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Alphabet Trains
All aboard for a train ride through the alphabet! Whether chug-chug-chugging up a mountainside in an Incline train or zipping at super speed in a Bullet train, trains will get you where you need to be--A to Z!
There is a train--some familiar and some unusual--for every letter of the alphabet. Trains are used all over the world for carrying people and cargo from place to place. With a bouncy rhyming text, and clever illustrations full of visual cues, young readers will love learning all about trains.
A companion to the Children's Book Award nominated Alphabet Trucks !
CCBC Choices 2016: Annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children's Book Center.
There is a train--some familiar and some unusual--for every letter of the alphabet. Trains are used all over the world for carrying people and cargo from place to place. With a bouncy rhyming text, and clever illustrations full of visual cues, young readers will love learning all about trains.
A companion to the Children's Book Award nominated Alphabet Trucks !
CCBC Choices 2016: Annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children's Book Center.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
About the author
Samantha R. Vamos
8 books16 followersSamantha R. Vamos is the author of "Alphabet Boats" (2018), "Alphabet Trains" (2015), "Alphabet Trucks" (2013, illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke), "The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred" (illustrated by Rafael López) – 2012 Pura Belpré Illustration Honor – its companion book, "The Piñata That The Farm Maiden Hung" (2019, illustrated by Sebastià Serra), and "Before You Were Here, Mi Amor" (2009, illustrated by Santiago Cohen). Samantha previously worked as an attorney, practicing in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL. Samantha was born in the Midwest, grew up on the East Coast, and lived in the Pacific Northwest before moving to the Bay Area with her husband, son, and their rescue pup. Visit Samantha online at www.samanthavamos.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 9, 2026
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book through NetGalley.
October 22, 2021
This simple alphabet primer was good. It illustrated a nice variety of actual trains,and it showed a plethora of letters on each page to emphasize each letter. My girls and I had to flip back through the book to pick out which train was our favorite, and which one we would want to ride on ourselves.
December 11, 2018
Summary: An alphabet book focused on the different types of trains.
Personal Response: This book is clever! Who thought there were enough trains to fill the entire alphabet? I feel that children that love trains would really connect to this book while learning their letters too!
Description of Illustrations: The illustrations of this book are bright and fun for young readers! Each illustration pays close attention to detail and incorporates the corresponding letter for that page quite subtly! This is great for testing young minds to find the letter!
Classroom connections: This book can be used to teach new letters and letter sounds to students. The last page of the book includes a great in-depth explanation and history of each of the trains mentioned in the book!
Personal Response: This book is clever! Who thought there were enough trains to fill the entire alphabet? I feel that children that love trains would really connect to this book while learning their letters too!
Description of Illustrations: The illustrations of this book are bright and fun for young readers! Each illustration pays close attention to detail and incorporates the corresponding letter for that page quite subtly! This is great for testing young minds to find the letter!
Classroom connections: This book can be used to teach new letters and letter sounds to students. The last page of the book includes a great in-depth explanation and history of each of the trains mentioned in the book!
September 22, 2017
I wasn't amazed by this book but it was interesting to see some different trains that I wasn't aware of. My son seems to enjoy it so I bumped it up from a three star to a four star since I am not the target audience. This book is exactly what you'd expect...A-Z examples of different trains.
June 23, 2020
Really cool. Has specific trains and list information about them at the end.
October 11, 2015
Plot Summary: This book takes each letter of the alphabet and mentions one type of train that goes along with each other. Some trains are generic type of trains that you can see all over, and other trains were specific named trains that are only found in one place in the world. Every page shows two letters and names one thing the train does, or you as a passanger on the train would do. This is a very educational book for many reasons. It could teach young children the alphabet giving them the ability to see the letters, and hear the letters. This book also uses rhyming at the end of each sentence of every letter. So the last word talking about train A rhymes with the last word talking about train B. The illustrations in the story are very influential because they take up the entire page, and have the letter that is being talked about scattered through out the picture to give children another way to look at the letter.
Literary Merit: Alphabet Train's Illustrator Ryan O'Rourke does a very nice job of using illustrations of using the letters in the picture. Since the book is about learning the letters of the alphabet, and younger kids who may not be able to read all the big words about trains in the text, the pictures play an essential part to understanding the story. The illustrations on each of the pages uses the letters not only to start the page but also get used in the illustration. The Letter E for example is the foundation to a bridge that the train runs on, or the letter S is in the snow that the train is pushing out of the way. Using the letters like that, allows for younger children to get repetition of the letters to learn them, even if they can't read the text yet.
