10+ Best Car Books for 7-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect read to fuel your 7-year-old's fascination with all things automotive? Look no further! Our curated list of car books for 7-year-olds is packed with exciting reads that are sure to captivate young minds and spark their imagination. Keep reading to discover our top picks that will get their engines running and their pages turning!

Fun Car Books for 7-Year-Olds

• Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
  • Genre(s): Children's literature, Beginner reader
  • Synopsis: This delightful book features a bunch of dogs going about their day in cars, hats, and engaging in various activities, culminating in a dog party.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and engaging way to help young readers develop their reading skills with simple, repetitive text and vibrant illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are just starting to read on their own and love animals.

• If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Imagination and Play
  • Synopsis: A young boy dreams up a fantastic car that has all sorts of whimsical features, showing his creativity and innovation.
  • Why we recommend this book: It sparks imagination and creativity, encouraging kids to think about design and innovation in a fun, accessible way.
  • Perfect for: Creative thinkers and young inventors who dream of building and designing.

• Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Transportation
  • Synopsis: This book is a bustling collection of vehicles and scenes where readers can spot different kinds of cars, trucks, and other vehicles as they go through the pages.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's great for enhancing observational skills as children can search for various hidden objects and characters throughout the book.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love spotting details and learning about different vehicles.

• The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca
  • Genre(s): Alphabet book, Children's non-fiction
  • Synopsis: This book provides an alphabetic tour through the world of racecars, from A to Z, with each letter introducing a different aspect of racecar technology and history.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines learning the alphabet with exciting racecar facts, making learning fun and engaging for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are interested in cars and racing while learning their ABCs.

• Cool Cars by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Ant Parker
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Transportation
  • Synopsis: This rhyming book describes different types of cars and their functions, all presented in a catchy, easy-to-read style.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, rhyming text makes reading enjoyable and helps develop phonemic awareness among young readers.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy rhythm and rhyme and have a fascination with cars.

Educational Car Books for 7-Year-Olds

• My First Book of Superpowers by David Bar Katz, illustrated by Morris Katz
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: This engaging book introduces young readers to the fascinating world of cars through the lens of superpowers, comparing different car features to superhero abilities.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding of basic car mechanics, imaginative thinking, comparison skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It creatively explains car features and functions in a way that is relatable and exciting for children, using the concept of superpowers.
  • Perfect for: Young car enthusiasts and fans of superheroes.

• Truck Stuck by Sallie Wolf, illustrated by Andy Robert Davies
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: A humorous tale of a truck that gets stuck under a bridge and the various community responses trying to free it.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, community awareness, vocabulary development
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and funny story that also teaches kids about problem-solving and the importance of community assistance.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy stories with a bit of suspense and a lot of laughs.

• How Cars Work by Nick Arnold, illustrated by Allan Sanders
  • Genre(s): Children's non-fiction, Technology
  • Synopsis: This book offers a clear and engaging explanation of how different parts of a car function together to make it run.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Technical knowledge, mechanical understanding, reading comprehension
  • Why we recommend this book: It breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand explanations and illustrations, perfect for curious minds.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who have a keen interest in mechanics and how things work.

• The Car Book by DK
  • Genre(s): Children's non-fiction, Reference
  • Synopsis: This comprehensive guide covers the history, technology, and different types of cars with rich visuals and engaging text.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Historical knowledge, technical literacy, critical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a thorough overview of automotive history and technology in a visually appealing format.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring young historians and technologists who are fascinated by cars.

• Cars Galore by Peter Stein, illustrated by Bob Staake
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Rhyming book
  • Synopsis: A whimsical, rhyming journey through a world filled with bizarre and imaginative cars.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Creative thinking, rhyming skills, vocabulary expansion
  • Why we recommend this book: Its playful rhymes and imaginative illustrations captivate and stimulate creative thinking.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love creative stories and those who delight in playful language and fantastical illustrations.

