One constant for the preschool crowd is their interest in trains. Of course, PBS television has the show about Thomas the Tank Engine. A storytime about trains can be a lot of fun with some of the new books listed below, as well as train songs like "I've Been Workin' On The Railroad." You can make a train picture by combining rectangles, squares, a triangle for the smokestack, and circles for wheels, that can also reinforce the concept of shapes.

Crews, Donald. INSIDE FREIGHT TRAIN.
   This board book with moving doors expands on Crews's picture book, FREIGHT TRAIN.

Aylesworth, Jim. COUNTRY CROSSING.
   This story has great pictures of a train at nightime, and a rhythmic text.

Merriam, Eve. TRAIN LEAVES THE STATION.
   Bright saturated color illustrations bring Merriam's poem to life.

Voake, Charlotte. HERE COMES THE TRAIN.
   Dad and the two kids watch a train from the top of an overpass.

Neitzel, Shirley. I'M TAKING A TRIP ON A TRAIN.
   Rebus pictures and a cumulative text make this a storytime winner.