Terrific Trains

Amazing Machines

by Tony Mitton

Amazing Machines: Terrific Trains by Tony Mitton

Big Trains, small trains, old trains, and new, rattling and whistling -- Choo, choo, choo! Preschoolers will chuckle as a wacky animal crew toots the whistle and treats them to the delights only a train journey can offer. Clickety-clack, whizz down the track, slow to a railroad crossing, rumble through a tunnel, and finally pull into the station where passengers await the fastest holiday flyer of them all!

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

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was from my son’s favourite series when he was a toddler. Without viewing it through his eyes and seeing his enjoyment I would rate this 2 stars but he absolutely loved it and found the end pages fascinating, they identified the parts of machinery involved and gave you a fact about each. I inwardly groaned about reading this each night again and again and again but he absolutely loved them.

Ironically my son has no interest in machinery now he is at an age he could get one of his own to mess about on whereas my daughter who showed no interest in this series as a child is ironically very interested in machines and engines and longs to find a restoration project of her own. Perhaps if she had read these as a child she would have got it out of her system, we will never know!

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first non board books Woods has been drawn to. We read it 3 times last night all the way through (a rarity). I'm not sure what draws him to it, but he likes it :)

Okay, update. Over the years he became obsessed with this book. We've read it at least 30 or maybe more times. Gosh. Fifty? Totally possible. I'm sad to part with it but it should go on to someone elses little kiddo :)

[joe h · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most terrific book, I have ever had the pleasure of reading, it transported me to a world of mass transit which I never knew existed!

[Mahima Pradhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and sensational. Mr. Sparrow had me gripping the edge of my seat with his expressions. I came for the plot and stayed for the illustrations. 5 stars!

[Ceyxasm · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves trains and coffee and other things; I give this book 5 stars. Informative and sensational. All praise for Mr Sparrow for being such a terrific loco pilot.

[David]

I commute with my two year old three days a week on the train and this book has enhanced his appreciation of trains. Thanks to this book he recognizes that we ride on a diesel train and recites the part of the book about the metal wheels "rolling with a slick click-clack". He understands that a stopped train we see is waiting for a signal. He also notices the color of the train chairs when we board thanks to this book which has either read or blue chairs. The book is so informative, the rhymes are clever, and the drawings are cute and fun.

[Hans Kukreja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me my first view of engineering and inspired me to study science and maths. Fantastic

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 4 out of 5]

2.5* art
4* story/rhyme

I can read this one almost like a rap - which is fun, and get the "chooka-chooka" feel of the train in too. Squirt and I both love this one - any train book, really.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple rhyming book about trains. It is nice to use with toddlers for a train storytime.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A train book that isn't painful to read aloud is a beautiful thing. Highly recommended for ages 2-4.

[Nick Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked Terrific Trains up from a local Little Free Library because my father is a train aficionado and I figured he'd get a kick out of it.

He was impressed that the trains were accurate to real life and felt that this would be highly educational for the intended age group. When asked whether he felt that the trains in the book lived up to the titular "terrific" he said that they did and he would've loved to have been given this book as a child.

So there you go. This book is officially railroad enthusiast approved.

[Pennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I had a lot of fun making all the different train sounds mentioned. Due to current worldwide circumstances, it's been a very long time since we've caught a train, so it was fun for us to have a look at all the rail bridges, and boom gates in the book.

For some bizarre reason, it felt like the author took inspiration from Fox in Sox for some of the pages. 'If the train comes to a mountain, then the train goes through a tunnel' (paraphrase, my daughter has the book in bed with her)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple text (too simple for my preschool groups but perfect for my toddler groups) and fun illustrations make this a great read aloud for story time. It gives just enough detail to inform and entertain without bogging down the little ones with too much.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I surprisingly had so much fun reading this, teaching little ones the different types of trains and things that the do, with super catchy rhyming, that makes you read it with loads of enthusiasm and making all the train noises as you go.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very decent verse and fun illustrations. Trains are splendid things and so is this little series, quite old now but brand new to me. Cheeky little glossary at the back, so not too dumbed down even though designed for younger children.

[Pastor Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 minute read great for children 1-4 years old. Rhymes about trains and great colorful pictures of animals operating and using trains. Enjoyed and well made. I have 3 more of these types of books including planes, rockets, and trucks that we will be reading next.

[Kiersti Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that it's more advanced in its description of trains.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a favorite of the kids.

[Owen and Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved to learn about all the different names of the cars.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr 2's favourite book for a very long time.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book !!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A toddler and up fast paced book about trains including their parts and the places they go.

[Charlotte Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2yr old toddler loves this series of books, and we often read one or two of them most nights before bed.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute picture book about animals on a train. There is a detailed breakdown of train vocabulary and parts in the back of the book.

[Kathleen Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic train-like rhythm!

[Jenna Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever rhyming phrases to introduce train terminology while explaining it as well. Adorable full page illustrations too.

[Emily Knickerbocker]

This book talks about trains and different types of them such as coaches, and what they are used for. I would use this book to teach my kids different kinds of trains and have them label the picture.

[K Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started reading this to my daughter by er at 1Y+ and was a favorite!
Rhyming and informative!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Reaction: This book has really great illustrations and is a great book for beginning readers. This book would also be a great book for children who love trains and may not be excited about reading.

Purposes: This book could be read aloud in the classroom to teach students about trains and gain an interest in reading. This book would also be a great beginning book for Kindergarten or 1st graders. The words and sentences are simple and the pictures help them grasp the concepts of the story.