Challenging Car Books for 7-Year-Olds

• The Ultimate Book of Vehicles: From Around the World by Anne-Sophie Baumann, illustrated by Didier Balicevic
  • Genre(s): Children's non-fiction, Transportation
  • Synopsis: This interactive book explores various vehicles from around the world, featuring flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and many other movable parts.
  • Why this book is challenging: It includes detailed technical information and interactive elements that require fine motor skills and understanding beyond simple reading.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers an engaging, hands-on experience that enhances learning about transportation through direct interaction.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy interactive learning and have a keen interest in how things work.

• Everything Goes: Henry on Wheels by Brian Biggs
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Early reader
  • Synopsis: Henry gets his first bike and takes a trip around his neighborhood, discovering all sorts of vehicles and their functions.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book introduces young readers to new vocabulary related to transportation and provides a more complex narrative structure than typical beginner books.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages exploration and learning new words through a relatable story that makes learning fun.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are beginning to read independently and have an interest in bikes and other vehicles.

• Monster Trucks by Anika Denise, illustrated by Nate Wragg
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: This story combines the thrilling world of monster trucks with a fantastical element, featuring monster truck characters competing in a big race.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces concepts of competition and character development through a narrative that includes both text and dynamic illustrations.
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the excitement of monster trucks in a story that promotes themes of sportsmanship and perseverance.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love thrilling stories and are fascinated by monster trucks.

• Drive: A Look at Roadside Opposites by Kellen Hatanaka
  • Genre(s): Children's non-fiction, Concept book
  • Synopsis: A visually striking book that teaches opposites using the context of vehicles and road scenes.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses a sophisticated visual style and introduces conceptual thinking through opposites related to the automotive world.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a unique approach to learning basic concepts, enhanced by stylish and engaging artwork.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are visual learners and those interested in cars and artistic presentations.

• If I Built a Race Car by Chris Van Dusen
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Imagination and Play
  • Synopsis: A sequel to the popular "If I Built a Car," this book follows a young boy as he designs the ultimate race car with imaginative features and futuristic technology.
  • Why this book is challenging: It stretches the imagination with advanced vocabulary and creative concepts that go beyond the typical vehicle book.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages creativity and innovation, showing kids that their imaginations can take them anywhere.
  • Perfect for: Creative thinkers and future engineers who dream big and love fast cars.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to turn your 7-year-old into a little bookworm, especially with a passion for car books, I've got some fun reading exercises that can help. These activities are designed not just to improve reading skills but also to make reading a more engaging and enjoyable experience. Let's dive in!

• Create a Reading Nook
  • What it is: Set up a special corner in the house dedicated to reading.
  • How it helps: Creates a comfortable and inviting environment that makes reading time something to look forward to.
  • Tips: Let your child help in decorating the nook with items like posters of cars or race tracks.

• Book-Based Role Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from the car books after reading them.
  • How it helps: Enhances comprehension and helps children remember the story and its details.
  • Tips: Use toy cars and other props to make the role-playing more fun and realistic.

• Picture Walks Before Reading
  • What it is: Look through the pictures in the book before starting to read the text.
  • How it helps: Builds anticipation and sets a purpose for reading by letting the child guess what the story might be about.
  • Tips: Ask questions about the pictures like, "What do you think is happening here?" or "Why do you think that car is there?"

• Reading and Discussion Combo
  • What it is: After reading a book, have a discussion about what happened in the story.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and verbal expression skills.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions such as, "What was your favorite part and why?" or "What would you do if you were in the story?"

• Story Map Creation
  • What it is: Draw a map or timeline of the events in the book.
  • How it helps: Helps with understanding the sequence of events and the relationship between different parts of the story.
  • Tips: Use car stickers or drawings to mark significant events or turning points in the story.

Incorporating these exercises into your child's reading routine will not only enhance their reading skills but also deepen their love for books about cars. Remember, the goal is to make reading fun and interactive, so feel free to adapt these ideas to better suit your child's interests and reading level. Happy reading!