Best Travel Books for Kids to Nurture Love for Travel

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home.” ~ Anna Quindlen

This post is very close to my heart, as I love reading books with and to my kids. And what is best when you can share your love for traveling with your kids and let them get inspired for an adventure?

So we asked our fellow travel bloggers for their recommendations for the best travel books that instill and spark wanderlust in their kids.

So let’s start building our library and keep traveling.

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Best Travel Books for Toddlers

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
~ Lao Tzu

So why not take the first step very early in life?

I believe for toddlers, the whole idea of vacation and traveling with family is the first thought that needs to be instilled. So any book about a road trip, a train ride, air travel, or colorful places would work the magic.

Read these cute, colorful board books for toddlers that sow the first seed.

1. Good Night Hawaii

Clara from Petite Capsule

Author: Adam Gamble

Good Night, Hawaii by Adam Gamble is a fantastic travel book for children. It is about the state of Hawaii in the United States of America.

Good Night, Hawaii is suitable for children aged 0 to 5 years old as it is a board book with rounded corners. It is beautifully illustrated with cute, bright cartoons featuring children, their families, and the magnificent sights they see in Hawaii. It uses simple rhythmic language to inspire kids to travel to Hawaii or to remember their travels there.

Good Night, Hawaii is special as it takes children on an adventure over the course of a day to see key attractions, enjoy fun activities, and experience Hawaiian culture. It starts in the morning, seeing humpback whales, which helps children think about whale watching.

It also highlights mountains and waterfalls, which reference numerous walks in Hawaii, such as Diamond Head and Manoa Falls. Dolphins playing in the lagoon are mentioned to recall a dolphin swimming experience.

There is also talk of sea life to prompt thoughts about Waikiki Aquarium or Sea Life Park Hawaii. Coral reefs spark memories of snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, and playing in the sand at beaches help recall Waikiki Beach and Lanikai Beach.

Good Night Hawaii depicts surfers, windsurfers, hula dancers, luaus, and fire dancers. The children in the book see volcanoes and the observatory. Hawaiian greetings like Aloha and Mahalo are also used.

Good Night, Hawaii is one of the best children’s books about Hawaii.

2. Maisy Goes on a Plane

Editor’s Pick

Author: Lucy Cousins

Maisy books are a hit among little ones. I remember my toddler getting on every Maisy book available in the library.

In this book, the cute little mouse, Maisy, takes her first airplane ride to meet her friend. It is interesting to see how Maisy gets excited to see the cockpit and makes new friends aboard.

This book is excellent to read with your kids before their first flight, and lets them see that seat belts and other checks are essential.

Maisy has another fun book, Maisy Goes to London, in which she visits London with her friends. She explores the famed destinations – Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace on the red double-decker bus. The colorful pictures attract the kids and are a hit among Maisy fans.

3. Journey

Diana from Travels in Poland

Author: Aaron Becker

This unique travel book is unlike most books. A Journey is a storybook told through pictures.  There are no words, and children use their imagination to tell the story page by page.

The story begins in New York City, where a bored little girl at home finds a red crayon.  She uses the crayon to draw pictures. Each picture opens a door or creates a new adventure in a new place.

The girl uses her crayon to help her on her journey, from New York City to a forest, to an imperial city, to a magic carpet, and then to a balloon in the sky.

Children are challenged to tell the story using the pages as a prompt.  The stories can change daily, as the pictures are the only guide to a child’s imaginative storytelling. 

This book inspires kids to travel as it creates vivid scenes and locations. Kids are excited to see a girl flying on a magic carpet in the desert and want to join her, or are curious about the city she visits, and would love to see something similar.

The book is excellent for children from a young age until their early teens.  The book has a wider age span simply because there is no restriction on storytelling.  Even adults love coming up with new stories every time they read the book to their children.

This 2014 Caldecott Honor book is sure to add beautiful memories. Buy it soon.

4. Mr. Chicken Goes to Paris

Sally Flint from SallyFlint, who herself is the author of a children’s book

Author: Leigh Hobbs

Leigh Hobbs was Australia’s Children’s Laureate during 2016-17. He is both a terrific writer and illustrator, famous for his Old Tom series, which has been serialized for TV.

Leigh Hobbs’ Mr. Chicken series is a hilarious read, in which Mr. Chicken travels far and wide, visiting the city’s key sites and tourist destinations.  This is rather like Leigh himself, who has traveled worldwide, working in schools, to champion children’s creativity and highlight the importance of libraries for this purpose.

