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How to Train a Train
Everything you need to know about finding, keeping, and training your very own pet train.
Finding advice on caring for a dog, a cat, a fish, even a dinosaur is easy. But what if somebody’s taste in pets runs to the more mechanical kind? What about those who like cogs and gears more than feathers and fur? People who prefer the call of a train whistle to the squeal of a guinea pig? Or maybe dream of a smudge of soot on their cheek, not slobber? In this spectacularly illustrated picture book, kids who love locomotives (and what kid doesn’t?) will discover where trains live, what they like to eat, and the best train tricks around—everything it takes to lay the tracks for a long and happy friendship. All aboard!
Finding advice on caring for a dog, a cat, a fish, even a dinosaur is easy. But what if somebody’s taste in pets runs to the more mechanical kind? What about those who like cogs and gears more than feathers and fur? People who prefer the call of a train whistle to the squeal of a guinea pig? Or maybe dream of a smudge of soot on their cheek, not slobber? In this spectacularly illustrated picture book, kids who love locomotives (and what kid doesn’t?) will discover where trains live, what they like to eat, and the best train tricks around—everything it takes to lay the tracks for a long and happy friendship. All aboard!
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
12 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Jason Carter Eaton
10 books28 followersJason Carter Eaton was born in several small towns throughout the United States and one in Ireland. He is the author of numerous children's books, including How to Train a Train, How to Track a Truck, Great, Now We've Got Barbarians!, The Facttracker, The Catawampus Cat, and The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away, which most children thought was a funny story, though it was actually a tragic autobiography. Jason currently lives in Tarrytown, New York with his wife, two kids, giant dog, and pet freight train.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
September 7, 2018
Have you ever wanted a pet train? Well, this book will help you choose a train (freight, monorail or steam), name your train, train your train, and help you make friends with other pet owners. Everything you would teach a furry pet you can teach your pet train.
The illustrations are alive, vivid and imaginative. Some of the illustrations are troublesome - standing on the train tracks and pulling your train across a bridge- but the author writes a cautionary note at the end of the book warning against doing these activities. A good book for little engineers who wants a pet train.
The illustrations are alive, vivid and imaginative. Some of the illustrations are troublesome - standing on the train tracks and pulling your train across a bridge- but the author writes a cautionary note at the end of the book warning against doing these activities. A good book for little engineers who wants a pet train.
August 20, 2014
Great book and really fantastic illustrations — like something out of an old Norman Rockwell catalog. A cute, engaging story about how a kid can find, catch, and train his very own train. Nice use of humor for both adults and kids. My only ding would be that some of the illustrations show kids standing on tracks waving at a train to stop. I realize that I may be a little alarmist, but that's kind of a terrifying image to show to a small child and I find myself always stopping the story to remind my boys that they must never actually do anything like that.... That particular image is one that should probably have been left out.
January 15, 2014
All the pieces of advice you might get when picking out a pet are given here for picking out a pet train. Do you want a freight train (they are found on the frontier, and they run in herds), a monorail (found in the city, and they run alone), or a steam engine (mostly found in museums)? Sometimes you have to catch your train before you can train it. Then, of course, you have to give it a name. (There are some awesome suggestions here if you're having trouble choosing.)
Older kids may catch more of the humor than younger ones, but the littles may just giggle all the way through. The illustrations in this large picture book are terrifically fun as they depict children picking out trains as pets, working with them, training the trains. Great images and lots of smiles in store for kids in this one.
Older kids may catch more of the humor than younger ones, but the littles may just giggle all the way through. The illustrations in this large picture book are terrifically fun as they depict children picking out trains as pets, working with them, training the trains. Great images and lots of smiles in store for kids in this one.
October 16, 2013
This well-illustrated, humorous picture book tells all the things you must do to train a train. The concept behind the story will appeal to train lovers, but several of the illustrations depicted children in rather dangerous situations. Given the age level of the intended audience, showing a child standing on track in front of a train in order to "corner it" is a bit disturbing. Most of the other illustrations featured trains as pets which worked in most cases. Reviewed for the Professional Librarians of Northern New Jersey.
