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Trains
Choo Choo! Kids love trains! Especially the old-timey steam engines found in amusement parks and zoos. But what about a super-speeder in Japan that zooms on the track at 361 miles per hour? Or the world's longest freight train, stretching on for a whopping 4.6 miles? Or futuristic railways in the sky?
In this level 1 reader, young readers will discover a whole new way of looking at trains!
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2017
22 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 14, 2011
The top ten reasons why -- as National Geographic Readers go -- Amy Shields' Trains isn't just bad, it is utterfly f***ing awful (sanitized-ish for sensitive child eyes)!
10. The painfully bad jokes in the top right corner of pages 5, 13, & 21. My dad could write better.
9. The "woooo-woos," "clackety-clacks," and "ding-ding-dings."
8. The Yankee-centrism that makes it seem like the only nation to have been shaped by its rails was the USA (despite the fact that most of the photos are of Canadian, Asian and European trains).
7. The glossing over of the indentured servitude and awful conditions that led to the deaths of countless Chinese and Irish immigrants who were laying track. They became "new Americans," dontcha know?
6. The presence of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, their lust for train gold, and the total absence of the lovely Pinkertons + the fact that Butch and Sundance's hideout is named while so much else isn't.
5. The barely muffled trumpeting of trains as the great movers of materialism and greed.
4. Shields' choice of inventions to highlight, and her failure to name the inventors (also see #2) because, you know, let's not get our kids jazzed about invention. Let's get them jazzed about old west gunslingers.
3. That the "Six Cool Things" section was really "Six Useless, Minimized Facts"
2. No mention of Richard Trevithick, the inventor of the first steam locomotive (but he's from the UK, so who cares about that in B*mf**k, USA).
1. The ginger, child molester, engineer, Gary (no offense meant to other gingers, child molesters, engineers, or Garys).
10. The painfully bad jokes in the top right corner of pages 5, 13, & 21. My dad could write better.
9. The "woooo-woos," "clackety-clacks," and "ding-ding-dings."
8. The Yankee-centrism that makes it seem like the only nation to have been shaped by its rails was the USA (despite the fact that most of the photos are of Canadian, Asian and European trains).
7. The glossing over of the indentured servitude and awful conditions that led to the deaths of countless Chinese and Irish immigrants who were laying track. They became "new Americans," dontcha know?
6. The presence of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, their lust for train gold, and the total absence of the lovely Pinkertons + the fact that Butch and Sundance's hideout is named while so much else isn't.
5. The barely muffled trumpeting of trains as the great movers of materialism and greed.
4. Shields' choice of inventions to highlight, and her failure to name the inventors (also see #2) because, you know, let's not get our kids jazzed about invention. Let's get them jazzed about old west gunslingers.
3. That the "Six Cool Things" section was really "Six Useless, Minimized Facts"
2. No mention of Richard Trevithick, the inventor of the first steam locomotive (but he's from the UK, so who cares about that in B*mf**k, USA).
1. The ginger, child molester, engineer, Gary (no offense meant to other gingers, child molesters, engineers, or Garys).
September 3, 2021
Are you a train fanatic ?? 🚂💨 Casting Frontier is now searching for train experts worldwide to be interviewed on locomotives for a Spotify podcast coming very soon !
s/o to @abcmouse read-a-long ..
s/o to @abcmouse read-a-long ..
December 18, 2022
Honestly I was hoping for more. The info provided wasn’t organized well, nor was it at all in depth.
October 28, 2016
Excellent. Fun for kids. Great pictures!
January 17, 2025
10/10 train info. 2/10 layout and aesthetic. This thing appears like it was made before photoshop was invented and looks like they glued pieces of paper on top of each other during craft time then took the text and sent it through a font randomizer for each page.
November 15, 2017
Great short solo read for kids to learn about trains!
December 4, 2018
This is a simple read presenting many facts about trains.
September 13, 2021
cool. that was fun to learn
September 15, 2021
After the beautiful layout and photography of another National Geographic Kids Reader "At the Beach", this was a disappointment.
March 29, 2024
The background makes it very hard to read: way too busy for a child who is learning to read.
December 4, 2025
Tämä sarja on yleensä kovaa kamaa, mutta tämä kyllä oli alarekisterissä. Toki niin vähän tekstiä, ettei siihen oikein mitään mahtunutkaan.
March 9, 2017
Did you know that about 150 years ago, Chinese and Irish people helped build the train tracks? (pg 12). In this edition of National Geographic Kids they discuss all things trains. From the history of their creation, different uses, the way they run and the different types found all over the world, National Geographic Kids: Trains doesn't leave any questions unanswered. Filled with historical and modern photos it allows you to see trains you may have never gotten the chance to see.
