A new children’s picture book, “Public Transportation – From the Tom Thumb Railroad to Hyperloop and Beyond,” written by transit industry leader and podcast host Paul Comfort and illustrated by Sudeep KP is being released Oct. 1.

Inside the wonderful world of “Public Transportation” — children discover its history, how public transportation has improved our world, and what is next. Beautifully illustrated pictures and fun facts will enthrall kids aged five to 15 with stories of how the first steam locomotive "Tom Thumb" lost its big race with a horse — when it broke down and how cable cars in San Francisco move up those steep hills. Each page brings children to a different era and type of public mobility from horse drawn carriages to the first subways, buses, light rail vehicles, and maglevtrains. Along the way they can picture themselves riding these fun vehicles and traveling to their destinations.

Then, children see how the future will be amazing with autonomous vehicles, hyperloop, and Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft (VTOL) shuttling them to a new age of public transportation.

Public/private schools and homeschoolers can use this book to introduce children to the important world of public transportation—its history, present, and future. Transit industry professionals can now share with their children and grandchildren what they do for a living in public transportation — whether they work as a bus operator, mechanic, or administrator.