October 13, 2014
I picked up this book while looking for books for Christmas presents this year. It is absolutely adorable and a great little story for any elementary age child. I plan on buying a copy for my nephew for Christmas.
I Love, loved the illustration. The book really leaves the reader open to some great possibilities. It would make a wonderful project for a class to get involved in the story and create their own trains.
I Love, loved the illustration. The book really leaves the reader open to some great possibilities. It would make a wonderful project for a class to get involved in the story and create their own trains.
February 6, 2017
My two year old loves this! I've read it every night for over a week.
A book with pictures
A book with pictures
August 4, 2021
How do you train your train? Need help? Check this book out to learn how to catch a live train, train your pet train, name your train, play with your train, and care for your new friend. All of your friends will be impressed with your knowledge of pet train behavior! There are also incredible pictures included to help illustrate different train personalities and needs. Consider yourself lucky to have such a resource at your fingertips! Pet trains and train training should be enjoyed by children and parents alike. I definitely recommend this book!
Find it today: https://ent.sharelibraries.info/clien...
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it today: https://ent.sharelibraries.info/clien...
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
April 14, 2015
Eaton, Jason Carter How to Train a Train, illustrated by John Rocco. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2013. $17. Content: G.
John Rocco’s illustrative style is perfect for this book about how to find and train your very locomotive. Full of helpful advice, including playing soothing train sounds and how not to spook your train, this is an adorable book and the wisdom can be applied to almost any new pet or friend. Just to forestall any haters, Eaton adds a footnote that he doesn’t really recommend anyone standing in the middle of tracks in order to catch a train.
PreK –K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
John Rocco’s illustrative style is perfect for this book about how to find and train your very locomotive. Full of helpful advice, including playing soothing train sounds and how not to spook your train, this is an adorable book and the wisdom can be applied to almost any new pet or friend. Just to forestall any haters, Eaton adds a footnote that he doesn’t really recommend anyone standing in the middle of tracks in order to catch a train.
PreK –K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
September 25, 2013
Brilliantly appealing concept, pitch-perfect text and luscious gorgeous illustrations! Can't go wrong with this one. Little boys between 2 and 10 will all enjoy this equally and the surprise to me was that my 4 year old daughter was just as into it as my 7 year old! There is NOT ONE weak spot in this fun romp! Perfect present for birthdays!!! Pair it with a Little wooden train for the ubiquitous train table and you are set!
October 4, 2013
This is a fun book that takes the concept of unusual pets to a new level. The narrator, dressed like he's on a safari, explains to the reader the ins and outs of finding, catching, training, and raising a train as a pet. Where Elisha Cooper's book, Train, is a nice, quiet look at trains, this one is raucous and enthusiastic. I think I'll use it for a storytime about "things that go."
December 12, 2015
This is a book for those kids interested in exotic pets. The kind of pets that eat coal, and needed to be oiled to function fully. It details the steps you need to find a wild train and guides the interested child in train taming tactics.
Why I started this book: Found it in the library today.
Why I finished it: Too funny! Perfect birthday gift for the train enthusiast in your life.
Why I started this book: Found it in the library today.
Why I finished it: Too funny! Perfect birthday gift for the train enthusiast in your life.
October 18, 2013
Is it wrong that I want to *make* my 10 year old love trains as much as he did when he was 3 and 4? Because, this book would have been like magic to him then. It's super enjoyable for the not-so-train-obsessed too!
November 22, 2013
Just the whole concept is so out there and so fascinating for kids to consider and then, John Rocco's illustrations - wow! My favourite part though might be the Dear Readers message by Rocco at the end of the book.
August 13, 2014
Good mentor text for a "How to..." type of writing.
I love John Rocco's illustrations!
