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Young gearheads will love these automotive adventures.
It’s tough to beat a good bedtime story. Not only can they help get wired youngsters to sleep, reading books to kids can create a comforting bond and happy memories. Who doesn’t want that?
Another great thing about kids books is that you can take them anywhere: car rides, doctors appointments, or a weekend at Grandma’s. They’re a great asset for road trips too, and some of them feature cars and trucks to look for on the highway.
So here are our favorite, well-loved car books for kids—all way cooler (and less creepy) than Hansel and Gretel.
For more awesome activities to keep kids entertained for hours, check out the R&T Crew magazine and subscription box, which features all sorts of auto-themed toys and tasks.
Our 8 Favorite Car Movies for Kids
This ABC book is great for a little mechanic. Each letter features a certain car part and what that part is used for. If you want to introduce your child to the world of wrenching, this is the book to get.
This No. 1 New York Times bestseller is a perfect bedtime story. With a storm on the way, the Little Blue Truck and all his friends head home. Even through the loud thunder and bright lightning, it’s easy to be brave together.
This awesome book features tidbits about the world’s most famous racetracks, cars, and drivers. Pretty soon, your child will be rattling off the history of Eau Rouge. And, with almost 80 pages, there’s no shortage of interesting info.
This sturdy board book features 10 audio buttons that accompany the large, colorful pages. It’s a great road trip book that encourages kids to look for their favorite motorized machines.
This Level 1 Hot Wheels paperback is a great choice for budding readers. The 32-page adventure follows four different racers and their different strategies to win. With awesome illustrations, Race to Win is a solid entry-level choice for little car fans.
This children’s classic is just as engaging now as it was almost 50 years ago. The pages feature a vast variety of cars, trucks, planes, trains, and more—including a double-page pickle truck.
Channel a child’s inner inventor with this imagination-stretching story. Featuring a young boy that built his own car, follow along on his tour as he shows off the in-car pool, snack bar, and a robotic chauffeur.
This board book is perfect for kids with elements you can see, touch, and hear. It features snippets about all kinds of trucks, including monster trucks and semis—with buttons that feature realistic sounds. Don’t forget to flex the arm-horn!
Lightning McQueen is one of the most beloved children’s characters ever. Follow along with him in this book as he gets lost on the way to the Piston Cup, only to find he has a lot to learn about being a true friend. It’s a great page-by-page retelling of the Pixar movie.
This book is a perfect road trip companion. Tuski the Elephant is headed on an adventure, but can’t resist picking up friends, objects, and . . . pancakes? With so much stuff, find out how the red taxi makes it in one piece.