10+ Best Truck Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect read to fuel your little one's fascination with big wheels and loud engines? Look no further! Our roundup of truck books for 5-year-olds is packed with stories that will keep their gears grinding and imaginations soaring. Whether your child is a fan of dump trucks, fire engines, or ice cream trucks, we’ve got something that will catch their eye. Keep reading to discover our favorite picks that are sure to delight any truck-loving tyke!

Fun Truck Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines soothing bedtime elements with the exciting world of trucks, making it a perfect book to wind down to at bedtime while fueling a child's interest in big vehicles.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love trucks and parents looking for a calming bedtime story.

• Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This adorable book ponders where the big trucks might rest after a day of hard work. It explores the nighttime routines of various kinds of trucks and construction equipment in a playful, imaginative way.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, comforting read that also satisfies the curiosity of kids fascinated by diggers, dump trucks, and other construction vehicles.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about vehicles and parents seeking a fun bedtime book.

• Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: Little Blue Truck is a cheerful and helpful young pick-up truck who always makes time to help his friends. The story teaches the value of kindness and the importance of helping each other.
  • Why we recommend this book: The rhythmic, rhyming text is enjoyable to read aloud and the story imparts important lessons about friendship and helping others.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who love stories with moral lessons and cute, engaging illustrations.

• Truckeroo School by David Kirk
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This book follows Katy, a brave and bold big rig, who attends her first day at Truckeroo School. There, she meets all kinds of big trucks from fire trucks to garbage trucks, each with their unique skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great introduction to different types of trucks and their functions, wrapped in a fun and engaging story about school and learning.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are curious about trucks and those who may be nervous about starting school.

• The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer, illustrated by Carrie Eko-Burgess
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This lively book takes readers through a day in the life of a construction crew as they work together to build a new house. From demolition to the final touches, each truck has a job to do.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches teamwork and the various roles within a construction project in a way that's easy for young children to understand and appreciate.
  • Perfect for: Children who are fascinated by construction sites and teamwork.

Educational Truck Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: All of your favorite trucks are back on the construction site—this time with a focus on team-building, friendship, and working together to make a big task much easier.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Teamwork, problem-solving, understanding of construction processes
  • Why we recommend this book: It builds on the themes of teamwork and cooperation, showing how each vehicle contributes in its own special way.
  • Perfect for: Kids who loved "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" and are eager to see more of their favorite trucks at work.

• Dump Truck Duck by Megan E. Bryant, illustrated by Jo de Ruiter
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: Dump Truck Duck and his friends are on a mission to build a new playground. Along the way, they learn about the importance of sharing and working together.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sharing, teamwork, introduction to construction equipment
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines cute characters with an engaging story that teaches valuable social skills.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy animal characters and stories about construction.

• Bulldozer's Big Day by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: It's Bulldozer's big day—his birthday! But all the other trucks seem too busy working to remember. Bulldozer may be in for a surprise, though, as his friends might just be planning something special.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional intelligence, understanding of social cues, friendship
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a sweet story that mixes the excitement of construction sites with themes of friendship and surprise.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about birthdays and surprises.

• Excavator's 123 by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Ethan Long
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: Follow Excavator and his lovable construction vehicle friends as they dig, push, and lift their way through a number puzzle adventure.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Counting, number recognition, early math skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It cleverly integrates learning numbers with the engaging world of trucks and construction.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn their numbers and those who love trucks.

• Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: A colorful array of construction vehicles work together to transform a messy site into a wonderful playground. Each truck has its own job, which is described in a simple, repetitive text.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary development, understanding of roles and responsibilities
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhythmic text helps young readers learn new words and concepts quickly.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy rhythmic, repetitive texts and colorful illustrations.

Challenging Truck Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Trucks Go by Steve Light
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This vibrant book features eight noisy trucks and the sounds they make, brought to life through vivid, dynamic illustrations and simple, onomatopoeic text.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book introduces onomatopoeia and sound words, which are advanced concepts for young readers, enhancing their auditory discrimination and phonetic understanding.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a lively read that combines learning sounds with the fun of trucks, engaging children's senses and imagination.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love interactive and sound-based books.

• Truck Full of Ducks by Ross Burach
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: Follow the hilarious journey of a delivery truck driver who has a truck full of ducks and no idea where to deliver them, leading to a series of funny mishaps.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative structure with its twists and playful language challenges young readers to predict and solve puzzles as they read.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages problem-solving and prediction skills, wrapped in a humorous and engaging story.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy laughter-filled reading and those who like animals and trucks.

• Everything Goes: Henry on Wheels by Brian Biggs
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Early Reader
  • Synopsis: Henry takes his new bike out for a ride around his neighborhood, encountering various vehicles and neighbors along the way.
  • Why this book is challenging: It transitions young readers from picture books to early reader books, featuring more complex sentences and a richer vocabulary.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great stepping stone for advanced young readers ready to tackle more text-heavy pages while still enjoying colorful illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Kids transitioning to early reader books and those interested in community and different modes of transport.

• Supertruck by Stephen Savage
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book, Superhero
  • Synopsis: When a snowstorm hits the city, one unassuming garbage truck turns into Supertruck and saves the day by clearing the snow off the roads.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book uses a minimalist approach to storytelling and illustration, encouraging children to infer and fill in the gaps with their imagination.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the themes of heroism and everyday life, teaching children that anyone can be a hero.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love superheroes and trucks, and those learning about community helpers.

• The Mixed-Up Truck by Stephen Savage
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: A cement mixer wants to make a big splash on his first day of work, but he keeps mixing up his loads, leading to some colorful and sticky situations.
  • Why this book is challenging: The play on words (mixing up/mixing concrete) introduces young readers to homophones and puns, enhancing their linguistic and cognitive skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a funny, engaging story that teaches persistence and the importance of getting things right.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers and kindergarteners who enjoy stories with humor and learning through mistakes.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're exploring the world of truck books with your 5-year-old, you're in for a fun ride! Not only are these books entertaining, but they also offer great opportunities to develop solid reading habits early on. Here are a few exercises that can turn reading time into an engaging and beneficial experience for your little one:

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Browse through the book looking at pictures before reading.
  • How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Ask your child to guess what might happen in the story based on the pictures.

• Spot the Truck
  • What it is: Find different types of trucks mentioned in the book.
  • How it helps: Builds focus and helps with learning new words.
  • Tips: Turn it into a game; cheer every time your child spots a truck.

• Story Retell
  • What it is: Ask your child to retell the story in their own words after reading.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and verbal expression.
  • Tips: Encourage them by asking questions about the story.

• Match the Sound
  • What it is: Identify sounds that trucks make in the story.
  • How it helps: Enhances auditory discrimination and memory.
  • Tips: Mimic truck sounds together to make it more fun.

• Reading Aloud Together
  • What it is: Take turns reading pages or sentences aloud with your child.
  • How it helps: Boosts confidence and fluency in reading.
  • Tips: Use expressive voices for different trucks to keep it lively.

These exercises are not just about reading; they're about making memories around books. So, buckle up and enjoy the journey through pages filled with big wheels and loud engines. Happy reading!