For our youngest auto enthusiasts, here’s a big collection of board books and first-words type selections. Also see the Planes, Trains & Automobiles list of suggestions for more storybook-type offerings for young kids.
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Richard Scarry’s Cars
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Stop, Train, Stop
View on AmazonTo be honest, I’ve never really understood the massive popularity of Thomas. But I’ve got three little boys who all adore him, so I’d say his star is still shining brightly.
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Lift-the-Flap: First 100 Trucks and Things That Go
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ABC’s for Boys
View on AmazonThe gender restriction explicit in the title might be off-putting to some (and yes, there is an ABC's for Girls, too, full of flowers and tea cups, in case you wondered), but it's still bound to be a win with the target audience. Sparse pages show a letter, a word and mostly vehicle-themed illustrations, with a few bugs and other things thrown in to round out the alphabet.
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Go, Dog, Go!
View on AmazonA fun, colorful and slightly oddball book. We’ve come to own both the full hardback version and the abridged board-book version, and I’d say I actually prefer the latter precisely because it’s abridged. The full text has this conversation woven throughout that always struck me as strange. The board-book omits that and loses nothing for it.
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Richard Scarry’s Trucks
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My Truck Is Stuck!
View on AmazonI'll admit, I kinda hated this book and was glad when the kids wore it out. But, boy, they loooooved it. Has the kind of repetition kids just eat up.
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Cars Go
View on AmazonNo story here, but lots of car sounds and energetic illustrations.
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Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo
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Richard Scarry’s Boats
View on AmazonThere are four of these simple labeling books: boats, cars, planes and trucks. They're also available as a set.
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Toot Toot Beep Beep
View on AmazonMy middle son adored this parade of cars with their individual sounds. He quickly learned to “read” it himself. There are two more in the series, but we found them underwhelming.
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Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
View on AmazonA gently instructive story about patience and taking turns.
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Boats Go
View on AmazonNo story here, but lots of boat sounds and energetic illustrations.
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Steam Train, Dream Train
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Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
View on AmazonIt’s always the illustrations that get me. I mean, a truck with a teddy and blankie. Who could resist that?
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Trashy Town
View on AmazonMy boys love the pattern and rhythm of this story. And what does Mr. Gilly do after a long day cleaning up the town with his garbage truck? He takes a bath, of course!
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Trucks Go
View on AmazonNo story here, but lots of truck sounds and energetic illustrations.
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Planes Go
View on AmazonNo story here, but lots of aircraft sounds and energetic illustrations.
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Go! Go! Go! Stop!
View on AmazonExuberant tale of a little street light who finds his voice.
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Digger, Dozer, Dumper
View on AmazonThis is essentially a book of poetry -- 16 informational, rollicking rhymes about diggers, dozers, dumpers and other working vehicles. How cool is that?!
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Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks from A to Z
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Trains Go
View on AmazonNo story here, but lots of train sounds and energetic illustrations.
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Richard Scarry’s Planes
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