tourism books for students

The best travel and tourism reading list

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Having a travel and tourism reading list is important, whether you are a teacher, a student, or a tourist.

The key to success is knowledge. And where better to look than books? Having a travel and tourism reading list is a great idea whether you are a student, an entrepreneur or a travel enthusiast.

In this article I have outlined a number of essential and recommended texts covering a range of travel and tourism-related topics. These are the perfect additions to any travel and tourism reading list.

The first list is intended for travel and tourism students and teachers. The second list is useful for people working in the tourism industry, especially those who run their own business or who are managers. The third list offers practical guidance for travellers. The final list provides my recommendations for leisurely reading that will inspire your wanderlust!

Tourism: Principles and Practice

The business of tourism, tourism: a modern synthesis, worldwide destinations: the geography of travel and tourism, the geography of tourism and recreation: environment, place and space, the escape industry: how iconic and innovative brands built the travel business.

• Travel Agent Training: How to become a Home Based Travel Agent” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Travel Agent Training: How to become a Home Based Travel Agent
• Optimize YOUR Bnb: The Definitive Guide to Ranking #1 in Airbnb Search

How to Start and Run a B&B

The small business start-up workbook: a step-by-step guide to starting the business you’ve dreamed, the idea in you: how to find it, build it, and change your life, travel the world on $50 a day, the responsible tourist, the family travel handbook, the camper van bible, your money or your life, bush craft 101, travel anywhere (and avoid being a tourist): travel trends and destination inspiration for the modern adventurer, eat, pray, love, down under: travels in a sunburned country, how to be a family, sand in my bra, without you there is no us, first they killed my father, sihpromatum – i grew my boobs in china, the alchemist, travel and tourism reading list: your recommendations, my travel and tourism reading list.

Below you will find a list of the best books in the business. Not got a huge budget? Not to worry! Abe Books is a great website selling discounted second-hand books- just use the search option to see if they have what you’re after. Otherwise, I have no doubt you will find your books on Amazon.

Academic-based tourism texts

The reading material needed for each travel and tourism course will differ slightly. However, there are some key tests that are largely relevant for the majority of programmes. Below, I have outlined some of the key texts

This is the ultimate beginner’s guide for any travel and tourism student and is on almost every university travel and tourism reading list.

This book covers all of the core travel and tourism management subjects and the explanations are clear and easy to understand.

There are multiple editions, so if you’r budget is tight, opt for an older copy to save a few pennies!

This book is an essential text for students of tourism management or travel and tourism.

It provides background theory and research that is easy to understand. It also has lots of relevant and current case studies.

The world is changing and evolving quickly and the tourism industry must keep up.

This book looks at the modern-day issues that are effecting the travel and tourism industry. It examines new and emerging markets and disruptive technologies such as the sharing economy , low cost airlines and e-travel. It also includes current debates on sustainable tourism , future jobs in travel and tourism and generational marketing.

Every travel and tourism reading list should have a geography-based element, because geography is such an important part of travel!

This book is great because it explores the concepts of tourism demand and supply for a comprehensive range of destinations and every country worldwide.

This book is essential reading for any travel and tourism student!

Another geography-based text, this book combines management theory with a range of geographical case-studies around the world.

Practical tourism management guides

There are some really handy tourism management guides on the market at the moment. These are perfect for those who are considering a career in travel and tourism or for people who are looking to climb the career ladder.

If you are thinking about starting up your own business in the tourism industry then these books are must-haves! The tips and advice given in these texts are invaluable- they will help to save you time and make you money!

Here are my recommendations-

The travel and tourism industry is fun and dynamic. And there are endless opportunities to businesses: travel is a hugely competitive, multi-million pound industry and marketers of all sectors can learn important lessons from it.

From mass tourism to business tourism to specialist tourism, there are some fundamental principles to setting up and running a business in the tourism industry.

This book presents an expert view of travel marketing and branding (and loads of helpful advice), focusing particularly on how travel has been transformed for both consumers and providers since the beginning of the 21st century.

Traditional travel agents are fast becoming a thing of the past. High street stores are exchanged for home-based working. Many of the big travel agencies (Thomas Cook, Lunn Poly, Monarch to name a few) no longer exist. There have never been so many opportunities to work online and to be your own boss as there are right now. The evolution of the internet and the reduction in competition means that the marketplace is wide open. But being an online travel agent isn’t something you can do without any training! This book teaches you the fundamentals of setting up your businesses and how to be successful. Optimize YOUR Bnb: The Definitive Guide to Ranking #1 in Airbnb Search

Want to get rich quick? Airbnb could be the way to go!

There are plenty of people who are making decent sums of money each year from Airbnb. But it is a competitive market and if you want to succeed, you need to know how!

This book is written by Danny, who claims to be the best in the world at Airbnb. His book teaches you how to optimise your listing, leverage tools to automate your workload, undertake interior design without paying premium rates, navigate the slow season and identify and solve guest issues.

Owning a B&B is the dream of many…but where do you start?

This book teaches you all the basics in order to run a successful bed and breakfast business. It looks at types of customers, financial tools, preparing your home, marketing your property and managing profit.

Whatever business you are considering running/starting, the small business start up workbook will help you to be successful.

This practical and comprehensive workbook is packed with real-life case studies and practical exercises, checklists and worksheets, it provides a step-by-step guide to researching and formulating your business ideas, planning the right marketing strategies, and managing a team that will drive your vision forward with you.

Whilst not specific to tourism management, this book is a great addition to any travel and tourism reading list.

Do you have an idea in you? A hobby, a project, a product … something that could change your life? The Idea in You will help you to formulate a business plan and turn your idea into a reality.

Travel tips and advice

If you love travelling then you will love these books, which offer heaps of helpful travel tips and advice. I’ve read lots of these types of books and consolidated a list of my favourites below.

Not everyone travels on a budget, but most of us can’t resist saving money and getting a great bargain!

Matt Kepnes is one of my favourite travel bloggers. Specialising in budget travel, he has put together this brilliant guide on how to travel the world without breaking the bank. He offers some really helpful tips and advice from how to find the best bargains to using air miles to avoiding paying bank fees abroad.

Travel takes us to see wonderful places around the world, but sadly, it also helps to destroy those places.

This book is a fantastic guide which teaches you how you can offset the damage caused by travelling and help the local communities, economies and environments that you visit.

By being a sustainable tourist , you will feel better about your travels and help to preserve the places that you are visiting for future generations.

Travelling as a family has created my most special and favourite memories. My kids get so much out of travelling- after all, travel is the best education, so they say!

But travelling with small kids isn’t always easy. You need to adapt your travel habits and revise plans to suit the children. Your luggage will double in size. You will experience issues and dramas that had never crossed your mind pre-kids.

This book is great because it gives plenty of tips and advice about how best to travel with kids. A must-read for any avid travellers who are planning to start a family soon and for families who are yet to embrace life on the road.

Ever dreamed of travelling in a camper van? What an amazing experience, huh! But, there is a lot to learn if you’re going to do it properly…

Martin Dorey, acknowledged camper van expert and presenter of BBC2’s ‘One Man and His Campervan’, delves headfirst into the nitty gritty of camping and camper vans in this book, which makes a perfect addition to any camper glovebox.

In this book he covers four main areas of-

-Owning and living day to day with a camper van (LIVE)  – Cooking and eating in your camper (EAT)  – Sleeping in your camper (SLEEP)  – Keeping you and your van going (REPEAT)

Whilst this book is not directly about travelling, it does provide invaluable tips about how to manage your money. And more money=more travel, right?

This book is 5star rated on Amazon. It covers getting out of debt, developing savings, reordering material priorities, living well for less, resolving inner conflicts between values and lifestyle, saving the planet while saving money and much more.

If getting out and about amongst nature is your thing then you will love Bushcraft 101. Whether you’re the next Bear Grylls or trying your hand at glamping, there are many helpful tips and tricks in this guide.

Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, this guide is based on the 5Cs of Survivability-cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages. This guide teaches you the most important survival skills to use in a range of outdoor contexts.

Whilst I fundamentally disagree with the title (if you are travelling for leisure then you ARE a tourist , no matter what you do- and there is nothing wrong with that!), this book does offer some pretty handy tips.

This book presents a range of stories and anecdotes to help teach you how to make the most out of your travel experiences, get off the beaten paths and have a deep and meaningful experience.

Books to inspire wanderlust

Whether you are looking for a good holiday book or some night time reading, there is nothing better (in my opinion) than a book which inspires your inner wanderlust!

I personally love to snuggle up in bed on a cold winter’s evening when my next trip away is a distant dream and immerse myself in the adventures of others. Here are some of my favourites that I have read over the years. Some of these pop up on most ‘must read’ travel lists and others are lesser-known books that I have come across on my travels.

Alex Garland’s, The Beach, has a lot to answer for!

This is is one of the most popular travel books of all time and one of my all-time favourites. It is also the reason for the occurrence of overtourism in Maya Bay, Thailand and its subsequent temporary closure.

The Beach, later made into a film starring Leonardo Dicaprio, is based on the [once] pristine beach in Maya Bay, Thailand . When people started reading about this perfect, unspoilt beach , they bagan to flock there in their hundreds and thousands. Fast forward a decade or two and the area was filled with litter and flora and fauna dying. The beach has been closed to tourists to allow for rejuvenation in 2018 indefinitely.

Despite the current state of ‘The Beach’, the book itself is a fantastic read. It details the search for unspoilt lands and the life that these backpackers live when they find them. It is an absolute must-read for anyone who has caught ‘the travel bug’!

Another one of my favourites is Eat, Pray, Love. This book has also been made into a film , starring Julia Roberts. I am a massive fan, so much so that I think there was a time in my life when I watched this film at least twice a week!

Eat, Pray, Love documents a woman’s journey through Italy , India and Bali. On a journey of self-discovery (as many of us are during our travels at some point or another), this book takes you with her on an emotional and philosophical level.

Whilst this book may resonate more with women than men (my husband certainly isn’t a fan!), it is well worth a watch and will definitely spark some inner wanderlust!

Bryson’s Down Under is one of the best travel books I have ever read. I have vivid memories of starting to read it whilst laying in bed in my hostel in Sydney and finishing it shortly after I left Australia whilst in the Gili Islands .

This book is funny and informative- two criteria to make an excellent read! I learnt so much about Australia in this book, from the history of colonialism in the area to what life is like in the outback. This book really complimented my travels and helped to me to understand and appreciate what I was seeing and experiencing so much more.

If there is one book that you MUST read when travelling down under, it’s this one!

If, like many parents, you are nervous about travelling with your kids then read this!

How to be a Family is a funny memoir of a family round the world trip. It shows that travelling with kids doesn’t have to be stressful or cost the earth.

This one’s for the girls! Sand in my Bra is a hilarious collection of tales from females who have travelled all over the world from Alaska to Zanzibar. It’s a light-hearted read that will be sure to make you laugh. And I definitely have a few stories of my own that could be added to the collection…

This book gives you a sneak peak into a place that you will likely never travel to- North Korea . OK, so there are a few tours to the country but these are completely inauthentic , heavily censored and somewhat dangerous (one step wrong and you’re in a North Korean prison for the rest of your life…).

This book is a real page turner. It tells the story of Suki Kim, who travels to North Korea as an English teacher to learn about her heritage and culture . This book provides insights into the world’s most secretive country, many of which will shock you.

I definitely recommend this book if you plan to visit South Korea. No trip to Korea is complete without a trip to the DMZ and this book gives you some excellent background knowledge before you go.

I was sold this book by a street seller as I got off a bus upon my arrival in Cambodia. Prior to reading this book I knew little about the Khmer Rouge regime and about the country that I had just arrived in.

Whilst this book has many moments which are sad and scary, it really enabled me to develop a thorough understanding of the horrors that were suffered just three decades earlier. Yes, you can read guidebooks and information plaques, but hearing it through the words of a child who has lived through this time is something pretty special.

This is a book that I am currently reading at the moment and I am loving it so far! I grew my boobs in China is the story of a family’s four year backpacking adventure, as told by teenager Savannah Grace. Initially unimpressed to be dragged away from her school and her friends, Savannah ended up having what literally became the adventure of a lifetime.

Wild is another example of a popular travel book that has subsequently been made into a movie .

Whilst this isn’t my personal favourite book or movie, it is hugely popular around the world, which is why I included it in this list.

Wild is the story of Cheryl Strayed who set off on a journey to walk 1100 miles along the west coast of America alone. Bearing the grief of her mother’s sudden death and her crumbled marriage, she embarks on a spiritual journey fro lost to found.

The last book on my travel and tourism reading list is the Alchemist.

The reason it’s last is because I haven’t actually managed to finish it. Personally, I found this book a little slow going and I just haven’t managed to find the motivation to finish it yet…. having said that, many others have! In fact, I think I may be the only person in the world who doesn’t absolutely love this book!

The Alchemist is included on almost every list of recommended travel books I have ever read… which is why I have included it here. It might not be to my taste, but it could be to yours!

To finish off this article, I would love to ask for your suggestions of essential travel and tourism reading. Whether it’s a textbook, a how-to guide, fiction or non-fiction, please let me know what is missing from my travel and tourism reading list! You can use the comments box below.

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29 Children’s Books That Will Teach Your Kids About the World

By Caitlin Morton

Aside from actually hopping on a plane, reading is the best way for children to learn about the world—and travel books for kids happen to be some of the most touching, open-minded works out there. We asked around for recommendations for the best books that teach children about the world, polling experts like bookshop owners, authors, and librarians across the country.

You’ve probably heard of some of their picks already, but we hope this list will introduce your family to some new stories as well, whether it’s about a young girl shopping in India or a family taking a heritage trip to Nigeria. These are 29 of the best children’s books about travel, social awareness, and self-discovery—sure to be a hit for bedtime reading, road trips, and beyond.

