The Goodnight Train

by June Sobel, Laura Huliska-Beith (Illustrator)

All aboard! The sun is down...the Goodnight Train is leaving town! Join the many parents and caregivers who enjoy reading The Goodnight Train again and again and have responded with thousands of 5-star reviews. This is a fun and effective bedtime book that both adults and kids love. Roll that corner, rock that curve, and soar past mermaids, leaping sheep, and even ice-cream clouds... With soothing, lyrical words and magical illustrations, this picture book presents a nighttime fantasy that's guaranteed to make even the most resistant sleeper snuggle up tight. Plus don't miss the companion books: Goodnight Train Rolls On and Santa and the Goodnight Train !

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Trains, Transport, Fiction, Storytime, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

June Sobel was born in New York City and grew up in the Long Island suburb of Oceanside, New York. She graduated Skidmore College and has an MFA in Painting from Stanford University. The birth of her son renewed her interest in the read aloud magic of picture books. June loves the challenge of creating books that awaken the wonder of words and pictures in children as well as keep the child alive in adults. She wrote her first book B IS FOR BULLDOZER illustrated by Melissa Iwai when she couldn't find an ABC book on construction for her truck obsessed three year old. Her books include SHIVER ME LETTERS - A PIRATE ABC illustrated by Henry Cole and the THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN series illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith. THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN series continues with new books coming in 2024 and 2025. She is also the author of the TOW TRUCK JOE series with HO! HO! HO! TOW TRUCK JOE released in time for the 2023 holiday season. Children beginning kindergarten can look forward to FIRST DAY! HOORAY! before the 2024 school year. When June is not enjoying adventure travel, she loves to take pictures, read, hike, watch birds and make things grow. She lives in Westlake Village, California.

Reviews

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly picked this up at the library and it is probably one of my favorite children's books ever. The illustrations are beautiful, whimsical, and engaging. The story is unique and just super cute. I love it so much that I'm reviewing it--and I've never reviewed a children's book before. That's mostly because I think adding a bunch of children's books to your "read" shelf is just a cheap way of increasing the number of books on said shelf, but this one is good enough I can have one cheapy, right?

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 stars because it had me in it! And Maren is right there!

[Jillian Hermanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading approximately 204 times this year, Finley gives this book 5 stars. Toddler approved!

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a fun one for us. My 5 yr old wasn't as interested, but my preschoolers loved it. Besides the adorable illustrations and the fact it was about a train, it was also nice to see a different sort of idea about the goodnight train. The cars were made up of beds and other items needed before going to sleep. (ie beds, bathtubs, toothbrushes, etc.) It made for a fun story that was easy and entertaining to follow along with. The rhyming made it fun for me to read out loud. Probably a book best for babies through preschoolers as there isn't enough substance to keep an older child interested.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: The Goodnight Train gets set to roll. It's being shined and filled with coal. Wash the cars off with a hose. Scrub the engine's dirty nose. Scrub-a-dub! Scrub-a-dub! Toot! Toot!

Premise/plot: The Goodnight Train is a bedtime book for little train lovers. It's written in rhyme. The text is silly, but the illustrations are even sillier perhaps.

My thoughts: Trains are ever popular with little ones. Not just with boys but with girls as well. This board book is perfect for little ones that can't get enough of tracks and engines. What better way to fit in some cozy time with your little one than to read about trains.

[Villa Park Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

All aboard the goodnight train! This lively, rhyming lullaby will have readers jubilantly put on their jammies and chugga chugga choose to crawl under the covers. Along the way, train passengers are introduced to nocturnal animals and cities that do often sleep, like Dreamland. Count on sheep and this sweet story to bring snoozers straight to ZZZ.

Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly read for the kiddos and I. We love the colorfulness of the book despite it suppose to be “night”. There are a lot to point out on each page so very ideal for age 2 as they are building up vocab. 4 stars for its usefulness and entertainment

[Angieleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute rhyming story to read to kids before bed. My nephew giggled as I read it to him, especially when I actually yawned when I was reading about a character yawning.

[Ky Haslam · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute read for the little kiddos!

[Nicole Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations, fun bedtime (or nap time!) read

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awful cute. Little One got this from a friend for his birthday and it's silly.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

So clever! I love the sounds the goodnight train makes. The illustrations are fun too!

Ages: 2 - 5

Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

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[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my son arrived just over a year and a half ago my wife and I have become something of connoisseurs of children's literature. Before Jacob arrived I don't think I could have envisioned myself turning my nose up at the Hat in the Cat or Goodnight Farm but that happens. Some books just have bad artwork or the text is not fun to read.

The Goodnight Train on the other hand is one of, if not my favorite book to read. The story is just fun, it is a train with kids on it that are going to sleep. They move through the countryside and pass through dreamlike scenes. It is hard to convey just how much the artwork in this book makes it a real treat to read. It is just so rich. In every panel there is the main story, the train moving along, and then a dozen small side stories in the little details on each page. Whether it be the changing smoke shapes coming out of the train's stack, the animals in the background, or the small skunk/porter getting tossed between carts I found something new to enjoy every time I read the book.

Trust me, when you grope for that book at bedtime you should be reaching for The Goodnight Train.

[Kenzie Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book everyday at naptime and bedtime, so I figured I would review it. My son loves this book! At first, I didn’t think it was anything special, but after reading it several times, I started noticing how special it is and why he likes it. The illustrations are great: whimsical and dreamlike! The entire book is mostly blue, which means that the illustrations are sort of muted-a feature that we like at bed time because it’s interesting without being overwhelming. The rhythm of the book is awesome; it feels like a train ride! My son loves to hear the train noises that accompany the words! I’m an English teacher and never thought I’d be reviewing a toddler book, but this one is special to us!

