Choo-Choo! Animals on the Train [Review]

Hi! My name is Ananya and I am 8 years old. I love animals more than anything—dogs, cats, birds, even frogs! That’s why, when I picked up Ruskin Bond’s story – Animals on the Train, it felt like the train was full of my best friends!

The story is about a train journey where not only people but also animals are traveling. Ruskin, his grandparents, and their pets—Timothy the Tiger, Popeye the Parrot, and Chips the Squirrel—are all on the Lucknow Express, going from Dehradun to Aunty Mabel’s house in Lucknow. Their python is left behind at home on grandmother’s orders, since Aunty Mabel doesn’t like animals, especially reptiles. But will the python join them anyway? And how will Aunty Mabel react when she sees the animals?

Imagine sitting in a train compartment with a tiger, a parrot, or even a squirrel as your co‑passengers! Ruskin Bond makes it feel so real—you can almost hear the noises and see the animals peeking out curiously.

The best part is how the animals behave—sometimes naughty, sometimes scared, and sometimes just plain funny. The humans don’t always know what to do, but the animals make the journey unforgettable.

My Favorite Bits

• Ruskin Bond writes so simply that even kids can understand everything.
• The animals are described with such love that I felt they were my own pets.
• The train setting makes it exciting because you never know what will happen next.

Why did I love it?

This book is perfect for kids who love animals. It shows that animals have personalities too—they can be silly, brave, or clever. Reading it made me wish I could travel on a train full of animals one day.

I have read the previous book in the series called Animals in the House and you can read the review here in my Animal friendly listicle!

ADDED BY POOJA: As a mother and lifelong Ruskin Bond admirer, I find Animals on the Train timeless in its charm. The book is short, sweet, and full of joy. It’s not just a story—it’s a little adventure where animals and humans share the same space. If you love animals, you’ll smile all the way through.

If you enjoyed this review, please order your own copy from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),

Disclaimer: Pooja and Ananya are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received these books as review copies from the publisher via kbc.