I give National Geographic Kids: Trains 5 stars because of how many new facts I learned about trains. History isn't my strongest subject but to have facts broken down to digestible pieces and to have vivid pictures helps not only children but people who only remember facts if there are pictures to connect them to, like me. I also really love the pronunciation keys for some of the bigger words or words not necessarily in english. There is even a picture glossary at the end that reintroduces the new words from the text. Did I mention how quick of a read it was? With only 32 pages the author was able to pack in as many important and fun facts as possible.
As a future teacher National Geographic Kids: Trains will be in my classroom available to only those interested in exploring more on the topic of trains. A few historical facts about the creation and uses will be shared with the whole class, but I feel as though you have to really be invested in the topic to enjoy the reading.
I give National Geographic Kids: Trains 5 stars because of how many new facts I learned about trains. History isn't my strongest subject but to have facts broken down to digestible pieces and to have vivid pictures helps not only children but people who only remember facts if there are pictures to connect them to, like me. I also really love the pronunciation keys for some of the bigger words or words not necessarily in english. There is even a picture glossary at the end that reintroduces the new words from the text. Did I mention how quick of a read it was? With only 32 pages the author was able to pack in as many important and fun facts as possible.
As a future teacher National Geographic Kids: Trains will be in my classroom available to only those interested in exploring more on the topic of trains. A few historical facts about the creation and uses will be shared with the whole class, but I feel as though you have to really be invested in the topic to enjoy the reading.
February 25, 2015
Copyright date: 2011
To pair the non-fictional book, Trains, with a fictional text, I had absolutely no problem. The first book that came to mind was the Polar Express. The Polar Express is about a boy who boards the mysterious train, the Polar Express. The Polar Express is headed to the North Pole to take the children to see Santa. When they arrive to the North Pole, in the square, Santa offers the boy the first gift of Christmas. The boy chooses one bell from the harness of the reindeer. Santa gives the boy the gift, but he then looses the bell. On Christmas morning, the boy finds the bell underneath the Christmas tree. His mother admires the bell but realizes that the bell is broken and does not make any sound. The importance of this story is that in order to hear the bell, one must believe in Santa and the North Pole.
I believe that the book, Trains, would be helpful to a student when reading the book Polar Express. It could even help a student who may become interested in trains from reading the book, Polar Express. The book Trains provides information about the different types of trains to how a train is driven. From reading the book Trains, the student would learn that the train in the Polar Express is a passenger train. This information would be helpful prior to reading the Polar Express. A student may ask the questions of how trains were developed and how they were brought to the United States. The book, Trains, would answer this question. The book talks about how they were developed and how they were brought to the United States. The Polar Express also mentions engineers who drive the train and how they lost control at one point. If a student wanted to learn a little bit more about engineers or familiarize themselves with engineers the book, Trains, would do just that. I believe the nonfictional book Trains would be very beneficial to read alongside the Polar Express.
To pair the non-fictional book, Trains, with a fictional text, I had absolutely no problem. The first book that came to mind was the Polar Express. The Polar Express is about a boy who boards the mysterious train, the Polar Express. The Polar Express is headed to the North Pole to take the children to see Santa. When they arrive to the North Pole, in the square, Santa offers the boy the first gift of Christmas. The boy chooses one bell from the harness of the reindeer. Santa gives the boy the gift, but he then looses the bell. On Christmas morning, the boy finds the bell underneath the Christmas tree. His mother admires the bell but realizes that the bell is broken and does not make any sound. The importance of this story is that in order to hear the bell, one must believe in Santa and the North Pole.
I believe that the book, Trains, would be helpful to a student when reading the book Polar Express. It could even help a student who may become interested in trains from reading the book, Polar Express. The book Trains provides information about the different types of trains to how a train is driven. From reading the book Trains, the student would learn that the train in the Polar Express is a passenger train. This information would be helpful prior to reading the Polar Express. A student may ask the questions of how trains were developed and how they were brought to the United States. The book, Trains, would answer this question. The book talks about how they were developed and how they were brought to the United States. The Polar Express also mentions engineers who drive the train and how they lost control at one point. If a student wanted to learn a little bit more about engineers or familiarize themselves with engineers the book, Trains, would do just that. I believe the nonfictional book Trains would be very beneficial to read alongside the Polar Express.
February 26, 2015
Nonfiction/ Twin Text # 3
This book is a well documented and illustrated text about trains and the various types. It also provides details about the old-time steam engines found in amusement parks and zoos, a super-speeder in Japan that zooms on the track at 361 miles per hour, and also the world's longest freight train. This text allows readers to discover a whole new way of looking at trains!
This reminded me of a book I have read to the children at my work, "The Little Engine That Could"
by Watty Piper. This is a wonderful story but also a teaching tool. The story is of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill. Although he is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain. Both books listed here share a message that should never be forgotten; that children need to remember to always try and not give up. It also encourages one to think positively; If you have confidence in yourself, you can succeed.
Both of the books are probably best suited for younger grade levels because of the simplicity of the vocabulary and layout of the content.
This book is a well documented and illustrated text about trains and the various types. It also provides details about the old-time steam engines found in amusement parks and zoos, a super-speeder in Japan that zooms on the track at 361 miles per hour, and also the world's longest freight train. This text allows readers to discover a whole new way of looking at trains!
This reminded me of a book I have read to the children at my work, "The Little Engine That Could"
by Watty Piper. This is a wonderful story but also a teaching tool. The story is of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill. Although he is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain. Both books listed here share a message that should never be forgotten; that children need to remember to always try and not give up. It also encourages one to think positively; If you have confidence in yourself, you can succeed.
Both of the books are probably best suited for younger grade levels because of the simplicity of the vocabulary and layout of the content.
March 3, 2013
Audience: The audience for this book would be primary grades. I think students in first grade would enjoy this book the most, because it is for beginning readers.
Appeal: This book is appealing because it has bright pictures, large text, has words that are onomatopoeias, and interesting facts about trains.
Application: I would use this book in the classroom to model features of non-fiction and to talk about methods of transportation throughout the world incorporating social studies.
Copyright: 2011
Appeal: This book is appealing because it has bright pictures, large text, has words that are onomatopoeias, and interesting facts about trains.
Application: I would use this book in the classroom to model features of non-fiction and to talk about methods of transportation throughout the world incorporating social studies.
Copyright: 2011
March 28, 2014
Trains includes great vocabulary and photographs throughout the book. It is very well put together and would easily maintain a child's interest, especially the interest of the boys in the classroom. I found myself learning new things about trains just from reading this book because it includes the parts of the trains, their names, and their purpose.
In the classroom: The book could be used for language development due to it's vocabulary and the onomatopoeias throughout the book.
In the classroom: The book could be used for language development due to it's vocabulary and the onomatopoeias throughout the book.
Read
February 4, 2016Genre for Trains: Informational Nonfiction
Age Level for Trains: Ages 4-6
Twin Text Entry #2:
The Twin Text that I chose to go with this book is called "Go, Train, Go!" by Wilbert Awdry. This book has a very commonly known fictional character in it named Thomas the Train. Because he is such a well known character and represents trains in a fun way, I thought this would be a great book to pair with my nonfiction book about trains.
Age Level for Trains: Ages 4-6
Twin Text Entry #2:
The Twin Text that I chose to go with this book is called "Go, Train, Go!" by Wilbert Awdry. This book has a very commonly known fictional character in it named Thomas the Train. Because he is such a well known character and represents trains in a fun way, I thought this would be a great book to pair with my nonfiction book about trains.
October 31, 2011
Trains provides a glimpse at the history of trains, along with some interesting facts about different kinds of trains and how trains have provided transportation for humans for over a hundred years. The book has great photographs, great design, and an engineer to guide the reader through the ins and outs of trains. A great book for fans of trains.
February 17, 2014
This book is very informative about trains. I enjoyed reading it. I learned something new by reading this book and I am 25 years old. This book is laid out very east for kids to understand more about train. I will have this book in my classroom.
-Matthew Triplett
-Matthew Triplett
February 15, 2014
I could see little boys fascinated by the picture of trains in this book. The book introduces different types of trains, their, parts, the tracks, and how fast they can go. It is fun informational book for kids.
December 4, 2017
This was a very good 'science' without being in your face Science book. Lots of great information and illustraitons-photos for children to learn about trains. National Geographic does really well with their "Readers" books for younger children.
June 30, 2016
I am taking off one star for each of the following:
1. Picture annotation "wood ties" pointing to concrete ties.
2. "About 150 years ago, Chinese and Irish people helped build the train tracks. They became new Americans." Mmm.... OK?
3. ICE trains do not go 275 miles per hour.
1. Picture annotation "wood ties" pointing to concrete ties.
2. "About 150 years ago, Chinese and Irish people helped build the train tracks. They became new Americans." Mmm.... OK?
3. ICE trains do not go 275 miles per hour.
December 18, 2013
Trains! Yea, trains! And nicely done at a beginner reader level. Terms such as "engineer" are defined, and we even get a few (cheesy) train jokes.
June 17, 2013
Ged read 6-16-13
May 25, 2014
Nice little anecdotes and facts about trains. The best part, as always with National Geographic books, are the vivid pictures.
August 13, 2016
Read to James
July 7, 2014
This was a good informational nonfiction book. Perfect for beginner readers who want to know more about trains.
February 3, 2015
I actually really liked this book. It was nice to have such a child like quality to the reading style.
November 19, 2015
Who doesn't like trains? Lots of fun information as well as cool pictures to go along with it.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews