Car Books for Kids · 114 titles considered

The Best Car Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors
Updated July 25, 2026

A car is usually the first machine a child knows by heart. Long before anyone can read the badge on the hood, they know which seat is theirs, what the engine sounds like when a grown-up is finally home, and exactly how many songs it takes to get to grandma’s. Then the books arrive, and the ordinary sedan in the driveway turns into a rattletrap held together with a picnic basket, a dream car with a swimming pool in the back, and a race that will absolutely be won by a hamster.

Bookroo’s collection of 114 car books covers that whole stretch: board books built for pointing and honking, picture books about breakdowns, repairs, road trips, and beloved old cars kept running by an entire family, and chapter books for readers who want a race or a straight answer about what is happening under the hood. Start with our thirteen favorites below, then follow the age shelves — noise and naming for toddlers, stories for the years of endless how-does-it-work questions, and chapters for readers who can go the distance alone.

Let's Go for a Drive!
#18 in Series
Series
Graphic Nov.
The Shortlist

Our 13 Favorite Car Books for Kids

Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 1974

Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

By Richard Scarry · Richard Scarry series

A family drives to a beach picnic while several hundred other vehicles crash, tip, and misbehave in the margins.

72 pages· 1,954 words· Est. 16 min read-aloud
Best for
The vehicle book to own if you only own one
5.4/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 9,714 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2005

If I Built a Car

A kid designs the car of his dreams — fireplace, pool, snack bar — then takes his dad out for the test drive.

The E.B. White Read Aloud Award (2006)
40 pages· 694 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud
Best for
The child who redesigns everything
4.9/7 Bookroo·4.4/5 Goodreads · 3,320 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2012

Let's Go for a Drive!

Two best friends assemble everything a road trip requires and then discover the one thing neither of them owns.

64 pages· 271 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud
Best for
A brand-new reader who wants to finish a whole book alone
4.4/5 Goodreads · 7,550 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Hardcover
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2024

Towed by Toad

By Jashar Awan · Book #1 in the Towed by Toad series

When the helper's truck breaks down, who will come to the rescue?

48 pages· 166 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
Best for
Early readers, and kids who insist on doing everything alone
5.5/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 792 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2016

Gus's Garage

A garage mechanic invents a fix for every animal that rolls in — until closing time, when the shelves are bare and the broken thing is his own.

32 pages· 181 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
Best for
Preschool problem-solvers and junk-drawer engineers
7.0/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 443 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2001

Rattletrap Car

By Phyllis Root, Jill Barton (Illustrator)

Can a rattletrap car survive the journey to the lake?

40 pages· 580 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
Best for
Reading aloud with sound effects
5.0/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 581 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017

All the Way to Havana

By Margarita Engle, Mike Curato (Illustrator)

A family coaxes a much-loved fifty-year-old car across Havana to a birthday party, listening to every noise it makes.

40 pages· 613 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
Best for
Talking about keeping something old alive
4.3/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,112 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Picture Book · Ages 2–6 · 2010

Hot Rod Hamster

A hamster builds a hot rod to race against big dogs.

40 pages· 676 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud
Best for
Racing fans who want a say in the build
3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,029 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Board Book · Ages 0–2 · 2016

Cars Go

Eight noisy vehicles, one enormous sound apiece, and a great deal of honking to do out loud.

16 pages
Best for
Babies who mostly want to make the noise
4.8/7 Bookroo·3.8/5 Goodreads · 183 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Board Book
Board Book · Ages 2–5 · 2018

Car, Car, Truck, Jeep

Cars, buses, trains, and a jumbo jet come looking for fuel, all set to the tune of “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.”

24 pages
Best for
Singing in the car, or at bedtime
4.8/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 341 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Board book
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2006

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

By Kate DiCamillo, Chris Van Dusen (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Mercy Watson series

A Saturday drive goes sideways when the pig in the back seat decides she would rather be the one driving.

72 pages· 2,203 words· Est. 25 min read
Best for
The jump from picture books to chapters
5.5/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 6,800 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2010

The No 1 Car Spotter

By Atinuke, Warwick Johnson Cadwell (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the No. 1 Car Spotter series

The best car spotter in the village can name any vehicle on the road — so when the family cart gives out, he builds the replacement himself.

112 pages· 8,391 words· Est. 1 hour read
Best for
Readers ready for chapters driven by problem-solving
4.0/5 Goodreads · 357 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2019

Cars: Engines That Move You

A comics tour under the hood: how an engine burns fuel, how the parts connect, and how cars got from steam to electric.

128 pages· 9,423 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
Best for
The kid who asks how the engine actually works
4.1/5 Goodreads · 143 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
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Browse by age

Car Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Sturdy first books for pointing, naming, and making the noise: engines, horns, alphabet garages, and pages of things that go. Ages 0–3.