Genre Considerations: This book is a fiction alphabet book. The concept of the book is to teach children about the alphabet, but I would not consider it a beginning to read book because of the specific names and ideas of the trains. This book would also be considered a picture book because of the detailed illustrations throughout the book, which make the story more understandable and allows for children to visualize each letter multiple times. This story also has rhyming in it which allows for students to be more interested and easier to follow along, because even though there might be some big words in the middle of the sentence students would be able to catch on to the end of the sentence because they would figure out there is going to be a rhyme.
Reader Response: There are lots of ways to make connections to the story. One good strategy would be to have children draw a picture of a train, and then name the train after themselves and have them make a list of things that begin with the same letter as their name and draw those on, or around the train. So, mine would be the Tyler Train and I could draw some trees, and some triangles, try to make it interdisciplinary/ connect to a different subject that they may be learning about. Another way to connect the story is have the children write their own ABC book, or at least have them write down one thing in their own lives that starts with the letter. More things could be discussed with older children in the higher elementary grades because their is a lot of detail in this story and lots of places that younger children probably will not know where they are at.
Literary Merit: Alphabet Train's Illustrator Ryan O'Rourke does a very nice job of using illustrations of using the letters in the picture. Since the book is about learning the letters of the alphabet, and younger kids who may not be able to read all the big words about trains in the text, the pictures play an essential part to understanding the story. The illustrations on each of the pages uses the letters not only to start the page but also get used in the illustration. The Letter E for example is the foundation to a bridge that the train runs on, or the letter S is in the snow that the train is pushing out of the way. Using the letters like that, allows for younger children to get repetition of the letters to learn them, even if they can't read the text yet.
Genre Considerations: This book is a fiction alphabet book. The concept of the book is to teach children about the alphabet, but I would not consider it a beginning to read book because of the specific names and ideas of the trains. This book would also be considered a picture book because of the detailed illustrations throughout the book, which make the story more understandable and allows for children to visualize each letter multiple times. This story also has rhyming in it which allows for students to be more interested and easier to follow along, because even though there might be some big words in the middle of the sentence students would be able to catch on to the end of the sentence because they would figure out there is going to be a rhyme.
Reader Response: There are lots of ways to make connections to the story. One good strategy would be to have children draw a picture of a train, and then name the train after themselves and have them make a list of things that begin with the same letter as their name and draw those on, or around the train. So, mine would be the Tyler Train and I could draw some trees, and some triangles, try to make it interdisciplinary/ connect to a different subject that they may be learning about. Another way to connect the story is have the children write their own ABC book, or at least have them write down one thing in their own lives that starts with the letter. More things could be discussed with older children in the higher elementary grades because their is a lot of detail in this story and lots of places that younger children probably will not know where they are at.
September 23, 2016
Plot Summary: Alphabet Trains written by Samantha R. Vamos and illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke is a fun book for all aged children to read. The pattern of this book is connecting a type of train with each letter of the alphabet. Some trains are very well known and typical types of trains, and other trains were specific named trains that are only familiar in one place around the world. Every page introduces two new letters and describes one action of the train, or what the passenger on the train would do. Starting at A and continually going until Z, this book takes the reader around the world and not only teaches the alphabet, but also connects each train to a meaningful situation that will not only create more knowledge on trains, but will help the reader remember the alphabet as well.
Literary Merit: Although the use of illustrations in this story is noteworthy, I thought I would focus on the setting used by the author because I found it to be particularly interesting. One aspect that I was very happy with was that the author did a great job portraying his cultural appreciation and consciousness. I’m sure he could have kept the framework of the story within the United States, but instead, he took it a step further and depicted all sorts of countries and places around the world. I would imagine that just about every child in any classroom would be able to connect their own personal experiences with one of the places within the book. He uses an extensive (26 to be exact) amount of different trains that travel throughout the world. A child can clearly see all races and ethnicity represented through the setting which is extremely useful in a classroom and helps the readers stay engaged.
