7 Train and Transportation Books for Preschool Circle Time (+ Free Printables)

6 min read

Every preschool teacher I know runs a transportation theme, and every transportation week needs books that survive circle time. Here are the train and transportation books that hold a room of three-year-olds, what each one is good for, circle-time prompts, and free printables to go with them.

The short version

• Pick by length first: under five minutes for circle time, longer books for small groups.
• Mix formats: one wordless or near-wordless book, one rhyming book, one with a character to follow.
• Use the conductor for community-helpers week; use the journey for sequencing.
• Free printables (coloring pages, maze, word search, tracing) and a free classroom copy for US teachers are linked below.

From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

How to pick books for a preschool transportation theme

A transportation theme usually runs a week or two, and you'll read a train book most days. Variety is what keeps it alive: a book of sounds for the youngest, a book of pictures to talk about, a story with a character to care about, and one with real facts for the kid who wants to know how the engine works. Length matters more than anything. If a book runs past five minutes at circle time, you'll lose the back row.

At a glance: the 7 best train books for preschool

Book	Best for	Read time	Group
Rally Takes the Train	Sequencing, community helpers, being brave	5 min	Circle time
Freight Train	Colors, youngest kids	2 min	Circle time
Trains Go	Sounds, joining in	2 min	Circle time
Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo	Rhythm, movement	4 min	Circle time
The Little Engine That Could	Perseverance	10 min	Small group
Steam Train, Dream Train	Rest time	5 min	Circle time
Train (Elisha Cooper)	How trains work	8 min	Small group

The best train and transportation books for preschool, one by one

1. Rally Takes the Train

   Kelsey Lizee Cecil, illustrated by Leslie Dunn

   Best for: sequencing and community helpers. A real corgi's first ride on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner with Mom and Dad, in rhyme, about five minutes. There's a clear order (wake, pack, board, ride, tunnel, arrive), a friendly conductor, and Grandmommy and Papa waiting at the end. Kids finish the rhymes by day two.

2. Freight Train

   Donald Crews

   Best for: colors and the youngest group. A freight train rolls past car by car, color by color, then blurs into speed. Almost no words.

3. Trains Go

   Steve Light

   Best for: sounds. A board book of trains and their noises. Loud, short, and the whole room joins in.

4. Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo

   Kevin Lewis, illustrated by Daniel Kirk

   Best for: rhythm and movement. A toy train's day in rhyme. Good one to act out.

5. The Little Engine That Could

   Watty Piper

   Best for: perseverance talk with older preschoolers. Longer; save it for small groups or split across two days.

6. Steam Train, Dream Train

   Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

   Best for: rest time. Animals load a train at night. Rhyming and calm.

7. Train

   Elisha Cooper

   Best for: the how-does-it-work kid. Follows real trains across the country with detailed pictures. Better in small groups than circle time.

Circle-time prompts for Rally Takes the Train

Before

• Where do you think Rally is going? How can you tell he's on a train?
• Who has ridden a train, bus, or plane? What did you see out the window?

During

• Who is Mr. Conductor? What's his job? What other helpers work on a train?
• Rally leaves "corgi glitter" in the aisle. What is it really?
• What does Rally see out the window?

After

• Who was waiting at the last stop? How did Rally feel?
• Rally was a little scared in the tunnel and kept going. When were you brave?
• If you could ride a train anywhere, who would be waiting for you?

The full set of activities and permissions are on the classroom page. US teachers can also request a free classroom copy, which comes with printable coloring pages, an activity pack, and a note home for each student. The coloring pages are free for anyone to print.

Page 2. "Choo choo!" is the line the whole room says with you.

Rally Takes the TrainFive-minute rhyming read-aloud, sturdy 8.5 inch paperback. One free copy per US classroom, or $13.99 a copy on Amazon in any quantity.

Order for your classroom (opens in a new tab)

Free transportation theme activities for preschool

• Sequence cards. Five pictures from the story; kids put them in order and retell it. Rally's six are suitcase, station, seat, window, tunnel, grandparents.
• Tickets, please. Everyone makes a paper ticket with their name and a destination. One child is the conductor and punches them. Rotate the conductor.
• Sound chart. Collect every sound from the week's books on a chart (choo choo, chugga, the whistle, the bell) and add real ones from your town.
• Draw the window. Give everyone a blank train window and ask what they would see on their own trip. Rally sees the ocean; your class will see everything else.

Free printables for your transportation week

We made a set of printables from the book's watercolor pages, free to print for your classroom: four coloring pages, a train maze, a word search, a ticket to fill in, a suitcase to pack, a train window to draw in, word tracing, counting, and a "write the next page" sheet. Download the free coloring pages and activity pack.

If you teach in the US, you can also request a free copy of Rally Takes the Train for your classroom. It ships to your school with a printable note home, two per sheet, so every family hears about the train ride.

Questions teachers ask

What books are good for a preschool transportation theme?

Mix a sound book (Trains Go), a color book (Freight Train), a rhyming story with a character (Rally Takes the Train or Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo), and one fact-rich book for small groups (Train by Elisha Cooper). Keep circle-time picks under five minutes.

Are there free transportation printables for preschool?

Yes. Rally Takes the Train has free coloring pages and an activity pack with a train maze, word search, tracing, counting, and a train window to draw in, at rallytakesthetrain.com/coloring-pages.

How long should a circle-time read-aloud be for preschoolers?

About five minutes for the whole group. Longer books work in small groups or split across two days.

What is a good train book for a community-helpers unit?

Rally Takes the Train has a friendly conductor who checks tickets and greets passengers, which gives you a natural way into talking about the people who work on trains.

Is there a free copy for teachers?

Yes. US teachers, librarians, and daycare providers can request one free classroom copy at rallytakesthetrain.com/free-book-for-teachers. It ships to your school with a teacher kit: coloring pages, an activity pack, and a printable note home.

Can I use pages from Rally Takes the Train in my classroom?

Reading aloud and projecting a page or two for discussion is welcome. For printed materials or online read-alouds, email first; the answer is almost always yes.