This gallery was last published in April 2020. It has been updated with new information.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Ages: newborn to 3

Subway by Anastasia Suen

As the co-founder and owner of Eyeseeme , a children’s bookstore focused on African American and multicultural literature based in a St. Louis suburb, Pamela Blair is an expert when it comes to kids' books. For the youngest of youngsters, she loves Subway by Anastasia Suen, a board book showing a mother and daughter’s ride through New York City. “It makes riding the subway sound like fun,” says Blair.

Busy City by Maddie Frost

Blair also recommends Busy City as a great board book that teaches kids about travel and exploration. With engaging illustrations and simple concepts, Maddie Frost takes readers through the sights and sounds of city life, from honking trucks to rumbling construction sites.

A Little Engine That Could Road Trip series by Watty Piper

There’s a good chance you read The Little Engine That Could when you were a child. This new series from Penguin Books, which launches in May, follows everyone’s favorite helpful blue train as she travels through all 50 states to teach kids about the culture, food, and landmarks of the U.S. The board books are beautifully illustrated by Jill Howarth, who got a mini-education of her own during the artistic process. “Working on these books has been a great way to virtually travel this past year alongside the Little Engine,” she says. “Whether I’ve ever been in the states she goes to or not, I learned about some fun destinations. I hope little readers will enjoy the trip.”

Emily Pennington

Charlie Hobbs

Kaitlin Menza

CNT Editors

Babies Around the World by Puck

Babies love looking at other babies, which means your kids will love Babies Around the World . Another Eyeseeme pick, the board book travels around the world—with stops including Mexico City, Cape Town, Beijing, and Cairo—to meet babies saying “hello” in their languages.

My Little Cities series by Jennifer Adams

This board book series is a favorite of Olisha James, a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library’s Stapleton Branch on Staten Island. “The rhyming text takes you on a journey through the featured city, all while partnered with bright illustrations highlighting the city's tourist hot spots,” says James. “This series visits cities like New York, Paris, London, and San Francisco, reminding us that our littlest travelers need an accessible travel guide as well.”

Ages: 3 to 8

The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

This book, which shows all the different steps you take when traveling by plane, received high praise from both Blair and Amanda Hua, a children’s librarian at the Seattle Public Library. “For young children, the best travel guides are books that can help set expectations,” says Hua—which makes The Airport Book a great primer for new fliers. 

My Africa Vacation by Ozi Okaro

Another pick from the staff of Eyeseeme, My Africa Vacation follows five-year-old Arinze and his older sister Cheta as they take a family trip to Africa. The book tracks their vacation through 10 African countries, showing iconic sites like Victoria Falls and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as their grandfather’s village in Nigeria.

Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester

“On the surface, Let's Talk About Race appears to be a children's book, but it's so much more," says Rick Griffith of Matter, Denver’s only Black-owned bookstore . “'I'll take off my skin. Will you take off yours?' [It's] beautiful, poignant, full of questions, and open to discovering answers." The book was published in 2005, but remains as relevant and important today as ever.

Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell

Travel doesn’t have to be a long, international journey; sometimes, it simply involves a lovely afternoon spent exploring your own backyard. That’s the premise of Hiking Day , which is endorsed by Jennifer P. Davis, a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and contributing author of Macmillan’s Outdoor School series. “This book walks you through [hiking] in a way that will leave you lacing up your shoelaces and raring to go,” she says.

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin

We’re big fans of children’s author Jason Chin, as is Lynn Lobash, associate director of reader services at the New York Public Library. “This gorgeous picture book uses die cuts, pen and ink, watercolors, and gouache to depict a father and daughter trip to the Grand Canyon ,” says Lobash. “The text gives information about the plants, animals, and habitats found there. It includes a two-page map and wonderful back matter for curious minds.”

From My Window by Otávio Júnior

Ever wonder what people around the world view from their windows? That’s the premise of Otávio Júnior’s From My Window , a picture book depicting what children from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro see every day. The book comes highly recommended by Kalima DeSuze , activist and founder of the Cafe con Libros bookstore in Brooklyn. If you’re looking to stock up on more books, DeSuze applauds online bookseller Barefoot Books for “encourag[ing] curiosity in young people of different cultures.” 

Girl on a Motorcycle by Amy Novesky

Featured on the NYPL’s Best Books for Kids list for 2020, Girl on a Motorcycle tells the true story of the first woman to ride a motorcycle around the world alone. Louise Lareau, managing librarian at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Children’s Center in New York City, calls it a “great book that highlights the idea of exploring places that are off the beaten path.”

A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram

Another pick from DeSuze, A Gift for Amma tells the story of a young girl in India who searches for a gift for her mother in an Indian street market. The picture book was inspired by author Meera Sriram’s experiences growing up in Chennai , and features beautiful, vibrant illustrations. 

This Is… series by Miroslav Sasek

“Picture books are a great way to introduce kids to the cities they will be visiting,” says Jenny Rosenoff, a children’s librarian at the SNFL Children’s Center. This series from Miroslav Sasek showcases different cities around the world, ranging from Paris to Hong Kong—and is proven to have a real impact on youngsters. “A family from one of our Shelf Help bundles asked for NYC books [and we recommended this,]” says Rosenoff. "Then they sent us a photo of their kid by a painting at the Met. They said [the This Is New York book] saved the trip because she was so excited to see something she recognized.”

Lonely Planet's City Trails series by Moira Butterfield

Another great option for learning about cities around the world, Lonely Planet’s City Trails books feature fun cartoon graphics that will teach children of all ages about history and culture. The series was recommended by the staff of both the NYPL and SPL. “[The books] break down the city into bite-sized chunks,” says NYPL’s Rosenoff. “Because who wants to overwhelm a kid with too much text when they’re looking to explore?”

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat by Raúl the Third

The sequel to Raúl the Third’s much-lauded ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market , ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat was published in 2020 and is another recommendation from Lobash. “If you enjoyed Richard Scary's Busytown books as a kid, you will love this makeover set in a border town where Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé make deliveries to Mercado de Chauhtémoc la Curiosidad, and Spanish and English words intermingle on the page,” she says. “The art is in a fresh comic style matching the energy of the bustling market.”

A Walk in… series by Salvatore Rubbino

Whether your kids want to explore London, Paris, or New York, these books are sure to fit the bill. “Rubbino’s series covers the landmarks and streetscapes that families usually see when visiting these cities,” says SNFL's Lareau. “With fun artwork, the series portrays parent/child explorations of a new city.”

Ages: 5 to 9

Ty's Travels series by Kelly Starling Lyons

The books in the Ty’s Travels series are great for early readers, and Eyeseeme's Blair particularly loves All Aboard and Zip Zoom , both of which follow the title character as he uses his imagination to go on incredible journeys—most of which can happen just in time for dinner.