Classroom Connection: Since I would probably use this book to build on my students knowledge and practice of the alphabet, I would structure an activity that involves practicing their letters. To incorporate creative arts (specifically visual arts) I assign all my students a specific letter of the alphabet. Then I would ask them to create their own trains using that letter. They could make the whole train into the shape of a letter, decorate the train with the letter, use letter stickers, ect. After we all complete a piece of the train, we would then connect all of them and hang it up in our classroom as our classroom ‘Alphabet Train.’ Not only would my students be practicing their use of letters, but they would also be making meaningful connections and the end product would be an excellent visual aide in the class for the kids to reference.
Literary Merit: Although the use of illustrations in this story is noteworthy, I thought I would focus on the setting used by the author because I found it to be particularly interesting. One aspect that I was very happy with was that the author did a great job portraying his cultural appreciation and consciousness. I’m sure he could have kept the framework of the story within the United States, but instead, he took it a step further and depicted all sorts of countries and places around the world. I would imagine that just about every child in any classroom would be able to connect their own personal experiences with one of the places within the book. He uses an extensive (26 to be exact) amount of different trains that travel throughout the world. A child can clearly see all races and ethnicity represented through the setting which is extremely useful in a classroom and helps the readers stay engaged.
Classroom Connection: Since I would probably use this book to build on my students knowledge and practice of the alphabet, I would structure an activity that involves practicing their letters. To incorporate creative arts (specifically visual arts) I assign all my students a specific letter of the alphabet. Then I would ask them to create their own trains using that letter. They could make the whole train into the shape of a letter, decorate the train with the letter, use letter stickers, ect. After we all complete a piece of the train, we would then connect all of them and hang it up in our classroom as our classroom ‘Alphabet Train.’ Not only would my students be practicing their use of letters, but they would also be making meaningful connections and the end product would be an excellent visual aide in the class for the kids to reference.
November 1, 2015
SUMMARY: This book introduces you to 26 different types of trains all beginning with one of the letters of the alphabet. From Amtrak's Auto Train to the California Zephyr.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created digitally. They have lots of color and leans more towards a sense of fantasy rather than reality.
THE GOOD: This book has a lot to offer the young train enthusiast! Even I learned about trains I did not know exist. The book is also very rich in vocabulary with words such as incline, freight, welded, dinky, and more. These trains come from all over the world so there is also a chance to explore geography. There is a glossary in the back of the book that explains a little bit more about each train in the book. This would especially make a wonderful book for a classroom unit on transportation.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The flow of the rhyming is a bit stilted, but I can see how difficult it is to rhyme with the rich vocabulary used. Also, because this is an ABC book and uses such high vocabulary and concepts, it may be difficult for the younger crowd.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 3-7 which is about right except 6 & 7 year olds may not appreciate the ABC concept unless they are seriously into trains.
NOTE: I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created digitally. They have lots of color and leans more towards a sense of fantasy rather than reality.
THE GOOD: This book has a lot to offer the young train enthusiast! Even I learned about trains I did not know exist. The book is also very rich in vocabulary with words such as incline, freight, welded, dinky, and more. These trains come from all over the world so there is also a chance to explore geography. There is a glossary in the back of the book that explains a little bit more about each train in the book. This would especially make a wonderful book for a classroom unit on transportation.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The flow of the rhyming is a bit stilted, but I can see how difficult it is to rhyme with the rich vocabulary used. Also, because this is an ABC book and uses such high vocabulary and concepts, it may be difficult for the younger crowd.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 3-7 which is about right except 6 & 7 year olds may not appreciate the ABC concept unless they are seriously into trains.
NOTE: I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2015
Well illustrated book for young train lovers! My little one loves trains and trolleys and all kinds of vehicles and equipment trucks so this is way to introduce letters that is sure to keep his attention.
The illustrations are brightly colored without being overly complicated. They are well done so that you can tell both subtle and big differences when comparing trains. While the book qualifies as a "rhyming" book, it doesn't work very well that way. The vocabulary is advanced for the target age group (3-7) which keeps the rhymes from flowing well, in my opinion. However, I do appreciate the use of such advanced and varied vocabulary and think it promotes reading and literacy. (Don't buy if you're looking for a rhyming book that has a natural cadence, though.) While, I think the target age group is sure to have an interest as an alphabet book, I'm not able to grasp this as a book they will often read alone.
