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Trains, trains, trains! Giant engines snorting, puffing, steaming, pulling, rushing, huffing! All kinds of trains, from cabooses to hoppers and commuter trains to zoo trains, clickety-clack along the tracks. The mixed-media illustrations using clip art, etchings, original drawings, and maps will remind parents and grandparents of an earlier time. Children will enjoy the collages, puns, and delightful wordplay throughout.

Library Binding

First published January 1, 2005

32 people are currently reading
65 people want to read

About the author

Patricia Hubbell

49 books16 followers
Patricia Hubbell has been writing poetry since she was eleven years old.
In 1998, her Wrapping Paper Romp was selected as a Parents Magazine Book of the Year.
Patricia Hubbell lives with her husband, Harold Hornstein, in Easton, Connecticut, the small town where she was born.
Remembering how much their children and grandchildren loved to bounce when they were very young prompted her to write Bouncing Time. "Bouncing is one of the joyous things little kids do," she says. "It reflects their constant enthusiasm."

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Community Reviews

5 stars
89 (32%)
4 stars
95 (34%)
3 stars
74 (27%)
2 stars
11 (4%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for midnightfaerie.
2,277 reviews132 followers
June 22, 2013
This is a favorite of ours. Having checked it out multiple times from the library, my 2-yr-old twins (almost 3) can't get enough of this book. They're big fans of trains by trains alone in books don't do it for them. This one they fight over. I'm not sure if it's the neat imagery, or the rhyming words, or the neat pictures that do it, but even I enjoy reading this to them. I also love how you have to turn the book sideways for some of the pictures and reading, which gives it a fun twist. I'll probably end up buying this one for them.
282 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2017
My youngest loves trains, so of course I got this book for him. He enjoyed it. The illustrations were cute and the it was fun to read. My only problem was that a couple of the pages were sideways on the screen and when you flip device to read the page the whole thing shifts. I didn't like having to change the view while reading the book. Overall the book was wonderful and like I said my son loved it.
Profile Image for Rebecca Davis.
91 reviews
January 30, 2019
A wonderful picture book about trains presented in a mixed-media format. The artwork has a vintage vibe to it. The rhyme structure worked well as did all the train noises. Lots of little details that a person could point out as they were reading either during story time or one-on-one. I can see train fans loving this book!
2,728 reviews
February 11, 2019
Both the words and eclectic illustrations were really appealing, making it a fun book to be read aloud or just pored over silently. I particularly liked the SF setting near the end with discussion of the commuter train. A couple of the "retro" illustrations just felt dated, but all in all, pretty fun.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Edwards.
5,551 reviews9 followers
February 18, 2020
who loves trains? such a great read, love the illustrations. well done!! i've always loved trains. so quick, i know this will be one you will add to your bookshelf to read every night to your little one.
Profile Image for Crystal Fatherly.
1 review
June 15, 2024
Not ideal

First page, then the table of contents, then second page. Then there's at least 2 pages requiring you to flip it sideways to read and follow along. Not ideal for a toddler.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
4,984 reviews60 followers
January 30, 2019
Not enough of a plot for my preschoolers and too long for my toddlers, this one would make a great one-on-one read with a kid who loves trains. Lots of cool pictures to pour over and enjoy.
Profile Image for Sara Bland.
182 reviews2 followers
April 24, 2015
This is a very fun, interactive book about trains. Every page is a flow of rhyming train information that goes throughout the entire book. Some words pop out at you in big, bold fonts, while others are quietly written in, small and unassuming. Just when you think you understand the style of the book, all of a sudden the page is sideways and you're flipping it over! Very well illustrated with many little details hidden throughout. I would recommend this book for students pre-K through 2nd grade. This is a very fun read and would be great for students who are learning about the railcar system.
633 reviews9 followers
January 30, 2014
This is a story about trains that looks at all the types of trains that you may find and the different journeys that you can go on during a train ride.

