Monday, May 13, 2013

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: National Transportation Week

When I need inspiration for blog posts and story time themes, I often consult Chase's Calendar of Events and the Brownie Locks site.  Hundreds upon hundreds of  (verified) National This-That-or-The-Other Days/Weeks/Months are included; while some are awareness events for serious health issues, others are more adaptable for story times and blog posts. Case in point: National Transportation Week. 

National Transportation Week!

Jackpot!

I'm set!

If you have a transportation-obsessed toddler/preschooler, these are must-reads:







Eveything Goes series


I've mentioned this series several times.  It is OUTSTANDING.  Full of facts and fun details that will satisfy even the most savvy transportation loving youngster--and, it's FUNNY.  Some jokes might go over very young children's heads, but it's not mean snark at all--just observational humor from time to time.  The picture books feature a family navigating a busy city (Everything Goes: On Land) or airport (Everything Goes: In the Air) as they discusses facts about the various items surrounding them. 





Freight Train



Donald Crews has many transportation-themed picture books to his credit, but Freight Train is his best-known work.  A brightly colored train slowly travels through cities and on bridges, gradually picking up steam until it reaches its final destination.  Readers can count the cars and name colors; this is very simple text, so the main attraction is in its illustrations.  This is definitely a childhood classic, although I'm also very partial to School Bus and Flying.







All Aboard! A True Train Story


This is an outstanding train book; I always use it when I do a train-themed or transportation story time.  With simple text and big photos of an impressive steam train, it never fails to impress.








Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!


Mo Willems's demanding little pigeon has starred in many hilarious picture books, but this is where it all began.  A bus-driving obsessed pigeon begs to drive the bus.  Preschoolers, kindergartners, and even older children who might think they're too old for picture books will find this hysterical.


This is just a teeny tiny sample of the awesome transportation-themed books we have at the library!






Other titles to enjoy:




Jon Scieszka's Trucktown series





The Wheels on the Race Car






Trashy Town





Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go








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