Yasmin the Explorer by Saadia Faruqi

Yasmin is an energetic second-grader who loves to use her imagination. When her dad teaches her about explorers and maps, Yasmin decides to make a map of her neighborhood and she brings it along on a trip to the farmers' market. “[It’s the] perfect book for exploring the neighborhood and creating your own map,” says Mai Takahasi, a children’s librarian at SPL.

Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

For early readers, you can’t do much better than Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series, another favorite of NYPL’s Lobash. In each book, Jack and Annie go on adventures back in time and all over the world, visiting the Amazon , Ancient Egypt, Kenya , and Yosemite National Park in 1903—just to name a few places.

Ages: 6 to 10

Ana & Andrew series by Christine Platt

Ana and Andrew live in Washington, D.C., with their parents, and go on many adventures both at home and abroad that teach them about Black and African American history and culture. Blair specifically recommends Going to Ghana , which talks about the African slave trade, and Dancing at Carnival , where the siblings learn how their Trinidadian ancestors developed the festive holiday .

The World Between Blinks by Ryan Graudin

Whether books chronicle travel to real places or imaginary (as is the case with The World Between Blinks ), you can usually count on a fun read with lifelong lessons involved. “This fun, fast paced story sets off on Folly Beach , South Carolina, [near Charleston ] but soon the children discover a fantasy world where all lost things go,” says Mary Alice Monroe , author of The Islanders , a middle-grade novel out in June. “Everywhere they turn, real mysteries from history and myths are uncovered—thus fun for children and adults alike.”

My Awesome Japan Adventure by Rebecca Otowa

Books written in diary format are some of the most exciting to read, as evidenced by this tale of an American fifth-grader visiting Japan for four months. “With lots of personality and illustrations, the book covers the food, culture, and history of Japan in a fun way,” says SPL’s Hua.

Same Sun Here by Silas House

This chapter book explores different areas of the U.S., describing them to our would-be travelers, but the story, written from the perspective of two characters, is so much more. Through a school pen pal assignment, the characters meet and find common ground talking about environmental activism, immigration, and racism. This is “a book for our times,” says SPL children’s librarian Betsy Kluck-Keil.

Walking with Ramona: Exploring Beverly Cleary's Portland by Laura O. Foster

Forget Portlandia —this book is the coolest way to learn about Portland , Oregon. “As a child, I devoured Beverly Cleary's books and the antics of Ramona, Beezus, Henry, and Ribsy,” says SPL children's librarian Beatriz Pascual-Wallace. “What a treat now to find this guide! Families who are fans of the books can experience Klickitat Street for themselves with this informative and fun tour guide.”

For all ages

National Geographic Kids Beginner's World Atlas

“For those visual learners who love facts, this could be the ticket to prepping for a big trip,” says SPL’s Kluck-Keil. “These have a little bit of everything around the world to whet your appetite to explore new places.” Kluck-Keil also recommends National Geographic Kids Beginner's U.S. Atlas 2020 for U.S. travelers.

United Tastes of America by Gabrielle Langholtz

"The first thing that comes to my mind when I'm thinking about travel books for kids is United Tastes of America ,” says Kevin Kelley, NYPL’s after school program coordinator and chair of Best Books for Kids 2021. The book is a geographical atlas of region-specific recipes from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and three territories. It’s a “fun and unique way to think about different ways we can experience travel using all of our senses,” says Kelley.

Brick City: Global Icons to Make from Lego by Warren Elsmore

Legos and travel? We can’t think of a better combination. Elsmore’s massive book is like a visual dictionary of the world’s landmarks, all made out of Legos. NYPL’s Rosenoff calls it a great way “to introduce famous buildings to children before seeing them.”

Lonely Planet's Not for Parents series

As the title suggests, this Lonely Planet series isn't made up of your average guide books for adults. Instead of tips for where to find the best meals or cups of coffee, these books show where to find Platform 9 ¾ in London for Harry Potter fans and explain why New York taxis are yellow. The books are a favorite of NYPL’s Lobash.

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Travel and tourism books

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclaimer here . Always remember to be a responsible tourist . See this travel resources post to plan your next trip.

(Last updated on: )

Travel and tourism books are an important part of learning and every travel and tourism based course should have a travel and tourism student reading list. Below I have listed some of the most popular and highly recommended travel and tourism books for different student levels and courses. These are perfect additions for your school/college library.

Travel and tourism books for level 1/ 2/ beginners

There are some great travel and tourism books that will introduce beginner-level travel and tourism students to the travel and tourism industry. I have listed some of the best below.

BTEC Tech Award in Travel and Tourism Student Book

Whilst this book is geared specifically towards the criteria set out by BTEC for their level 2 technical award, it is actually a great fit for any beginner level travel and tourism student. The simply an d easy to understand language used throughout and range of examples given makes it perfect for any school-aged/ level 1 or 2 learner.

Becoming Cabin Crew: A course textbook designed to support BTEC, NCFE and City & Guilds qualifications

I am proud to have written this book myself a couple of years ago. It is perfect for any students who are studying Cabin Crew as well as employability skills.

Travel and tourism books for level 3/ college/ university

The books below are perfect for introducing your students to some of the higher-level content that they will be exposed to during a university course. These are beginner-level academic texts that cover a broad range of content.

Tourism: Principles and Practice

This is the ultimate beginner’s guide for any travel and tourism student and is on almost every university travel and tourism reading list.

This book covers all of the core travel and tourism management subjects and the explanations are clear and easy to understand.

There are multiple editions, so if you’r budget is tight, opt for an older copy to save a few pennies!

The Business of Tourism

This book is an essential text for students of tourism management or travel and tourism.

It provides background theory and research that is easy to understand. It also has lots of relevant and current case studies.

Tourism: A Modern Synthesis

The world is changing and evolving quickly and the tourism industry must keep up.

This book looks at the modern-day issues that are effecting the travel and tourism industry. It examines new and emerging markets and disruptive technologies such as the sharing economy , low cost airlines and e-travel. It also includes current debates on sustainable tourism , future jobs in travel and tourism and generational marketing.

Worldwide Destinations: The geography of travel and tourism

Every travel and tourism reading list should have a geography-based element, because geography is such an important part of travel!

This book is great because it explores the concepts of tourism demand and supply for a comprehensive range of destinations and every country worldwide.

This book is essential reading for any travel and tourism student!

The Geography of Tourism and Recreation: Environment, Place and Space

Another geography-based text, this book combines management theory with a range of geographical case-studies around the world.

Unit-specific books

There are also a wide range of travel and tourism books that are suitable for specific units or modules that students may be studying (e.g. marketing, sustainable tourism). I have included recommending reading at the end of each article that I have written on this website. I am also happy to provide a recommended reading list specific for what you are teaching- just drop me an email at [email protected] and I will provide you with your own personalised travel and tourism reading list.

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Hi, I'm Dr Hayley Stainton

Through Tourism Teacher I share my knowledge on the principles and practice of travel and tourism management from both an academic and practical perspective.