This was cute for kids who like trains and the text is simple enough for kids to understand. I thought that if there was a focus on specific trains on separate pages it may have drawn more attention to the different types of trains but overall a good story for children who love all things trains.
259 reviews4 followers
March 26, 2013
I give it a 4, but W would probably give it a 3.5. She's from Easton (where we are currently living)! It's very poetic and has a good, fast-paced rhythm to it. The illustrations are unique (kind of 50s-esque). My toddler son really likes a good plot, though, and this just isn't that type of book.
Profile Image for Samantha.
4,985 reviews60 followers
April 16, 2013
An energetic read aloud that rhymes and begs to be chanted in a rhythm similar to the chugging of a train. It showcases a variety of trains and uses clip art. etchings, original drawings and maps to give the whole book a scrapbook feel.

The artwork personally reminded me of the animated Yellow Submarine movie, which rocked my socks off.
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,839 reviews63 followers
February 3, 2014
This was another book I found to feed my son’s train obsession. The rhyming text tells of all different kinds of trains and what they do. I enjoyed the mixed-media collage illustrations, which included clip art, maps, original drawings and etchings, though at times they seem a little cluttered. Recommended for ages 2 – 6, 4 stars.
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,478 reviews10 followers
Read
September 24, 2015
Convinced my 2 yr old to get it because the cover train looks like Caitlin from Thomas and Friends. very fun and easy read aloud. Illustrations are wonderful. They remind me of the Ticket to Ride game. Old timey on one hand, but fresh and vibrant on the other. He asked for it to come to bed with him, so that's thumbs up from both of us!
Profile Image for Drew Graham.
1,071 reviews40 followers
June 23, 2016
Trains of all kinds and varied drivers and various media go here and there.

This is another in this semi-pretentious but also creative mixed-media series about vehicles and it's fairly popular with our all-things-with-wheels enthusiast (3). The text does have a fun sort of motion and there's plenty of interesting detail to take in.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,377 reviews
January 25, 2011
I really liked this book a lot. The illustrations are very vintage looking. A lot going on in this book so check out the details. Brought to you by the same people who did Cars. Illustrator Megan Halsey also did Little Shark. I really like her work.
Profile Image for Tricia.
2,669 reviews
August 3, 2008
nostalgic touch to this train book. may be better as lap book where lots of questions may be addressed than as a readaloud.
Profile Image for Cindi.
939 reviews
December 20, 2008
By the same author as another of our favorite "little boy books," Trucks! The cadence of the rhyme is particularly catching and I can see him "reading" it as he does his Truck book!
Profile Image for Zonia.
425 reviews
February 20, 2009
Nostagic look at trains that a train-loving child will love.
Profile Image for Vicki.
4,962 reviews32 followers
April 5, 2013
All aboard! Let's go on a train ride.
Profile Image for Adrienne.
2,082 reviews16 followers
February 8, 2016
The rhythm and the word choices in this book are perfect--you totally sound like a train as you're reading it out loud.
Profile Image for Meghan Molloy.
38 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2017
Awards the book has received (if any)- N/A

Appropriate grade level(s) - Pre-school - third grade

Original 3-line summary: This non-fiction informational text is about the varying type of trains. From electric to commuter, the purpose and function of different trains are explained. In addition, the people or things that can be typically found on trains are explained.

Original 3-line review: This is an easy read and the rhyming makes the reading fun. I think the pictures add to the text and make it easier to understand the different types of trains. I would recommend this informational text to learn about trains and transportation.

2-3 possible in-class uses: Students can do a Before Reading/After Reading graphic organizer. For example, students can brainstorm, either together or independently what they know about trains.A After reading the book, they can go back and add more information about what they learned. Another activity students can do is either a writing or drawing prompt based upon the reading. Students can either draw a picture or free-write a creative story about trains. The picture can have a caption to further solidify their knowledge about informational text.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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