Hobbs’ book ‘Mr. Chicken Goes to Paris’ was nominated for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award. It is full of color, fancy, and fun as Mr. Chicken, along with his friend Yvette, visits the key attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.

Mr. Chicken is charmed by the magic of the city, but we are less sure what the Parisians make of a large yellow bird coming to town!

The book is excellent to read aloud and informative and educational, too. It is part of a wider series including Mr. Chicken Lands in London and Mr. Chicken Arrives in Rome. Translated into several languages, the books are an excellent way for children, from pre-schoolers to age nine or ten, to have fun learning all about exciting places to travel overseas from Leigh Hobb’s (and presumably Mr. Chicken’s) home country, Australia.

5. The Snail and the Whale

Sophie Marie from Lifestyle Queensland

Author: Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is the popular UK children’s author of well-known, colorful rhyming books like The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom. Our favorite of all her books has to be The Snail on the Whale, though.

It’s a story about a snail with an “itchy” foot, who’s fed up with his life stuck to the same old rock. A humpback whale shows up and offers to take him on a tour around the world. On the adventure, they visit snowy-topped mountains, rainforest-strewn beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and the depths of the oceans.

Along the way, the snail realizes how vast the world is and how small he is within it. When they visit a busy bay full of tourists in speedboats and jet skis, the whale becomes confused and swims to shore.

He’s beached, and the snail has to rush to find help for his new friend. Thankfully, there’s a happy ending, and they return to the snail’s home to share their adventures with his friends, who all decide to join them on a trip around the world.

The Snail and the Whale is an excellent book for children under five, and my daughter has loved it since as young as one, thanks to the colorful illustrations. It’s great for inspiring travel in little ones by showing them how many different experiences the world offers.

6. Berenstain Bears Around the World

Heather Hoke from Embracing Chaos with Love

Author: Mike Berenstain

In Mike Berenstain’s book, Berenstain Bears Around the World, the Bear family embarks on a journey around the world with the help of Doctor Bear’s Anywhere-Anyplace Machine.

With the touch of a button, they can visit England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Africa, India, China, Australia, Antarctica, South America, Mexico, Canada, and other places throughout the United States.

This book inspires kids to travel by showing them all the cool things and places they can find around the world. At each place the Bear family visits, they see a famous landmark, learn a remarkable fact, or see different animals that call that place home. For example, they find out where you can find delicious chocolate as well as the animals you can find in the rainforest.

The Berenstain Bears Around the World is perfect for beginning readers. All ages enjoy this book, from those who love having books read to them to kids who are just learning to read. It uses simple sentences and concepts, making it the perfect book for early readers.

They will be able to recognize many familiar words throughout the book. Overall, this is a fun book that inspires kids to travel and encourages their love of reading.

Travel Books for Children Aged 6- 12 years

This is the age when our young ones are becoming independent readers and are eager to share their wanderlust. So let’s feed them a good diet of books and some of the best travel quotes that help them dream and explore.

7. Heidi

Editor’s Pick

Author: Johanna Spyri

The book is about an orphan girl named Heidi who lived with her Aunt and visited her grandfather in the green mountains of Switzerland. She enjoyed the simple countryside life and relished the goat milk and delicious homemade cheese.

Heidi made friends with a boy named Peter and enjoyed a life close to nature. But after a few years, when her aunt took her to Frankfurt, she was not happy to go and leave her friends and life. While in Frankfurt, she makes friends with Clara, a wheelchair-ridden girl. Getting settled in the city, she misses her grandfather and the beautiful countryside.

This excellent book set in the beautiful Swiss Alps is an appropriate read for all kids aged 7 – 10 years. Throughout the book, they get a glimpse of unspoiled countryside life and true friendship.

8. MISSION: A Scavenger Hunt Adventure series

Lauren from The Expat Chronicle

Author: Catherine Aragon

A book series that my three children not only love but my husband and I have come to rely on during our travels is called MISSION: A Scavenger Hunt Adventure.

When we first moved from America to Barcelona, our days were filled with exploring the city and visiting the most popular tourist attractions. Typically, my kids would be bored stiff staring at monuments all day long. But instead, they couldn’t wait to get from one place to another – and here’s why!

Someone gifted us a MISSION: Barcelona book before moving abroad, and it turned out to be the very best way to introduce our kids to their new home city!

The MISSION books, which are perfect for kids ages 6-10, will transform them into the world of history, art, culture, and architecture, but in a fun and exciting way, as private detectives. They’ll look for clues and solve problems, all while learning about the city.

As the children complete challenges, they’ll earn points towards a special agent certification called the SIA (Secret International Agency).

The MISSION series is available on Amazon for some of the most popular tourist destinations, such as Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and New York.

To learn more about the series, visit www.scavengerhuntadventures.com

9. Anne of Green Gables

Maggie Turansky from Books Like This One

Author: L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 coming-of-age novel written by Lucy Maude Montgomery. The story follows the stubborn, strong-willed 11-year-old orphan Anne Shirley as she’s adopted by siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert and carves out a life for herself in the fictional town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Though the Cuthberts originally wanted to adopt a boy to help them with the work on their farm, Green Gables, they eventually are charmed by Anne and allow her to stay. The first of several books in the series, Anne of Green Gables sees Anne navigate friendships, heartbreak, and shenanigans with humor and plenty of heart, sure to charm any reader, young or old. 

Anne’s single-mindedness and determination are great qualities for young women to aspire to, and the setting in Prince Edward Island is sure to make young readers itch to see this beautiful area of Canada for themselves. 

Though it is still quite entertaining for adults, children ages 7-8 and up are sure to enjoy it to the fullest. So if you’re looking for an excellent book that will inspire young readers to travel, Anne of Green Gables is sure to have them planning a trip to PEI, Canada!

10. Around the World in 50 Ways

Sharee Middleton from Inspire Family Travel

Author: Dan Smith from Lonely Planet Kids

I remember fondly reading the Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child. The ability to create your adventure and plot was a thrill for the imagination.

When I discovered that Lonely Planet Kids had created a similar interactive book, with a travel theme, I knew it would be an exciting read for kids.

Written by Dan Smith, Around the World in 50 Ways is a clever book that follows Zac to lots of places around the globe. If the correct route is followed, the reader will start and finish in London, but with many dead ends, it may take several adventures and trips to arrive at the final destination.

Travel to cities, islands, and fascinating locations as you create your unique experience. Choose from various transport options, travel directions, the number of days of travel, and flight hours. When you arrive at a new destination, read fascinating facts and details before you go.

Lonely Planet is brilliant at creating kids’ books that are fun and serve as learning resources. This book also adds the element of inspiring wanderlust in children as they read about incredible places around the world.

Targeted to children aged 9–12 years, my daughter was 7 when we started reading the book to her, and it is still one of her favorites because the adventure never ends. 

11. 50 Must-Read Indian Stories – Places of India

Bhushavali from My Travelogue by Bhushavali

Author: Amar Chitra Katha

I grew up with Amar Chitra Katha! It is the most authoritative, age-old publication that publishes comic books on Indian history & mythology! The language is easy, and the comic illustrations are visually appealing, keeping the kids engrossed!

While I’d suggest that kids over 10 read the books by themselves, it’s never too early to read the books to them. The first Amar Chitra Katha book that I bought for my daughter was 50 Must-Read Indian Stories. It is set in 5 volumes, each covering five subjects, with 10 stories per volume. One of them is ‘Places of India’.

The book deals with 10 historically significant places across various time periods – including Puri, Hampi, Tirupati, Jallianwala Bagh, etc. The best thing about it is that each story discusses the history and mythology of each place, especially the religious sites.

So, when I talk about the Gods depicted in the stories, as well as the temple’s actual architecture & sculptures, it really fascinates my gal. She remembers the stories and relates the Gods to the places.

I have taken my gal to only one of these places. I’m looking forward to taking her to all these places and seeing them all again through her eyes.

Read more
India itinerary ideas for spending 1 to 4 weeks
South India itinerary ideas for spending 1 to 4 weeks

12. The Jungle Book

Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan

Author: Rudyard Kipling

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is a classic children’s book written in 1894, but many people don’t know it as well as they think they do. Disney remade it into an animated film in the 1960s, and for most children, this cartoon version is their first introduction to the story.

Or stories, relatively, as The Jungle Book is actually a collection of short stories about a variety of animals who live in the jungles of India. Some of these characters’ names are actually the Hindi names for their species—for example, Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther, and Akela the wolf.

There’s also Mowgli, a young boy (“man-cub”) raised by wolves in the jungle who became the protagonist of the Disney version. In the book, though, only a few of the stories feature Mowgli, while others are about other characters who don’t appear in the Disney version at all, such as a mongoose named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and an elephant named Kala Nag.