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Best Travel Books for Kids: Fun and Educational Books to Inspire Wanderlust

If you’re looking for a way to inspire wanderlust in your little ones, these travel books for kids are the perfect way to do it! From learning about new cultures to exploring different parts of the world, these books will keep your child entertained and educated while travelling or planning your next adventure.

Books have always been important in our family and my kids love reading – ever since they were babies. And since we love to travel, it seemed obvious to have lots of travel books for them to read. Not only are these travel books good to read at home but they’re also great to take when travelling with kids and help your child learn about where you are travelling to.

These are some of our favorite travel books for kids – all of which are sure to get your family excited about exploring the world!

Best Educational Travel Books for Kids

The travel book: a journey through every country in the world (lonely planet kids).

First on our list is this awesome travel book by Lonely Planet Kids. You know anything published by Lonely Planet is going to be good, and The Travel Book does not disappoint. It’s filled with information on every single country in the world, making it the perfect way to learn about new cultures and destinations. And, there’s plenty of fun facts and beautiful photos for kids of all ages to enjoy.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World

Another well-respected travel publisher, National Geographic always produces high-quality, informative books. The First Big Book of the World is perfect for kids who are interested in learning about different countries and their customs. This book is packed with fascinating facts and beautiful photos about each country that will make your child want to explore the world even more. It’s also divided into sections by continent, so you can easily find the information you’re looking for.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Where

For younger kids who are just starting to learn about geography, the First Big Book of Where is a great place to start. This book is filled with colorful maps and photographs that will help your child learn about all the different places in the world. With sections on continents, countries, landmarks, animals, oceans, and more, this book makes learning about geography fun and exciting.

The Flag Book (Lonely Planet Kids)

Another great book from Lonely Planet Kids, this book is a fun way to learn about the flags of different countries around the world. It’s full of information about the flag’s design, and what the colours, patterns and symbols represent, along with other interesting facts.

Amazing World Atlas: Bringing Our World to Life (Lonely Planet Kids)

Explore every continent of the world in this Amazing World Atlas . Another great book from Lonely Planet Kids, this world atlas is great for slightly older kids (recommended ages 8+) and it’s full of history, culture and fascinating facts. More than just maps, it’s divided into sections based on the continents, with information about the landscape and population of each country.  

National Geographic Kids World Atlas

This is the perfect book for kids who are interested in geography and want to learn more about the world around them. The World Atlas includes maps and information on different countries, as well as photos and facts about each one.

Travel Journal (Lonely Planet Kids)

This travel journal is perfect for kids who love to document their adventures. It’s filled with prompts and ideas for writing about where they are travelling or where they’ve been. It also includes a world map, so your child can track where they’ve been. There’s plenty of space to write, draw, colour or add fun stickers to add to the pages and turn it into a vacation scrapbook.

If you’re doing a family road trip in the United States, you might also like the National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas .

Travel Book Series for Kids

City trails series.

These great books from Lonely Planet are geared towards older kids, but there’s nothing to say that younger kids won’t enjoy them too. Explore the streets of the city on a walking trip with two Lonely Planet Explorers and discover secrets, fun stories and surprises in cities around the world.

This Is… (Miroslav Sasek)

These books are an amazing way to introduce children to different cities and countries around the world. The series includes ten books featuring popular cities such as London, Paris and Rome, as well as others like Venice, Munich and Edinburgh plus countries such as Australia and Ireland. Each book is filled with interesting facts and beautiful illustrations by painter Miroslav Sasek.

Travel with Me and See Series (Nancy Delevoye)

This series of travel books is perfect for kids who want to explore different cities, countries and cultures. Join B and her friends while she explores Paris, London and New York. Travel with Me and See is filled with beautiful photos, interesting facts and fun activities. It’s the perfect series for kids who love to travel.

Kids Who Travel the World Series (Lisa Webb)

In this series, join two adventurous sisters as they travel the world and learn new things along the way. The books explore Rome, Paris, London, an Africa Safari and our personal favourite – Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario ! Explore with them as they visit all the must-see landmarks.

A Walk In… Series (Salvatore Rubbino)

This series introduces children to three cities around the world: London, Paris and New York. In each book, follow a child as they walk through a city and discover all the amazing things it has to offer. The illustrations in these books are beautiful, and the stories are captivating. Your child will love following the adventures of these little explorers.

Molly and the Magic Suitcase (Chris Oler)

In the Magic Suitcase series , Molly and her brother Michael use their magic suitcase to travel the world and explore new places. Through their adventures, kids will learn about language, culture, cuisine and make new friends. While the series features popular cities such as Rome and London, other places such as Shanghai, Panama and Copenhagen are also explored.

Magic Treehouse (Mary Pope Osborne)

This fun series is about two siblings who go back in time and have adventures all over the world. While they are longer fictional stories than some of the others we’ve mentioned, kids who enjoy chapter books will love reading these stories and learning about different places around in the world in different times. Visit Ancient Rome and Pompeii, head to the mountains of Nepal or go back in time to Ancient Egypt and explore the pyramids.

Another popular series for kids is Diary of a Wimpy Kid. While it’s not a travel-related series, one of the books, called The Long Haul , is all about a family road trip that has plenty of misadventures. If your child enjoys Diary of a Wimpy Kid, be sure to pick up this book before heading out on a family road trip!.

Best Travel Books for Young Kids & Toddlers

The little engine that could road trip series.

In this series of board books , the classic children’s character the Little Engine That Could, takes a road trip across the United States. In each book, the little blue train visits a different state and learns about the culture, food and landmarks in that state. The books are perfect for toddlers as they are filled with bright colours and fun illustrations.

Around the World…(Phi dal Publishing)

Like other Busy Books, the books in this series feature a story plus figurines and a playmat to bring the characters to life. Each book is filled with beautiful illustrations and help children learn about four different cities around the world – London, Paris, New York and Rome.

All Aboard! (Kevin Meyers)

This board book series is beautifully illustrated and introduces your baby to the world by train. Explore popular cities such as Paris, London and New York or other areas such as California, Texas and the National Parks. There’s also a book in the series on the Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest.

Good Night Our World (Penguin Random House)

Another great series for toddlers, these board books are filled with bright, colourful illustrations and short simple phrases. Each book celebrates a different country or city, although there are also books on the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and topics about travelling, like planes, trains, the beach and camping.

Travel Activity Books for Kids

The travel activity book (lonely planet kids).

This is a great activity book to complement The Travel Book by Lonely Planet Kids that we mentioned above, or it can be just be used on its own. Travel across the continents and learn about cities, landscapes, animals and diverse cultures around the world through fun activities. There are plenty of stickers, colourful illustrations and photos to keep kids engaged and learning at the same time.

The Cities Activity Book

Similar to the Travel Activity Book, the Cities Activity Book is a fun way to keep kids having fun while learning about the world. With colorful illustrations, fun facts and lots of stickers, kids will have fun exploring some of the world’s most amazing cities.

I hope you enjoyed these travel books for kids. If you have any other great books to add to this list, let us know in the comments below!

