Baby & Toddler

Pre-K

Growing Reader

Have Wheels, Will Travel:
Books for the Vehicle-Obsessed

by Janssen Bradshaw

Photo credit: Cultura RM/Ian Nolan, Collection Mix: Subjects/Getty Images

A few years ago, my sister and I were driving together (without children) and she interrupted me mid-sentence to say, “Hey, look! There’s a . . .” and then paused and said, “I’m guessing you don’t actually care that there is a backhoe over there, do you?”

If you have vehicle-obsessed little ones, you’ve probably had similar moments, moments where you realize you can identify practically any construction truck or car on the road by its proper name.

These books are perfect for a child who loves nothing more than a fire truck, a bulldozer, or a cement mixer. Add in a plastic construction or fireman’s hat, and you’ve got the perfect gift.

Elbow Grease

Elbow Grease

by John Cena, illustrated by Howard McWilliam

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From beloved entertainer John Cena comes an adorable story about a little monster truck that enters the Demolition Derby in order to prove he's capable of big things.

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Digger, Dozer, Dumper

Digger, Dozer, Dumper

by Hope Vestergaard, illustrated by David Slonim

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These sixteen poems each highlight a vehicle. Who knew poetry and big trucks went so well together?

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Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street

Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street

by Mark Lee, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus

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An ice cream truck is always welcome, until it breaks down in the middle of the road and causes a traffic jam. Thankfully, there’s one little boy with a clever idea for how to solve the problem.

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Little Excavator

Little Excavator

by Anna Dewdney

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You read that right — the author-illustrator of the beloved Llama Llama series has a new, kid-favorite character: Little Excavator! Not every construction job needs a giant Backhoe, and Little Excavator is here to get the job done.

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Vehicles

Vehicles

by Chieri DeGregorio and Steve DeGregorio

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For the youngest of vehicle-obsessed children, check out this heavy-duty board book that introduces just about everything with an engine, inspired by the popular YouTube channel.

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Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

by Richard Scarry

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For fans of Richard Scarry (which is to say, all of us), this vehicle compendium is a total delight. Featuring unconventional, Scarry-esque forms of transport like a pickle truck, it’s sure to turn the ignition of young imaginations.

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Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?

Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?

by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade

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Did you know construction-site families have the same bedtime rituals as your own family? Little ones will love the rhyming phrases and familiar rituals of mommy trucks tucking in their young fire engines, tractors, and monster trucks for a good night’s sleep.

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Thomas the Tank Engine: The Very First Stories

Thomas the Tank Engine: The Very First Stories

by Rev. W. Awdry

The first four stories of the timeless Thomas the Tank Engine series get the royal treatment in this hardcover, illustrated book of everyone’s favorite train and his cohort of sidekicks.

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All Kinds of Cars

All Kinds of Cars

by Carl Johanson

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In this whimsical collection of real and imaginary cars from Swedish illustrator Carl Johanson, kids won’t be able to resist pointing out their favorites. They might even be inspired to invent their own pretend vehicles!

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Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2020.