Oi! Get Off Our Train: questions to ask and activities to try
A boy takes a night train to dreamland, and endangered animals keep asking to get on. Oi! Get Off Our Train is a classic about kindness and protecting wildlife.
What age is it for? Oi! Get Off Our Train is best for ages 3–7. Good for: Endangered animals, and making room for others.
Oi! Get Off Our Train (John Burningham)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Endangered animals, and making room for others
Read it at bedtime, and join in with “Oi! Get off our train!” Pause on each animal's reason and talk about why they need help.
What it helps with
- Endangered animals
- Making room for others
- Kindness and changing your mind
- Bedtime adventures
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where was the train going?”
- “Which animals asked to get on?”
- “Why did each one need help?”
- “Why did the boy let them on?”
- “What can we do to help animals?”
- “Which animal would you let on?”
5-minute activities to try together
Chair train
Make a train with chairs and add a toy animal at each stop. What's their reason?
Animal helpers
Pick one endangered animal and find out three facts about it.
Free printables: Oi! Get Off Our Train worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
The Last Tiger (Petr Horáček)
- Best for
- Freedom, animals and caring for wildlife
- Age
- 4-8
The Emerald Forest (Catherine Ward and Karin Littlewood)
- Best for
- Orangutans, rainforests and losing a home
- Age
- 3-7
Mr Gumpy's Outing (John Burningham)
- Best for
- Getting along, rules, and what happens when everyone squabbles
- Age
- 2-6
Search all our books by what's happening →
By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.