Erin Martin is the founder and sole writer for Wanderlust with Kids. Together with her twin boys, they have travelled to over 20 countries and five provinces within Canada. Erin is responsible for planning and facilitating all of her family's travel itineraries and adventures, whether locally or internationally. An explorer at heart, Erin aims to make any travel adventure kid-friendly and shares all her favourite family-friendly things to do, both in Canada and abroad.

Great list! Very helpful that you broke out books specifically for the younger toddlers too.

Thanks for the list. Having something useful for kids to keep them entertained at the same time that they learn is super important.

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15 of the Best Travel Books for Kids

If your kids love travelling as much as you, then having some of the best travel books for kids at home is brilliant for keeping the passion alive between trips particularly if you’ve recently had to cancel a trip due to coronavirus.  It’s a great way to travel without leaving home !

We love buying different children’s books about travel for Myla as gifts for her birthday or Christmas.  She loves them too.  Not only do good travel books for children, get the kids excited about their next trip, but it also teaches them about the wonderful world we live in and its people.

Whether you’re looking for some kids travel books as gifts for the little people in your life or need to keep the travel dream alive during these periods of world travel bans – then this is the perfect guide for you.

In this guide on childrens books about travel – I’ve listed a range of fun travel books for kids of all ages.  Whether you’re after the best atlas for kids, a baby travel book, travel books for toddlers or older children’s travel books, this guide covers it all.

I had so much fun putting this guide together and even found some great ideas for Myla.

This post may contain compensated links.  Please refer to my disclaimer  here  for more information.

Page Contents

• 1 15 of the Best Travel Books for Kids 
• 2 Quick Comparison Table of Children’s Books About Travel 
• 3.1 The Best Atlas for Kids: Children’s Illustrated Atlas
• 3.2 Hello World
• 3.3 Lonely Planet: First Words
• 3.4 Dr Seuss – Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
• 3.5 National Geographic: Little Kids First Big Book of the World
• 3.6 Travel Bug Goes to Series
• 3.7 This is Series
• 3.8 Lonely Planet: The Travel Book
• 3.9 Lonely Planet: City Trails
• 3.10 Lonely Planet: Let’s Explore
• 3.11 Lonely Planet: Backyard Explorer
• 3.12 Lonely Planet: Not For Parents
• 3.13 Busy Busy World
• 3.14 The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid
• 3.15.1 Do you want to keep this handy for later? 
• 3.15.2 Click on one of the images below to save it to Pinterest.

15 of the Best Travel Books for Kids  

To come up with this list of the best children’s books about the world, I’ve asked for recommendations from our followers, other family travel bloggers as well as researched the best selling children travel books on Amazon.  I have no doubt there are a million other great childrens travel books, but this is a pretty good list to get you started.

Quick Comparison Table of Children’s Books About Travel  

Don’t have time to read the entire review on the best children’s travel books?  Below is a handy table of all the books in this guide with some brief information and a link for where you can buy the book online.

Please note the age group is just a guide and will really depend on the individual child.

Keep reading below for further information on these books.

Top Travel Books for Children  

Let’s get into it and in no particular order, check out some of the best travel books for kids currently available!

The Best Atlas for Kids: Children’s Illustrated Atlas

The Children’s Illustrated Atlas is hands down one of Myla’s favourite children’s books about places around the world.  She literally reads this book at least once a week.

Across 128 pages, this kids atlas has more than 50 colourful maps of countries around the world.  Each map includes interesting facts about the country including famous landmarks, climate, native animals and its people.  You can use this atlas to create a range of fun and educational activities for the kids at home.

For parents after a great children’s atlas, I highly recommend this.  It’s perfect for primary school aged children.

Click here for more information or to buy now.

Hello World

Hello World is a series of gorgeous hardboard books aimed at young toddler travellers.  These books have gorgeous colourful illustrations which feature famous landmarks, architecture, food and culture of various cities across the world.

As well as inspiring young travellers, these books help children recognize shapes, opposites, senses, numbers and colours.  Books available include shapes in Paris , opposites in London , senses in Tokyo , colours in New York , numbers in San Francisco or sounds in Rio De Janeiro .

These are such a gorgeous series of books and make perfect gifts if you’re looking for a travel activity book for toddlers or baby books about travel.

Click here for more information or to buy now.  

Lonely Planet: First Words

We all know there is a stack of great Lonely Planet kids books out there so it’s not surprisingly I’ve listed quite a few here in this guide.  First up are the First Words series , which teach children some of the basic words from languages around the world.

Each book contains 100 words which are useful while travelling.  Words include things related to food, transport, animals, weather and more.  Each double page of the book covers one word, with a pronunciation guide as well as a range of colourful illustrations to give the word context as well as keep it interesting for little travellers.

The First Words book are available in Spanish ,   Japanese ,   Mandarin , Italian and French .  These are great books for kids about to go on an overseas trip with their families.

Each book also comes with a free audio guide.

Dr Seuss – Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Dr Seuss is always a favourite isn’t it – with both kids and parents alike. Oh, The Places You’ll Go!  always comes up on any best travel book list for kids.

In this book, Dr Seuss takes us through all the mishaps that occur while out on our adventures.  It has a great message for kids, encouraging children to seize the moment, be brave and seek out new adventures, and never to be afraid of failure.

Of course like with any Dr Seuss book, this book is full of fun illustrations and easy to read text helping children to develop their reading skills.

National Geographic: Little Kids First Big Book of the World

Myla just loves her National Geographic books , so if you’re after just one general book about the world for your young traveller, I’d highly recommend the Little Kids First Big Book of the World.

Across 128 pages, this book has a range of interesting facts about languages, landscapes, weather, animals, capital cities and more.

The book has a range of beautiful photographs, easy to read text (great for developing little ones reading skills) and a range of questions to encourage your child to discuss what they are reading with other members of the family.

If your child loves these books, I’d also recommend their yearly book , we get this for Myla each for Christmas and she again just loves it.

These National Graphic books are perfect for any parent looking for children books about travelling around the world.

Travel Bug Goes to Series

Another great series of books for toddlers or preschoolers, Travel Bug is a cute character that travels around the world to different countries and cities.  In these picture books about travelling around the world, Travel Bug includes famous landmarks, food, history and culture.

These preschool books about travel are available for Chicago , Mexico , China , France , Australia , San Francisco , New York City , Paris , Iceland , Italy , America and Europe .

These are great books to buy for little travellers who might be visiting one of these destinations or just enjoys learning about new places.

Click here for more information or to buy the book  

This is Series

The This is Series  of books were first published back in the 1950s and have recently been updated to bring them into the twenty first century.  Available in a range of cities and countries around the world, these children’s books about travelling around the world are designed to inspire young children to travel the world.

Each travel picture book has beautiful illustrations, capturing a range of scenes from the destinations as well as plenty of fun facts for the young inspired traveller.  The series is available for 18 different destinations including, Paris , Venice , London , New York and Rome .