Cute story of how to train trains to be a pet. Funny take on things, and some of the illustrations of the trains taking on pet-type qualities are quite humorous.
I love John Rocco's illustrations!
Cute story of how to train trains to be a pet. Funny take on things, and some of the illustrations of the trains taking on pet-type qualities are quite humorous.
September 18, 2014
Jason Carter Eaton perfectly personifies pet trains, while John Rocco's art, as always, is amazing and truly transforms this book into a heartwarming delight.
A great collaboration recommended for all train enthusiasts!
A great collaboration recommended for all train enthusiasts!
October 4, 2014
I wanted to document that Trent read this whole book! He barely needed any help. it's a cute kids book, we loved the illustrations. highly suggest, my son is 8, 2nd grade and reading and a guided reading level E.
August 14, 2014
Going on my favorites shelf! I want sequels!
August 21, 2014
This is a wonderfully silly book with fabulous illustrations!
October 14, 2014
Great illustrations for the train lover.
Would you like a train as a pet? This is a story on how to catch your train, and train your train as a pet. FUN!
Would you like a train as a pet? This is a story on how to catch your train, and train your train as a pet. FUN!
July 21, 2018
Honestly, this is probably my most favorite kids book that I've read [recently].
It's about getting, and taking care of your pet train. It's silly, the art is fun and colorful, the sentences are easy so it's good for all ages. It's basically like getting your own puppy, but instead it's a giant machine and I love it.
It's about getting, and taking care of your pet train. It's silly, the art is fun and colorful, the sentences are easy so it's good for all ages. It's basically like getting your own puppy, but instead it's a giant machine and I love it.
June 2, 2019
Cute! A silly book on having a train as a pet.
December 27, 2014
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this book yet! My son picked this out at the library a couple of months ago because he saw the trains on the cover and, like many two-year-old boys, trains are one of his obsessions. I checked it out, despite thinking that its length and humor would make it over his head.
I think the humor IS over his head. This is basically a "How to Train a Puppy" book that is about training a train to be your pet. The narrator talks the reader through the best ways to capture, acclimate, and care for a train. Obviously, my son doesn't understand that capturing and training a train is not actually something you do. The thing is, my son loves this book so much it doesn't even matter that he doesn't get the joke yet.
It has really expressive illustrations of trains, and a little bit of repetition (the phrase "Don't worry, you'll know" is repeated a couple of times and was the first phrase from the book my son caught on to and began repeating). Our favorite page is the page of train names. Every single time we get to "Captain Foofamaloo" my son cracks up and says, "That's silly!" (Pushkin is my favorite train name, personally.)
We ended up having this book checked out for the library's full 9 week renewal period, and now I am planning to buy a copy to keep as a permanent part of our book collection. By the end of the 9 weeks my son could "read" this book almost verbatim to me, that's how much he loves it. He is only two so he is at the young end of the age range for this book. I think this book would be fun even for kids in early elementary school. Highly recommended!
I think the humor IS over his head. This is basically a "How to Train a Puppy" book that is about training a train to be your pet. The narrator talks the reader through the best ways to capture, acclimate, and care for a train. Obviously, my son doesn't understand that capturing and training a train is not actually something you do. The thing is, my son loves this book so much it doesn't even matter that he doesn't get the joke yet.
It has really expressive illustrations of trains, and a little bit of repetition (the phrase "Don't worry, you'll know" is repeated a couple of times and was the first phrase from the book my son caught on to and began repeating). Our favorite page is the page of train names. Every single time we get to "Captain Foofamaloo" my son cracks up and says, "That's silly!" (Pushkin is my favorite train name, personally.)
We ended up having this book checked out for the library's full 9 week renewal period, and now I am planning to buy a copy to keep as a permanent part of our book collection. By the end of the 9 weeks my son could "read" this book almost verbatim to me, that's how much he loves it. He is only two so he is at the young end of the age range for this book. I think this book would be fun even for kids in early elementary school. Highly recommended!