As a sidenote, there is a list in the back of the book with a brief description of the trains used for the letters. I learned a lot myself from reviewing the list as some examples are types of trains and some are specific trains from all over the world.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The illustrations are brightly colored without being overly complicated. They are well done so that you can tell both subtle and big differences when comparing trains. While the book qualifies as a "rhyming" book, it doesn't work very well that way. The vocabulary is advanced for the target age group (3-7) which keeps the rhymes from flowing well, in my opinion. However, I do appreciate the use of such advanced and varied vocabulary and think it promotes reading and literacy. (Don't buy if you're looking for a rhyming book that has a natural cadence, though.) While, I think the target age group is sure to have an interest as an alphabet book, I'm not able to grasp this as a book they will often read alone.
As a sidenote, there is a list in the back of the book with a brief description of the trains used for the letters. I learned a lot myself from reviewing the list as some examples are types of trains and some are specific trains from all over the world.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2015
Definitely a cute idea. And one that that I can see kids drawn to.
And, to be honest, I thought some of the letters were really reaching. And that some of them just didn’t make any sense.
But then I felt a little bit stupid reading in the back a little more information on each of these trains.
The trains on every page either represent a definite type of train or the name of a specific train. I think it might help if the book had an intro stating something like that. Then it wouldn’t be confusing. Unless I’m just easily confused.
Overall, it’s pretty creative – and I’m amazed that the artist could give each train its own personality. There’s definitely not a lot of overlap in design – which is an impressive feat with so many trains.
Recommended – especially if you know a little one that likes trains.
Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for a copy in return for an honest review.
And, to be honest, I thought some of the letters were really reaching. And that some of them just didn’t make any sense.
But then I felt a little bit stupid reading in the back a little more information on each of these trains.
The trains on every page either represent a definite type of train or the name of a specific train. I think it might help if the book had an intro stating something like that. Then it wouldn’t be confusing. Unless I’m just easily confused.
Overall, it’s pretty creative – and I’m amazed that the artist could give each train its own personality. There’s definitely not a lot of overlap in design – which is an impressive feat with so many trains.
Recommended – especially if you know a little one that likes trains.
Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for a copy in return for an honest review.
July 15, 2015
This is a good book for the a parent/grandparent and small child to read together and then talk about endlessly. The rhyming text and onomatopoeia are playful and make the book fun to read aloud. The text is actually complex for this age--assuming background knowledge on the audience's part. The author switches back and forth (not systematically) between types of trains ("snowplow train") and trains that serve a specific location and are named accordingly ("Komet" which runs between Germany and Switzerland). This may be confusing at first, but can be cleared up by using the author's notes at the end of the book. If you have a savvy pre-K child who is into trains and has some understanding of "place" (geography, maps, Europe, etc.), this could be a really engaging text that promotes a lot of conversation.
October 31, 2015
I’m going to need a hard copy of this book to call my own! I know so many kids who adore trains, and they would love Alphabet Trains. The book has a short poem for a specific (and real!) train that starts with each letter of the alphabet. The variety of trains featured is fabulous! I’d never heard of many kinds. Back matter contains a brief profile of each train depicted in the book so parents and teachers can explain further to young readers. The illustrations are crisp, clean, and somewhat nostalgically rendered. Readers can have fun finding and counting all the letters sprinkled across the illustrations. Also, the book mentions locations all over the world meaning the story can extend into explorations of other countries. Very cool!
I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2017
A good trip through the alphabet for train / vehicle enthusiasts, but may end up being more fun subject matter for kids who are past learning their abc's.
Good, basic illustrations with pretty good detail on the trains themselves (and a glossary in the back on the actual trains that inspired each letter); do note, this includes trains from around the world, so some of the spellings are not correct for English (Komet and Xplorer being the two the come to mind), which may confuse little ones who are also learning to spell.
Personally, trains aren't really in my interests, so I was pretty ambivalent on the book, however, I do think the global aspect expands the readership potential for those who do love trains.
No content issues.
October 29, 2015
I found this book to be incredibly engaging. It did a wonderful job of presenting the various aspects of trains, as well as opening up the world. Many of the geographical regions that I have discussed with my children were featured. When we read it during our family read loud time, my littles smiled and repeated the features from our studies. I love that! Any book that can capture the attention of children and help them learn and/or that reinforces what they know gets an automatic thumbs up from this mom.
August 24, 2020
I'd classify this more as a non-fiction than a fiction picture book, with the alphabet demonstrated through trains as the key concept. The rhyming text is tight,supported well by illustrations that add to the concepts and to the letter-recognition development.
It is colorful and will strike a chord with fans of trains or transportation in general. The back matter offers brief, precise information about each labeled train, providing interest for adult readers to share.
It is colorful and will strike a chord with fans of trains or transportation in general. The back matter offers brief, precise information about each labeled train, providing interest for adult readers to share.
February 10, 2019
The book, "Alphabet Trains" is very educational. It does not simply show pictures and label them alphabetically (for example: "a" is for apple), but gives specific facts about trains and what they do and what type of trains ride which sorts of rails. Some of the vocabulary was a bit advanced for a child still learning their alphabet, but that can be a great opportunity to grow a child's vocabulary and put a word or two in it that they may not have learned for a long time.
September 2, 2015
Twenty six types and specific trains from all around the world. Many times I have seen a top and tail train, but never knew it had a specific name. . .it is one with two engines, one at each end of the train. Very nice two page addendum explaining the terms or what country a specific train is located in. I am ready to go to Arizona and ride a wilderness train.
January 9, 2016
ABC concept book with a one track mind! From Auto Train to the California Zephyr, this book is sure to be a hit for train buffs everywhere. In addition to the simple rhyming text for each letter of the alphabet, there is also additional information at the back of the book about each of the trains mentioned in the story.
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October 10, 2015
An interesting way to classify trains. More for train enthusiast, rather than those trying to learn the alphabet, it's a unique way to classify the many, many different types of trains that are out there. It will perhaps be a great book for student research projects and presentations. Simple, kid-friendly illustrations.
February 23, 2016
I like how this book would teach the students the alphabet and how it uses different parts of a train or different types of trains to teach them. It would be a concept over something. One thing that I did not like about this book is it did not have real words or the spelling for some of the words were incorrect and that could not teach the students correctly.
August 6, 2016
Listed in CCBC Choices 2016 under Concept Books. For the train lover, this book is right on track! With hidden letters in the landscapes around each train illustration we learn about trains from around the world. Parents and older children will enjoy reading more information about each of the 26 trains in the end notes. Sweet Spot: Train-crazy kids, Grades K-2
July 18, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. I love books that go through the alphabet because it teaches kids words connected to each letter but it also helps them learn the letters in order. This book is really good and really wonderful illustrations.
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November 19, 2019
Trains A-Z are identified--some by what they haul, and others by where they originate. There are many obscure and sometimes difficult names which require further study of geography to make sense. This causes the book to be fairly inaccessible to the target ABC audience. ABC Trucks is more successful.
October 12, 2015
Fans of trains will enjoy this book. I liked it mainly because it's a rare alphabet book that doesn't cheat for the letters Q, X and Z! The author actually found a train for every letter of the alphabet!
November 7, 2015
A look at 26 different kinds of trains, one for each letter of the alphabet.
I really liked the write-ups about each train in the back matter; I learned a lot!
Digital illustrations. Nice rhyming read aloud for PreK-2.
I really liked the write-ups about each train in the back matter; I learned a lot!
Digital illustrations. Nice rhyming read aloud for PreK-2.
August 17, 2016
Really likable ABC picture book about trains that goes one step further - this book is actually quite detailed and includes some notes in the end about various types of trains and some actual famous train routes. Lots of fun for any kid, but especially the ones who are obsessed with trains.
June 21, 2017
Great little preschool book...especially for any little train lovers. I didn't know much about many of the trains mentioned, A-Z, so I was grateful for the information sheet at the back with more details.
June 7, 2019
The illustrations are fun. The language isn't the best, but Vamos comes up with some cool trains, and you can play alphabet games as you go. It's more entertaining than other ABC books (assuming you have some interest in trains). Plus, it means you can take a break from reading Alphabet Trucks.
June 22, 2019
Kiddo (2.5 years) really liked this one, I liked the explanatory information in the back for each page and the ways that that capital and lower case letters in various fonts were incorporated into the illustrations.
August 6, 2015
An engaging alphabetical introduction to trains of all kinds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews