I Like Trains

by Daisy Hirst (Illustrator)

Daisy Hirst’s charming ode to a toddler’s love of trains, featuring her sweet signature artwork

Whether sending toy animals on a journey around a model track or driving a cardboard-box locomotive, this little puppy really likes trains. All aboard! But best of all is riding a real train to visit someone special—and playing with more trains there! Simple yet evocative prose and pictures make this a delightful read for the youngest train enthusiasts.

Genres: Picture Books, Trains, Transport, Storytime, Dogs, Childrens, Travel

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful picture book about a young puppy who loves everything about trains: playing with a train set, making a train with boxes, reading books about trains, playing at a playground with a wooden train, and even riding a real train. Young train lovers will love this story about a kindred spirit.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A happy little golden puppy loves nothing more than to play with his toy trains, whether his is giving his favorite animal stuffies a ride or driving his own cardboard boy train. He even loves to have books about trains read to him. But even better than toy trains is when his parents take him to the train station to ride on a real train. It's so exciting to sit by the window and watch as the train sets off. There are so many different things to see as they leave the city and ride through the countryside - houses, cars, hotels, factories, even boat on a river soon give way to fields, trees and farm animals. When they finally arrive at their stop, there's Grandma, waiting for them. This very happy golden puppy loves playing trains with his Grandma, and Grandma loves it, too. Here is a book perfect for your youngest readers, whether or not they are train enthusiasts. It is written in simple declarative sentences, with letter is bold black letters and with boldly colored illustrations as uncomplicated as the text. Don't get me wrong, simple only means it is perfect for your youngest readers who are just setting off on their reading journey. My young readers were very excited to be able to pick out the letters and some sight words they recognize from other books we've read. This book also generated some lively, always welcome conversations of trips taken with their families. My young readers gave I Like Trains a hearty 👍🏼

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In case you don’t have enough picture books about trains – and who does, really? – here is a fun addition. A puppy describes all the things they like about trains – playing with them, reading about them, pretending to be a conductor. But nothing compares with taking an actual train to visit Grandma. The puppy tells her all about their journey and together they go to a train-themed park.

With short descriptive sentences, this is a book where the art is at the forefront. Hirst’s screen-printed art uses (enlarged?) images of a cute pup and their family (all gender neutral except Grandma) in saturated colors and a naive style. Although there is less playfulness than Hirst’s other picture books (I loved Hilda and the Runaway Baby), there is a sweet, affectionate tone that respects the young pup’s obsession. With the large size of the images, this would be wonderful as a read aloud at story time.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daww, these happy little faces on the illustrated dogs are too cute. I'm sure many a patron or caregiver will see themselves/their child in this little pup who loves all things trains. Not so much a plotline as touching on all the different trains the puppy comes across in his life (toys, transport, playgrounds, books, etc)

[Children's Literature Centre at FSU · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I Like Trains” is a very cute and simple story for very young readers. This would be a very fun book to read aloud to beginner readers because there are very cute pictures and a large font. Children are also very interested in trains, love seeing their grandparents, and love going on adventures. This story has all of that.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Certainly cute. But lacking the real sparkle that I wanted from this book. Perfect for a kiddo who loves trains. Definitely for them. Cue for kiddos excited to visit Grandma. But I'm missing the draw to tell people about this.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple story and simple illustrations. So many picture books these days have a message, and many of them have a HEAVY message. Thank you, Daisy Hirst, for writing a picture book to be what it should be...entertaining and fun for children.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, declarative sentences and simple but engaging illustrations make this one great for sharing with a toddler audience. The young narrator explains how much they like trains, then shares their experience going on a real train to visit grandma.

[Cynthia June Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dog-protagonist likes trains.
He pretends trains with cardboard boxes.
Best is riding a REAL train to visit dog-grandma.
Very well done.
A true picture book in which the images are NECESSARY to advance the text,

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming for train lovers, with a simple, Byron Barton vibe.
And I always like a book that uses animal people, who can appeal to everyone's sensibilities.

[Binxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots to like about this one. Cute illustrations with a young dog sharing his love of everything trains. And, a delightful storyline where the child rides a train to visit his grandmother. Bold illustrations with enough story to capture the attention of the preschool storytime set.

[Abby Johnson]

Simple text and cute illustrations show a young child who loves playing with trains and then gets to take a train to visit Grandma and play with trains some more! All aboard!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for a young child who likes trains.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for every child who has an enthusiastic love for trains.

[Reagan Kapasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple books about a dog's love of trains and going on a train with their parent to visit grandma. Didn't love the illustrations, watercolour vibes.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was lame, and the artwork was terrible.

[Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely sweet story. made me smile.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little pup loves trains and the places they take him both real and imaginary.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideal for reading aloud--large font, simple, colorful illustrations, relatable text. One of those solidly constructed picture book stories.

[PottWab Regional Library]

O

[Mackenzie Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would highly recommend for any preschooler

[Y.Poston]

cute train book

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby/toddler

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darling book about riding a train and playing trains. Great for a preschooler. Won't work for Suubi, they have no trains.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple book about loving trains. Perfect for the young train enthusiast in your life.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute simple book about a dog who loves to play with trains. Will be a perfect toddler story time book!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for a toddler storytime about trains or families. Big pictures and simple plot

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a fun choice for a train Storytime, and for train lovers, of course!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A toddler and up book where a child tells all about the things they love about play and real trains.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't love the illustrations but that is just preference I suppose. i recognize kids and families will enjoy this book and it is good for storytime so i guess i'll still rate it high :)