Let's Build a Little Train

by Julia Richardson, Ryan O'Rourke (Illustrator)

From the boiler to the coupling, build a little train along with an engineer and her workers. This rhyming story will have readers chugging along with the team as the train takes shape. Just don't forget the caboose! Woot woot!

Genres: Picture Books, Trains, Transport, Childrens, Storytime, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2022

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book to learn about trains. Read this book at the Boot Hill Museum Gift Shop.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great and informative! After the cute rhyme story, there are information pages at the back explaining a short history of trains, how they work and the different parts of the train and how they work. Great book to help my kid and I learn more about his grandfather’s work as an engineer on the railroad.

[Cathy Ogren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will love this book as they chug along with each page turn. Julia Richardson’s spot-on, rollicking rhyme is fast-paced and educational. In addition to the chugga, chugga, choo, choos, and woot, woots, kids learn about the different parts of a steam engine as it is built by a team of workers. Piece by piece, readers will feel like they’re a part of building this iron monster.

It’s kid-friendly with subtle themes of transportation and teamwork. Vibrant illustrations fill the pages. A woman engineer and a cute cat appear throughout the book. Working parts of a steam engine are introduced with back matter that explains the parts in simple terms.

[Ashley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to finish, little ones will discover parts of a train. The sparse, rhyming text paired with the growing onomatopoeia throughout the book and the bold illustrations made this a very accessible and engaging read aloud for my 4yo. Additional easy to follow information found in the back matter.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trains and various modes of transportation tend to fascinate youngsters, making this picture book a good choice to share with them. The book opens with an engineer poring over plans for a steam train, and then shows various workers putting those plans into reality. Each following page shows someone laboring to make that train go. Starting with the bogie and then moving through various parts of the train, including the boiler, the piston, the coupling, and even the cattle catcher, readers are afforded a close-up look at all the parts of the train, allowing them to appreciate all the work that goes into making the train move and look attractive. The story of the train's building is told in rhyming lines, with onomatopoeia that increases over the pages. Readers and listeners won't be able to resist shouting out, "Chugga, Chugga, Choooo, Choooo! Woot! Woot!" as they follow that train once it's on the track. The illustrations include various onlookers who have gathered along the sides to watch the train pass by. Although the text is brief, each word has been chosen and used carefully, and readers will appreciate having this inside view of the train, one that they'd be unlikely to have otherwise. Back matter includes notes on steam trains and a page of thumbnail sketches of different parts and things associated with this train. I appreciated the female representation in the images since the engineer and driver are women, and all of the workers are dressed appropriately in overalls. There's even an orange and white cat in the driver's cabin. WOOT! WOOT! Off we go!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids and adults who are obsessed with trains, this story satisfies the desire to build a steam engine from the rear coupling to the cattle catcher. Add some cars, fill the coal box, fire up the boiler, and the train is ready to roll. Rhyming text, plus plenty of choos-choos and chugga-chuggas on every other page, make this a fun read-aloud. Detailed illustrations. Woot! Woot! Endnotes include more information steam trains and an illustrated glossary of terms used in the text.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun and informational story. The vibrant illustrations go well with the text to pull the reader into the journey. Julia’s upbeat rhyming and informational verses woot woots the reader along as the engineers design, build, and guide a steam train down the track. This book is wonderful for little ones wanting to know how a train is put together and what makes it go. This is great for reading aloud at home, but would be perfect to read for a transportation unit in a classroom.

[Shani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun addition to the endless selection of transportation books. This is a behind the scenes perspective on trains in simplified rhythmic sentences. I like that each page adds to the train sound effects.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty illustrations, interesting facts written in language that a 4 year old could understand, and short enough to hold attention. This book is a good one for any little train lovers out there! Overall, 4/5 stars ⭐️

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read together or read to self book that takes readers through the parts of a train. We see how pieces are connected and then ride along as the train leaves the station. I appreciate the pictures of actual train parts at the end.

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great train vocabulary and backmatter showing real photos of train parts along with a definition for each, plus a brief explanation of how steam trains work.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is good for those who love trains, or maybe who just want to know how they work.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Train enthusiasts are going to LOVE this one!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good rhyming text for read-aloud

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked the historical note at the end - it helped the story a lot.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great informational picture book about steam trains! Kiddos who adore trains will love this!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sure win for train lovers, written with lovely rhythmic language.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Added it to my kids nonfiction shelf due to the one page explanation of how steam engines work and the page of vocabulary

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good blend of story and informational with rhyming text. Would make a good storytime book.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Mama Bearian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one rhymes its way through the building of a train! My little boys loved it, and learning from the material in the back how trains worked.

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 1/3

Good Repeatables - chugga chugga choo choo, focus on steam engines