November 18, 2013
This is a book that will help you pick the perfect pet train. And yes, you read that correctly. This book goes over all the various aspects of what it might take to capture a train and get it to become a good pet. From how to trap a train to how to make it follow you home. Then it goes into the responsibilities that come with having a pet train and what to do to keep the pet train happy.
This is a humorous story that kids will find amusing due to the fact that kids realize that trains really wouldn’t be pets. But they laugh at the fact that this has more of a “serious” tone to what to do to make a pet out of a locomotive when the idea is so ludicrous that it doesn’t fit with the tone. The illustrations are perfect for any little train engineer’s heart. And there are loads of trains that are featured (from steam engines to monorails, there are all sorts of trains in here). My little two-year-old nephew loved looking at all the trains. (He sure loves anything that has to do with trains.) In fact, he would just look and look and look at these illustrations. And he loved how at the end there was also a pet truck, pet plane, and pet submarine (which he thought was a train and then called a “submarine train”…mostly because he didn’t really know what a submarine is yet…). If there is a young train engineer in the family, this book will be looked at over and over again. And the older ones that read the book to them will enjoy the comedy of the subject. Well done.
This is a humorous story that kids will find amusing due to the fact that kids realize that trains really wouldn’t be pets. But they laugh at the fact that this has more of a “serious” tone to what to do to make a pet out of a locomotive when the idea is so ludicrous that it doesn’t fit with the tone. The illustrations are perfect for any little train engineer’s heart. And there are loads of trains that are featured (from steam engines to monorails, there are all sorts of trains in here). My little two-year-old nephew loved looking at all the trains. (He sure loves anything that has to do with trains.) In fact, he would just look and look and look at these illustrations. And he loved how at the end there was also a pet truck, pet plane, and pet submarine (which he thought was a train and then called a “submarine train”…mostly because he didn’t really know what a submarine is yet…). If there is a young train engineer in the family, this book will be looked at over and over again. And the older ones that read the book to them will enjoy the comedy of the subject. Well done.
May 20, 2019
This book has taken over as the favorite bedtime read aloud. Very clever and the illustrations are impressive.
December 2, 2013
How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton, illustrated by John Rocco, published 2013.
Magic realism.
Picture book.
Pre-K to grade 2.
Found via Booklist, reviewed by Ilene Cooper.
If your kid likes trains, this is the book for them. The narrator begins by asking, "So you want a pet train? Well, of course you do!" From there, he goes over the basics of finding a train, attracting its attention, naming it, and teaching it tricks. The text treats the idea of a pet train as seriously as a pet dog, covering all of these subjects completely while also creating humor in how seriously it takes the subject. The illustrations match the text's tone and add to the book, giving emotions and liveliness to the trains, effectively bringing the book alive. Reviewer Cooper emphasizes the appeal of this book still holds for train lovers: "Despite the human or is it canine?) sensibility with which the trains are invested, they also seem like real mechanical objects—sturdy, strong, and powerful." The humor and imagination in this book should help it to appeal to more than train lovers, and there's no objectionable content.
Magic realism.
Picture book.
Pre-K to grade 2.
Found via Booklist, reviewed by Ilene Cooper.
If your kid likes trains, this is the book for them. The narrator begins by asking, "So you want a pet train? Well, of course you do!" From there, he goes over the basics of finding a train, attracting its attention, naming it, and teaching it tricks. The text treats the idea of a pet train as seriously as a pet dog, covering all of these subjects completely while also creating humor in how seriously it takes the subject. The illustrations match the text's tone and add to the book, giving emotions and liveliness to the trains, effectively bringing the book alive. Reviewer Cooper emphasizes the appeal of this book still holds for train lovers: "Despite the human or is it canine?) sensibility with which the trains are invested, they also seem like real mechanical objects—sturdy, strong, and powerful." The humor and imagination in this book should help it to appeal to more than train lovers, and there's no objectionable content.
July 26, 2016
This manual for the proper care and feeding of your pet train is an indispensable resource. From types of trains, their natural habitat, proper nutrition, hygiene, naming, house training, to properly socializing, this book has all the information a young engineer needs to keep their train happy and healthy. There's also lots of good information that could help with your pet airplane, pet truck, or pet submarine.
Jason Carter Eaton's wickedly clever book adapts all of the conventions of pet manuals to the realities of train ownership. John Rocco's hilarious illustrations are works of fine art in themselves. This book is sure to delight and enchant the train obsessed young person in your life.
This review and more like it available at http://bibliopapa.blogspot.com/2014/0...
Jason Carter Eaton's wickedly clever book adapts all of the conventions of pet manuals to the realities of train ownership. John Rocco's hilarious illustrations are works of fine art in themselves. This book is sure to delight and enchant the train obsessed young person in your life.
This review and more like it available at http://bibliopapa.blogspot.com/2014/0...
October 2, 2013
Have you ever wanted your own pet train? Well, here is the best guide on how to pick, find and train you very own pet train. Once you find your pet train, you can take it anywhere. Don't forget your train may take some time to adjust to its new life, so a warm bath or a good bedtime story will help it along. Once it is settle, you can begin to teach it a few tricks - like sit and rollover. If you are looking for a guide on how to train a train - this book is it!
Fun story with beautiful, eye-catching illustrations, you can't beat this book for a good picture-book read. It is a must read for all those train lovers out there, and a great read for anyone who is looking for something a little different. Recommended for ages 5+
Fun story with beautiful, eye-catching illustrations, you can't beat this book for a good picture-book read. It is a must read for all those train lovers out there, and a great read for anyone who is looking for something a little different. Recommended for ages 5+
March 25, 2014
How to Train a Train is, simply, a delightful read. In fact I'd say it's probably one of the best picture books I've ever read, period. There are countless moments that brought me back to that ageless time when I gave life to everything around me, the kiddy joy at every object and that feeling where anything was possible. Storytellers are artists, and when the material is this good, it can be hard to make the pictures match the words. But all I have to say in that department is: wow. Everything matches up to form a perfect and complete whole. I will undoubtedly be revisiting this story many times over. The concept is so enthralling, in fact, that I can see it being made into a quite splendid animated feature. How to Train a Train will drive home that ancient phrase: anything is possible!
April 4, 2014
With all little boys going through a stage of fascination with trains (ok, frankly, my husband never grew out of this stage!), this is a perfect, refreshing, different story about trains! What an idea to go searching for the perfect train to adopt as a pet!
The story was wonderful, the illustrations divine. I am racing to put this on hold for my nephew’s at their library!
Adult readers will get an additional chuckle out of the author’s note on the last page (with copyright info). The note ends: “All of these things are extremely dangerous and should be performed only by fully trained illustrated characters.”
The story was wonderful, the illustrations divine. I am racing to put this on hold for my nephew’s at their library!
Adult readers will get an additional chuckle out of the author’s note on the last page (with copyright info). The note ends: “All of these things are extremely dangerous and should be performed only by fully trained illustrated characters.”
November 24, 2013
Everything you wanted to know about trains:
Where to find one
How to catch a train
Finding the perfect train for you
Getting to know your train
Training your train
This is a hilarious read for young and old. A great gift for the train lovers.
One caveat: what I did not like was that John Rocco illustrated a little girl standing in front of a train in an attempt to "corner it." There are many suicides and accidents around trains and this shouldn't even be an image for kids to see even if it is common sense to not do that.
Where to find one
How to catch a train
Finding the perfect train for you
Getting to know your train
Training your train
This is a hilarious read for young and old. A great gift for the train lovers.
One caveat: what I did not like was that John Rocco illustrated a little girl standing in front of a train in an attempt to "corner it." There are many suicides and accidents around trains and this shouldn't even be an image for kids to see even if it is common sense to not do that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews