6 books about Trains (that are NOT Thomas)

If you have a little one who LOVES reading about trains, chances are you're probably SICK of reading about Thomas. I mean, sure he's cute and all, but bust my buffers, it does get on the adult nerves.

Here are some train books that your wee one will love and not one Fat Controller in sight!

Board Books

1. Red Train

Toddler

This board book will be a hit with toddlers. Bright colours and big words will help you and your little one count the sleek trains.

Children can follow animals through the book onto the large rainbow train at the end.

2. Dinosaur Train: All Aboard

Toddler - Preschool

Based on the PBS kids show Jim Henson's Dinosaurs, this interactive board book is aimed at children who also love dinosaurs. There are 7 buttons which play songs or sound effects (footsteps, bubbles, etc.)

Each page has facts about different dinosaurs. Children are prompted to hit a button to enhance the story along the way.

Picture Books

3. The Little Engine That Could

Preschool - Grade 1

This book is a CLASSIC and deserves to be shared with future generations.

Here we have a determined little engine that, despite its size, triumphantly pulls a train full of toys to the waiting children on the other side of a mountain.

There are a lot of books in the Little Engine that Could series (e.g. ...and the Snowy, Blowy Christmas)

4. I Knew You Could: A Book for All the Stops in Your Life

Preschool - Grade 2

This book is based on the original Little Engine that Could. But this book goes one step further, which is to look at each journey through life as a positive thing, and to always keep going no matter how bad things may seem.

Younger readers will be all about the train. Older readers will appreciate the valuable life lesson to not give up! This would be great for a high school graduation gift.

5. The Sleepy Train

Preschool - Grade 2

This is a very sweet, bedtime book for little train lovers. They can follow the bear, penguins, monkey, koala, hippo along the track to the Land of Nod, while the animals go about their bedtime routine. Which is surprisingly similar to little childrens' bedtime routines!

Even the words in this book are rounded and soft. A perfect way to send little engineers to dream land.

6. The Goodnight Train

Toddler - Preschool

This soothing, lyrical rhyming book helps ease your little train lover toward bedtime. It is silly and fun. There are lots of opportunities to make train noises as the train gradually slows down. The illustrations are hilarious, with animals and people on the train settling down.

There are other books in this series as well, if this one is a hit in your house!