Lonely Planet: The Travel Book

The Travel Book takes children through every country on the planet.  Every country has its own full page, where information is provided such as the country’s landscapes, wildlife, landmarks, language, people as well as random fun facts.

There are two versions of this kids world travel guide. The older version has 212 pages and in addition to beautiful photographs, it has lots of fun illustrations designed for younger children.  The newer version has 408 pages and only features photographs and is designed to appeal to the older child.

With general information on every single country in the world, this is such a great book for a child who loves to travel.  

Lonely Planet: City Trails

City Trails  is kind of like the traditional Lonely Planet guides, but for kids.  Designed for primary school aged children, these travel guides provide children with a range of information about a particular destination.

The books take children on a trip around the city – hence the name of the book City Trails.  Each kids travel guide lists out a range of attractions and places of interest within the city and what children can expect to see and do there.

The City Trails series are available for a range of cities including London , Tokyo , Paris , New York City , Rome , Sydney , Singapore and more.

These are great books to give children prior to a holiday and encourages them to really get in involved with the trip planning process.  

Lonely Planet: Let’s Explore

If you’re looking for travel activity books for kids, Let’s Explore is another one of the great series of books from Lonely Planet.  These books are about two young explorers Marco and Amelia who travel to a range of different landscapes across the world including Safari , Ocean , Desert , City , Mountain and Jungle .

Each of the Let’s Explore books is 48 pages and include a range of puzzles, colouring in, have over 250 stickers as well as some interesting facts.

Whether you’re after a kids travel activity book for at home or while travelling, the Lonely Planet Let’s Explore range is a good one to consider.

Lonely Planet: Backyard Explorer

With all of us staying at home right now, Backyard Explorer is the perfect book!  Another excellent children’s book by Lonely Planet, Backyard Explorer helps children get out and explore what’s in their very own backyards.

Backyard Explorer is full of fun activities for the kids including things to make, do and find.  Some of the activities include cloud spotting, making a skyline college, completing a scavenger hunt and more. 

This is a great book for those kids who keep complaining that they are bored – with this book they will find plenty to do in and around their own home.

Lonely Planet: Not For Parents

The last of all the Lonely Planets listed in this guide, Not For Parents are a series of books somewhat like the traditional Lonely Planet guides but for kids.  These books include a range of interesting facts, stories and things to do in places across the world.

Each book is around 100 pages and includes stories about interesting people, details of super cool attractions and landmarks,

The books are available for a range of countries, continents and cities including Australia , USA , China , Africa , Paris , Europe , Asia , Britain , Rome , London , New York , South America and more.

These books would be the perfect gift to buy a child planning a trip to one of these destinations as it encourages them to get involved in the planning stage as well as gets them excited about their trip.  

Busy Busy World

For the younger travellers, they will love the Busy Busy World  by Richard Scarry.  This book takes children through 33 different places around the world including New York, Paris and Tokyo.

The book tells 33 different funny stories about a range of characters from across the world including butchers, fishermen, house painters and more.  Across 96 pages, this book features bright and colourful illustrations with easy to read text which engages young children and inspires them to explore the world. 

This book was written in the 1960s, yet still manages to capture the attention of young travellers today.  

The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid

The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid is another one of Myla’s favourite books.  Featuring 100 different places from 47 different countries, this book focuses on the world’s most fascinating places – both natural and manmade.

Over 112 pages, this book looks at 100 different places around the world, listing out interesting facts, stories and places to visit.  Popular places such as England and Mexico are featured as well as less known places including Azerbaijan and Namibia.  However don’t except popular tourist attractions in this book, this book is for the serious travellers wanting to learn about more offbeat places.

Given this book is about the more unusual tourist destinations in the world, this book is better suited to the child that already has a few travel books and is now looking for something a little different.  

 Click here for more information or to buy now.

Bluey: The Beach

Most little ones are already fans of the TV show Bluey – so if you’re after airplane books for toddlers Bluey: The Beach is a lovely little book.  In this book, Bluey’s family goes to the beach and the book is all about the fun encounters Bluey has throughout the day. 

This is a lovely hardboard book, with beautiful illustrations just perfect for young travellers off on a beach holiday with their family.  

__________________________________________________________

I hope you found this guide on the best travel books for kids useful. 

If you’re looking for more things for kids that love to travel, check out kids gift guide here . and the best travel themed board games for kids here .  

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Click on one of the images below to save it to pinterest..

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21 Best Travel Books for Kids to Inspire a Love of Travel

Every child needs a few travel books on their shelves to spark a love of adventure. The best travel books for kids explore other cultures, tales of adventure, and stories of dramatic landscapes, and improve kids’ understanding of the world and their place in it.

Below you can find many suggestions for the best children’s travel books broken up into different categories. With 3 growing kids in our own home, we’ve made a point to read as many travel books for kids as we can and we’re share our favorites in the list below.

The list below of the best kids’ travel books includes picture travel books for toddlers and young kids as well as more complex books and short chapter books for older kids. If you are looking for the best travel books for teens and tweens, check out this post: The 10 Best Travel Books for Teens to Inspire Adventure .

As an Amazon Affiliate, I receive compensation from qualifying purchases

Best General Adventure and Travel Books for Kids

Join Madlenka as she wanders around the streets of New York City but really explores places all around the world. Madlenka experiences the rich mixing pot of the city and the people and places her neighbors have come from in this clever book.

National Parks of the USA

This is a wonderful travel book for everyone! The book covers all the US National Parks and shares stories, animal facts, plants,,, and the history of each of the parks. Inspire your kids for a summer road trip! Remember all 4th graders in the US get a US National Parks Pass , which is the perfect excuse to get out and explore.

Oh the Places You’ll Go

This classic kid’s travel book is less about going to specific places, and more about the journey of the adventure. Instill the idea that the world is out there to explore!

This beautiful book explores the imaginary world of a young girl on an epic journey. While the places aren’t real, this is the perfect book for kids who love adventure and fantasy.

Best Travel Book for Kids: Culture and History

Molly and the Magic Suitcase Series

In each book, Molly and Michael explore a different part of the world with the help of Molly’s Magic Suitcase. A good introduction to each place for young kids.

From My Window

What do kids see from their windows around the world? This book explores what do children see from their windows in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. This

Hamish the Hairy Haggis

Explore Scotland with this silly book about Hamish the Hairy Haggis. This is a good one for the adults too!

Best Children’s Books about Travel: Places and Animals

This book is full of beautiful maps of places around the world. Through the maps, you can explore animals, history, culture, and so much more. This book is wonderful for many ages and is a family travel book everyone can enjoy.

Atlas of Adventures: A collection of natural wonders, exciting experiences and fun festivities from the four corners of the globe

This is a fun and exciting book about places all around the world. You can find some activities and challenges in the book and find new places to add to your list of places to explore.

The Travel Book Lonely Planet Kids

Lonely Planet puts out amazing travel booking and their kid’s version is no exception. This book briefly explores every country in the world including some territories. The Lonely Planet Kids’s Travel Book includes maps, photos and enticing text.

