Storytime: Trains
Storytime: Trains
Chugg chugg! Choo, choo! Off we go! Hop aboard a terrific train with these books, songs, and activities.
Join us Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
When your children have happy experiences, they want to repeat them. Starting kindergarten can seem as an extension of informal library classes. Children who have had joyful experiences in the public library often approach school with a positive attitude, ready and excited to learn.
Activity
After attending Storytime at the library, talk with your child about the things she thought was fun. Perhaps it was the yarn railroad track we walked around in the back of the room, or maybe it was Cody’s train noises. Then do some of the rhymes and songs that were presented.
Books Presented
Terrific Trains by Tony Mitton
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Although she is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain.
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Steam Train Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker
In this book with rhyming text, the dream train pulls into the station and all the different cars are loaded by the animal workers, each with the appropriate cargo.
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
Flannel Board: Down by the Station
Down by the station early in the morning
See the little puffer trains all in a row
See the engine driver turn the little handle
Puff puff, chuff chuff, off we go!
(remove one train, and count)
The Wheels on the Train
Tune to “Wheels on the Bus”
The wheels on the train go clackety clack
Clackety clack, clackety clack
The wheels on the train, go clackety clack
All along the track.
More verses:
The whistle… goes whoo, whoo, whoo
The conductor… says, “All Aboard”
The people … go bumpety, bump
Engine on the Track
Here is the engine on the track. (thumb)
Here is the coal car just in back. (pointer finger)
Here in the boxcar to carry freight. (middle finger)
Here is the mailcar. Don’t be late! (ring finger)
Way back here at the end of the train (pinky finger)
Rides the caboose through the sun and rain.
This is a Choo Choo Train
This is a choo-choo train, (bend arms at elbows)
Puffing down the track. (rotate forearms in rhythm)
Now it’s going forward, (push arms forward, continue rotating motion)
Now it’s going back. (pull arms back, continue rotating motion)
Now the bell is ringing, (pull bell cord with closed fist)
Now the whistle blows. (hold fist near mouth and blow)
What a lot of noise it makes, (cover ears with hands)
Everywhere it goes! (stretch out arms)
Crafts and Activities
Learn shape and build a fun train!
Additional Books
I'm Fast by Kate and Jim McMullan
The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet
Choo-Choo School by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
No racing in the haul-ways! A look at seven adorable train cars on their first day of school. All aboard the train-car pool! A new lineup of students is off and rolling to Choo-Choo School. After reciting their classroom rules — Work hard, play fair, be kind — it’s time for some math to get the wheels turning. Then everyone’s ready to climb a hill in gym (it’s good to blow off steam), sing songs in music (Flat Car is a bit off-key), and learn the whole alphabet, especially the letter R. In one of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s last books, lighthearted verse portrays a world where train stations are classrooms, the conductor doubles as the teacher, and Boxcar is happy to hand out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos. Bright, energetic illustrations by animation artist Mike Yamada bring the whole clickety crew to rollicking life.