Sheep in a Jeep

Ages 0–4 · 1986

Sheep in a jeep face unexpected mishaps on their countryside drive.

Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks From A to Z

Ages 2–4 · 1990

Explore an alphabet adventure from ambulance to zippercar.

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way

Ages 0–3 · 2009

A country truck faces a city traffic jam and finds a clever way out.

Vehicles

Ages 0–3 · 2012

Explore the world through touch and sight, sparking early learning and language skills.

Beep Beep / Piip piip

Ages 2–5 · 2008

Join a family's lively car journey to Grandma's house.

On the Move

Ages 0–2 · 2018

Explore vehicles with interactive pull-tabs and bold visuals.

Car Goes Far

Ages 0–2 · 2013

A little car's big day ends with a soapy car wash.

Zoom! Zoom!

Ages 2–5 · 2024

Cars race to the finish line. Who will win?

Race Day
Sale price
$599

Race Day

Ages 2–5 · 2010

Engines roar, tires screech, and the race to the finish line begins. Who will claim victory?

City

Ages 0–3 · 2017

Discover the hidden world of busy vehicles in action.

Things that Go

Ages 0–2 · 2015

Discover vehicles as shapes transform from helicopters to boats in this interactive board book.

On the Go!
0

On the Go!

Ages 0–3

Embark on a journey with vehicles and pop-up adventures.

View all car board books
Browse by age

Car Picture Books

Breakdowns and roadside repairs, family road trips, invented dream cars, and races decided by a nose. Ages 3–8.

Go, Dog. Go!

Ages 5–8 · 1961

A story about dogs and their adventures.

The Blue Pickup
Sale price
$1999

The Blue Pickup

Ages 4–8 · 2024

A girl and her granddad revive an old pickup, uncovering stories and memories.

Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia

Ages 4–8 · 1995

Amelia Bedelia takes the wheel, turning a simple drive into a hilarious adventure.

Moo!

Ages 3–6 · 2013

A cow's wild car ride hits a bump. What happens next?

Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race

Ages 5–8 · 2004

In 1901, a daring race could fund Ford's dream car.

The Adventures of Taxi Dog

Ages 4–8 · 1990

A stray dog finds adventure and friendship with a taxi driver in NYC.

Sale price
$399

B is for Books!

Ages 4–6 · 1996

A worm's journey through the alphabet of books.

Monster Trucks!

Ages 5–8 · 2010

Discover the thrilling world of monster trucks as they jump, race, and crush everything in their path.

Are We There Yet?

Ages 5–6 · 2016

A boy's car ride turns into a time-travel adventure through history's wonders and mysteries.

I Want to Ride the Tap Tap

Ages 2–6 · 2020

A young boy dreams of riding Haiti's vibrant tap tap bus, meeting colorful characters along the way.

Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car

Ages 4–8 · 2000

Monkeys need a new car. Can they sell their old one to crocodile neighbors?

Calling All Cars
Sale price
$1499

Calling All Cars

Ages 3–7 · 2016

Explore a world of cars racing and resting, with hidden surprises along the way.

Browse by age

Car Chapter Books & Nonfiction

Races, rallies, magical old cars, and books that explain what all those parts under the hood actually do. Ages 6–12.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ages 8–12 · 1964

A magical car leads a family on thrilling adventures beyond imagination.

Sale price
$2999

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Ages 9–12 · 1998

A warning, a diary, and petrified students. Is Harry the heir of Slytherin?

Who Was Henry Ford?

Ages 8–11 · 2002

A biography of Henry Ford, the inventor and businessman who revolutionized the automotive industry with the Model T car

The Truth about Bats

Ages 6–10 · 2000

Join a wild journey to uncover the secrets of bats.

Goodbye Stranger
Sale price
$799

Goodbye Stranger

Ages 8–10 · 2015

Can childhood friendships survive the challenges of growing up?

The Haunted Car

Ages 9–12 · 1999

A mysterious car beckons Mitchell, leading him into a terrifying ride.

Dragsters

Ages 8–12 · 2011

Discover the thrill of the world's fastest accelerating vehicles.

Cool Cars

Ages 6–8 · 2004

Discover the evolution of cars from early models to today's speed demons.

Drag Race!

Ages 8–12 · 2009

No content available to create teasers.

Dino Racing

Ages 8–12 · 2010

Race cars flee a dinosaur threat.

Lamborghini Aventador

Ages 8–12 · 2023

Discover the thrilling history and specs of the Lamborghini Aventador.

Street Heat
0

Street Heat

Ages 8–12

A high-speed race through city streets tests the skill and focus of drivers competing to cross the finish line first.

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Books about transportationCars and trucksBooks about vehiclesBooks about trucksBooks about racingRoad tripsBooks about trainsConstruction vehiclesFire trucksBooks about tractorsBooks about bicyclesHow things workCity and town life

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