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this adorable good night book! So much more interesting than some of the other goodnight books out there, this one seems to start out faster and louder, eventually becoming softer and slower as the engine moves into its shed to sleep. This book is lovely and unusual--perfect for train-loving toddlers who have everything train, everything Thomas. This is definitely something different that they probably don't have!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this book is leagues better than Chugga Chugga Choo Choo, which I recently read to my 3yo son. The rhymes and meters were more fluid, and it was more interesting to me (though it probably didn't make a huge difference to him, as anything with trains is good in his mind). I just hate reading books I don't like, so I'm glad we have this option. I am collecting goodnight books for my kids, and I will keep this one.

[Bridget Gambaiani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this one out loud. The variety of train noises was fantastic. The pictures are busy and a bit zany. The images don’t all make sense, but it is fun to look at. My son has requested it the last five nights for bedtime. He is going to be disappointed when we have to return it to the library.

[Jade King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww love this

This is 1 of the only books that my 7 month old actually sit still for and looks at the pictures. I love this book I love the pictures and it's just so well put together it reminds me of my childhood So imaginative.

[Selina Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENJOYED!

I enjoyed reading this little children’s book. Very colorful illustrations and lots of detail. I spent a minute or two on each page so as not to miss any of the delightful details!

[Danie P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhyming test, more so for really patient toddlers and preschoolers, interesting illustrations. Children getting ready for bed board the goodnight train and ride it all the way to dreamland.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes the reader on a magical trip to dreamland by train. One that would be requested night after night by train fans who will enjoy the gently rhyming text and muted illustrations.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hop on board the bedtime train. With baths taken and teeth brushed, it choo-choos onto to dreamland. Sheep jumping over fences included.

[Teacher. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite bedtime book. The rhyming words are a perfect rhythm to create a sense of cool peace just before bed. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Heather Pierczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

My child's first favorite book. He wanted to hear it every night. He loved the train sounds and illustrations. A beautiful bedtime read.

[Jessica Sental · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book does not carry as cargo a profound message, nor does it have the world's most intricate illustrations or elegantly-crafted language, this book is on my shelf because it represents an experience. Books and reading--surprise, surprise--have always been so important to me. Because of this, I have been so committed to introducing my children to literature at a very, very young age. I started reading to both my son and my daughter before their eyes could even focus on the pictures adorning thick, cardboard pages. This book was one that I read night after night to my son, my firstborn, as a baby. It was perfect for him because he loves trains and he loved all the train sounds and the lyrical quality of the rhyming couplets that comprise the story line. And me? I loved holding him in my lap and reading to it to him, mimicking every train sound with enthusiasm. I loved that at the end, when I read the last lines, "Goodnight, train, goodnight" and added a "Good night, Carter, good night," he always knew it was time for sleep and would hop down, once he could, from my lap and toddle over to his bed, lift up both pudgy arms, and wait to be lifted into the crib. him, this book represented comfort, love, and safety. For me, this book represents all of those experiences, but also the start of learning and the beginning of a life-long relationship with reading. It also represents the way in which reading can be not just an experience, but a shared one. Reading allows us to connect with our loved ones in such a special way. So this book on my shelf represents an invaluable parenting experience for me. And years from now, when my son's little body has stretched tall and he can no longer climb into my lap, I will see this book on the shelf and remember the baby and the little boy he once was. I will think about how, even though it will have become a distant memory, these experiences, and this simple, cardboard book about a train riding off to sleep, will have helped to shape the young man he will have become.

[Samantha Caixeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Awards the book has received (if any): None

2. Appropriate grade level(s): Pre-K-2

3. Original 3-line summary: The Goodnight Train is filled with coal and makes its way through tunnels. As the train moves, the narrator advises the passengers on how to get ready for bed. At the end, as the train slows to a stop, all of the passengers are asleep.

4. Original 3-line review: This nursery rhyme is fun and relaxing. I think it would be great to be read by parents to their children before bed to get them calm and tired. This nursery rhyme is simple yet entertaining.

5. 2-3 possible in-class uses: In class, for younger grades like preschool, where there is sometimes a nap hour, I think this book would be great to read to the class before they nap. Another option is to just use the book to discuss the rhyme used throughout the story.

[Evianrei · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I love this book! I had never read it before (was buying classics for my son and came across this and gave it a chance). We have the board book version which works perfectly. The rhymes are sweet and we both love the added train sounds. The Goodnight Train flows very well, has adorable illustrations, and we read it all the time. This is now the 'go to' bed time book for my son. Definitely a favorite.

[Ellie Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet bedtime story!

Very cute story that will get your little ones ready for bed. I adored the illustrations and my son loved pointing out everything in the pictures. The only issue I had was that the font caused some of the letters to be confusing for my son and he was having a hard time with some of the words due to the confusion. Overall it was a wonderful story that my family enjoyed.

[Lindsay Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catchy & Whimsical

A new favorite in our bedtime stories collection! With its flowing rhymes that roll of the tongue with ease, from start to finish it’s refreshing and simply fun to read. The train provides the perfect path to dreamland soothing young listeners as they follow along with the illustrations which are also nothing short of magical. Well done!

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've always loved trains ... i recall as a kid being at my babysitter's house and see the train across from her place ... we would just wave and wave ... the conductor would stick out a white handkerchief and we all thought that was just great!! good memories. i love riding on a train. love it all ... the sounds the people ... way cool!! great read. so fun. illustrations are awesome!!