The stories are actually fables written to teach moral lessons while introducing children to the animals that live in the jungles of South Asia. These stories will inspire many children to visit the region’s national parks in hopes of seeing some of these animals in person.

Parents should keep in mind that, while intended for children, the book was written in the 19th century and therefore uses some old-fashioned language that may be difficult for younger children to understand. It’s thus probably best for a pre-teen or teenage audience.

13. Thea Stilton and the Riddle of the Ruins

Recommended by our little reader herself: Amishi Chawla

Author: Elisabetta Dami

Thea Stilton and the Riddle of the Ruins is an enthusiastic book, written by Elisabetta Maria Dami. She writes under the pseudonyms of Geronimo Stilton and Thea Stilton. Thea is Gernimo’s adventure-loving younger sister.

This book is about five rodents who love to travel, meet new rodents, and learn new things. They study at Mouseford Academy in Whale Island. This year, an archeology seminar is being held at the campus, and the Thea Sisters – Collete, Paulina, Violet, Nicky, and Pamela have entered to learn something new, unlike the Ruby Crew.

The academy’s head makes an announcement: the rodents, who received the highest grades on their projects, win a trip to an excavation program in Hierapolis, Turkey! And, the Thea Sisters are chosen!!! Once again, they are in for an adventure!

The ancient city of Hieropolis seems like an incredible place to visit. The hot springs of Pamukkale with their white travertine terraces are inviting. The details about the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hierapolis-Pamukkale in the story intrigued me enough to take a trip to Turkey pretty soon to witness the rich culture, beauty, and hot springs of the country.

This book is perfect for kids aged 7 to 9 years. The Thea Sisters’ adventures are sure to inspire young readers to take on new adventures themselves.

14. Going Solo

Annalisa Franceschini from Rome Travelogues

Author: Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl will always be remembered as the most excellent English storyteller of the 20th Century. He started writing children’s books in the 1960s, in the second part of his life, after he had been working in foreign countries, served as a pilot during WW2, and raised five children. 

Roald Dahl’s stories are popular all over the world for their brilliant characters, magnificent imagination, sincere spirit, and lots of fun. A life of adventures inspired such creative talent, which the author recounts in the autobiographical short novels “Boy” and “Going Solo”. 

In “Going Solo”, the author shares incredible travel stories from the years spent working in East Africa: bizarre encounters with wild animals like lethal snakes and lions, the excitement of learning the Swahili language, and his friendships with people from different social statuses and cultures.

The author was sent to work in Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam, that’s where the story is set. The stories continue with the training as a pilot and the misadventures the protagonist faces, always with a sense of humor and trust in his own resilience.

The book includes authentic photographs and letters that Roald Dahl regularly sent to his mother back in England. This true story gently inspires kids aged 6-11 to learn about distant places, be adventurous and brave, and stay grounded and alert. 

15. Pippi in the South Seas

Clemens Sehi from Travellers Archive

Author: Astrid Lindgren

Pippi in the South Seas is a famous sequel to Astrid Lindgren’s classic children’s books, Pippi Longstocking and Pippi Goes on Board. Pippi Longstocking is one of the most popular children’s characters of all time and is still much loved by millions of children today.

In the book first published in 1948, Pippi receives a letter from her father, a sea captain, who invites her to a tropical island called Kurrekurredutt, inhabited by natives over whom he now reigns as king. She decides to take her best friends Tommy and Annika with her.

They embark on a sailing adventure to her father’s island kingdom in the South Seas, where they become acquainted with the natives. They explore secret caves, play marbles with real pearls, and Pippi is being hailed as “Princess Pippilotta.”

What makes the book special is the way Lindgren describes the characters, especially Pippi. Kids will love how she does all the things kids aren’t supposed to do, but with a good heart. Every day is a crazy adventure with Pippi, and she inspires me to explore the world.

A child’s dream! You can easily start to read this book to 6-year-olds. 

16. Rusty – The Boy From the Hills

Amrita from Tale of 2 Backpackers

Author: Ruskin Bond

If there is one children’s book that I still cherish reading, it is Rusty – The Boy from the Hills by Ruskin Bond. The book narrates Rusty’s most exciting adventures from childhood to early teens. The book is set in the small, hilly Indian town of Dehradun in 1940, where Rusty lived with his grandparents.

In this book, Rusty recounts his experience of living with his grandparents and his hilarious adventures with his grandfather’s peculiar pets – a python, a monkey, and a tiger. The story then moves to Java, where Rusty and his father escape to Bombay during World War II. In the meantime, Rusty also escapes enemy bombardment and survives a plane crash.

The story is written in simple words and is extremely enjoyable to read. The book is an excellent read for children ages 7 to 14. In fact, I think the book is a fantastic read for grown-ups as well.

Rusty shares his adventures from Dehradun to Java in simple words, emphasizing the little joys of life that children love. This book will inspire young children to be more adventurous and to seek the simple beauty of life.

17. The Adventures of Tintin

Alexander Waltner from Gourmand Trotter

Author: Hergé

The Adventures of Tintin is one of the most exciting travel books for Children, and they take around the world on a journey with Tintin and his companion Milou, or Snowy as the dog is called in English. Some other main characters are Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Thomson, and Thompson. In total, there are 24 bands available in over 70 languages.

The Adventures of Tintin was created by Hergé and published by Casterman, Le Lombard, and Egmont Group. They were published from 1929 to 1976 and remain one of the most iconic comic books in the world.

While you might not think about it as a child, Tintin introduces various cultures and places around the world, leaving a curious mind that stirs wanderlust in the reader.

Tintin is typically recommended for children aged nine and older. The content is suitable for all ages, so even younger kids can join in if their elder siblings are reading Tintin. Two of my favorite books from The Adventures of Tintin are Tintin in Tibet and Tintin in the Congo.

The series includes a great mix of fantasy, action, mysteries, and humor. There is also an official Tintin app in Apple’s App Store, where you can read digital versions of Tintin. Tintin in Tibet is the twentieth volume of Tintin, which crosses the Himalayas and encounters the mysterious Yeti. The mission for Tintin is to help Chang Chong-Chen, Snowy, and Captain Haddock follow him. They hire a sherpa to help them travel overland from Nepal into the Himalayas. It’s a great introduction to a rarely explored area of the world.

Best Travel Books for Teens

18. In Search of the Castaways

Anthony from Green Mochila

Author: Jules Verne

It’s no surprise that many kids with curious minds fall in love with Jules Verne’s stories. Or maybe they develop an inquisitive mind thanks to those stories, in a typical chicken-and-egg case. Every novel is a feat of visionary imagination, packed with adventure, lovable characters, fantastic objects, and travels.

As a young teenager of 12 or 13, I remember devouring Verne’s stories. I would surely have liked them at 15 or 17, too. Adventures like ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ or ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ kept me on edge for days on end. It was always exciting, always very lively, but never brutal.

Besides his better-known travel stories like ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’, there’s one in particular that infused wanderlust in my young heart. Its English title, ‘In Search of the Castaways‘, is more explicit than the original ‘Les Enfants du Capitaine Grant’.

After finding a bottle cast by the survivors of a shipwreck, Lord and Lady Glenarvan set off to their rescue. Unfortunately, part of the coordinates has been erased, and only the latitude remains visible. Together with the children of the castaway captain, they sail to South America, ready to circumnavigate the globe until they find the crew.

How could you resist the call of the horizon after this? My most vivid memory from the book is the description of the Patagons, the strange, large-footed inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego. I do not doubt that this memory motivated my backpacking trip to Argentina 20 years later.

19. Love and Gelato

Megan Johnson from Red Around the World

Author: Jenna Evans Welch

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is a young adult story set in the Tuscan countryside and Florence.  It’s perfect for all ages, but especially teens.  

Lina’s mother is dying, and all she wants is for Lina to get to know her father one summer in Italy.  But Lina is only sixteen, and she really doesn’t want to go.  She doesn’t know anyone, and her friends aren’t there.

However, she decides to go, and once she gets there, she is given a journal her mother wrote while living in Italy.

Lina’s charming neighbor Ren joins her as they follow her mother’s footsteps around Tuscany and Florence, uncovering more than she ever knew about her parents while learning about herself along the way.  She is pleasantly surprised by her love for Italy and everything it has to offer.  

While it may not be your average inspiring kids’ story, it can help inspire teens to explore new places and travel while they can, even if they might think they don’t want to.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of visiting Italy or want inspiration to see a new place, Love and Gelato is the perfect book to show that even if you don’t want to do something, it can be totally worth it and surprisingly wonderful. 

If Italy excites you, then read the best books set in Italy for more inspiration. 

Have you read any of these books? Did they inspire you to feed your kids’ wanderlust? Do share your experiences about your best travel books for kids and suggestions, if any. Always happy to grow our collection.

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