers for years to come. When Little Toot, the tugboat who does not want to tug, ends up all alone on the open water as a storm is rolling in, it’s up to him to save a stuck ocean liner!
Boats by Byron Barton – Beloved children’s author Byron Barton brings us yet another transportation favorite with simple text and vibrant illustrations to engage even the youngest of readers.
I’m Mighty! by Kate McMullan – You think this tug’s too small to pull in ships twenty times his size? Think again! This guy is 100% MIGHTY! A great opportunity to introduce a new vocabulary word your kids will love!
Busy Boats (Amazing Machines) by Tony Mitton – Calling all future first mates and captains! This engaging and informative picture book is full of sail boats, row boats, ferry boats and speedboats: find them all and discover how they work.
Preschool Books About Airplanes
Flying by Donald Crews – A lovely adventure for very young children!
Airport by Byron Barton – From the excitement of arrival to the wonder of taking off, Airport captures all the magic of an airport with joyous and powerful images and simple text. Perfect for first time fliers!
High Flying Helicopters by Tony Mitton – Hover in the air and explore all the parts of a helicopter.
Planes Fly! by George Ella Lyon – A book all about soaring through the skies in airplanes.
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I’m Off to the Moon, by Dan Yaccarino – A boy astronaut and his fabulous rocketship blast into space for an out-of-this-world adventure.
Books About Cars and Other Transportation for Pre-K
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car, by Kate Dopirak – Little Car cruises around town saying goodnight to all of his vehicle friends. Finally exhausted, Little Car putt-putts home where at last his beep-beep dreams begin.
Cars: Rushing! Honking! Zooming! by Patricia Hubbell – Turn the key and start the motor. All kinds of cars taking all kinds of people everywhere!
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen – After a tour of the ritzy interior, Robert the robot starts up the motor . . . and Jack and his dad set off on the wildest test drive ever!
Toot, Toot, Beep, Beep by Emma Garcia – All different kinds of cars on the road making lots of different sounds creates a cool noise.
Vroom! by Barbara McClintock – Annie puts on her helmet and gloves, jumps into her car, and takes off on a driving adventure.
School Bus by Donald Crews – What is large (or small), bright yellow, and filled with students? School Bus!
The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom – Tess and Gus are waiting for the bus. As each vehicle approaches, Tess asks, “Is this the bus for us, Gus?” But each time it’s not the bus but a different vehicle. Finally the bus arrives.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems – In this classic book, the bus driver takes a break and the pigeon wants to drive the bus. A fun interactive book.
The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort – A fun animal adaptation of the familiar “The Wheels on the Bus” that will amuse all readers.
Pete the Cat Wheels on the Bus, by James Dean
Bears on Wheels by Stan and Jan Berenstain – What starts out as one bear on one wheel (a unicycle) grows until we have several bears on several wheels.
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon – A duck sees a bike and thinks he’d like to try riding it. As he rides around the farm, the other animals become interested.
Marvelous Motorcycles, by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker – Cruise down the street with some riders as you discover more about motorcycles, both past and present.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero – A girl waits for Papi to come home. When he does, they ride around the neighborhood on his motorcycle. A story of warm love between parent and child.
Check out this research-based, playful learning unit in our curriculum shop!
Transportation Bundle
A bundle of of my most popular transportation resources, including math and literacy small group activities! Make learning fun with these hands-on resources!
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