Best Chapter Books About Travel for Kids

Travel Books by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan has written a series of books that are perfect for exploring the culture of other places, specifically mythology. This is a fun book to read to get some background in mythology in a fun wa

Magic Treehouse Series

This book series follows Jack and Annie as they take their magic treehouse around the world and through time. Explore the history, culture, and environment of real places throughout history and inspire a new sense of wonder in your kids. We loved this series!

Best Travel Books for Toddlers and Babies

My Africa Vacation

Best for kids ages K-3rd grade. This book follows Arinze as she travels with her family over the amazing continent of Africa.

What do You See Around the World, a Look and Find Book

A look in find book for the youngest with vibrant pictures from around the world.

Little Traveler Board Book Set

This small series of books has pictures from around the world to introduce the youngest travelers to the world of travel. If you are looking for travel books for kids, this series is a great one to start with.

A sweet little book about hiking a mountain. This book is great for preschool and kindergarten-age kids and is perfect for inspiring your next travel and hiking adventure.

Best Activity Travel Books for Kids

Sometimes the best travel books for kids are interactive with puzzles, challenges and more. The books below are all great options if you are looking for something to explore the world of travel and many of these books are excellent options for taking with you on your next trip.

Tips for Reading Travel Books with your Kids

Reading travel books with your kids can be a fantastic way to introduce them to new cultures, broaden their horizons, and ignite their sense of adventure. Here are eight tips to make the most of this experience:

• Choose Age-Appropriate Books : Select travel books that are suitable for your child’s age and reading level. Look for books with engaging illustrations and easy-to-understand language for younger children, and more detailed content for older kids.
• Incorporate Interactive Maps : Use maps to help your kids visualize the locations mentioned in the book. You can point out the countries, cities, and landmarks on a globe or map while reading. This will make the places come alive for them. Maps can be abstract for younger kids so keep it simple.
• Plan Related Activities : Coordinate activities that relate to the destinations in the book. This could include cooking a dish from the region, trying out local crafts, or even learning a few basic phrases in the language spoken there.
• Discuss Cultural Differences : Encourage discussions about the cultural differences and similarities between your child’s own culture and the places described in the book. This can help your child develop empathy and cultural awareness.
• Keep a Travel Journal : Have your child keep a travel journal or scrapbook while reading. They can draw pictures, jot down interesting facts, or write about what they would like to do if they ever visit the place.
• Watch Documentaries or Films : Enhance the reading experience by watching documentaries or films about the destinations featured in the book. This multimedia approach can make the places and cultures even more captivating.
• Create a Reading Routine : Establish a reading routine, such as reading a chapter from the travel book before bedtime or on weekends. Consistency helps maintain your child’s interest in the book.
• Encourage Questions and Exploration : Invite your child to ask questions about the places they read about and explore those questions together. You can also visit local museums, cultural events, or international restaurants to further pique their curiosity.

Reading travel books with your kids not only fosters a love for reading but also exposes them to the wonders of the world, promotes curiosity, and helps them understand and appreciate diverse cultures. It’s an enriching and educational experience that can create lasting memories.

Did I miss your favorite travel books for children? Leave a comment and share your favorite books about the world for kids below.

About the Author: Gretchen Stuppy Carlson

A passionate adventurer and travel agent dedicated to getting families outside and exploring. Gretchen is an expert in adventure travel with 15+ years of experience working in outdoor education and travelling with her own family.

View all post by Gretchen Stuppy Carlson | Website

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35 best travel books for kids to inspire them to explore the globe

Do you read with your kids every day? If you’re anything like me, you do, and you might be getting tired of the same old titles. That’s one reason I put together this comprehensive list of the best travel books for kids. From learning about the world’s many cultures, places and people to diving into exactly how your luggage gets onto a plane, these children’s books about travel will make you and your nuggets itch for your next trip.

We don’t travel all the time. But during the weeks we’re at home, we still like to send our imaginations to far-off lands. That’s why reading is such an important part of our daily life.

Whether your kids are already world travelers or are just starting their adventurous ways, I’m pretty certain they’ll love these travel books for kids. I put together a list of the best children’s books about travel because I believe what we read shapes us. These travel books are all about inspiring curiosity, learning about other places, embracing diversity and embracing wanderlust.

I can’t wait to hear what you think about our favorite travel books for kids!

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking and buying earns me a small income at no extra cost to you, helping me continue to bring you free family travel advice!

Children’s books about traveling the world

Atlas of adventures.

The Atlas of Adventures is a sturdy, thick book for a reason: There are so many things to do, see and explore on this wide world of ours, and this travel book for kids shows many of them!

I like this children’s book because each two-page spread shows a detailed scene of life someplace in the world. From bathing elephants in Thailand to ice-skidding Emperor penguins in Antarctica, the adventures that await are too numerous to count.

The colorful illustrations in Atlas of Adventures will inspire your kids’ imagination and wanderlust.

Everything & Everywhere

This children’s book about the world is perfect for curious kids. It is jam-packed with illustrations and facts about different places, from Hong Kong to Paris. (You will come away with tidbits of knowledge, too, that you might just be able to use at trivia night!)

Edie and Max loves this style of book, which includes a treasure trove of detail. They pore over the illustrations, pointing to each one and asking me about it—”Why is that guy dressed like that? Is that animal nocturnal? Have you ever ridden a yellow taxi?”

Each time you flip through Everything & Everywhere , you’ll find some new detail to explore.

A Ticket Around the World

I fantasize about doing an around the world trip. I haven’t made that happen for my family (yet!) but in the meantime can pretend we’re doing so with A Ticket Around the World , a children’s book about travel!

In this book, a young boy takes us along as he visits 13 countries on 6 continents. And in each destination, he makes a local friend who shares some of the best things about their home.

Each page is based on a map, so kids get the beginning of a geography primer, too. More of interest to most kids, though, are the fun details about every page—like the monkeys that live outside one child’s house in Costa Rica and how people cross the desert in Morocco.

I like that at the end of the story, the main character asks questions that challenge readers to recall details from each country. It’s a terrific way to not only “travel” from the comfort of your home but learn about countries around the world.

Gifts , by Jo Ellen Bogart, is a book that gets me right in the nostalgia muscle. It’s a sweet story about an adventurous grandmother who brings back something special for her granddaughter from her travels. But these aren’t typical souvenirs. The girl asks for true experiences of travel—like the feeling of mist, the kiss of a warm sunrise, a gentle breeze.

The grandmother visits places all over the world, from Australia to Mexico’s pyramids. Meanwhile, the little girl grows up and the grandmother gets older and frailer.

You and your kids will love the gift on the final page. It got me right in the feels.

If your kids like diving into detailed books, they’ll love Maps —a book of 52 intricately detailed maps covering every region of the globe.

Yes, these maps display a country or continent’s geography, with mountains, cities and rivers. Each map is also filled with illustrations of what makes that place special. Animals, native plants, famous people, fun facts and awesome things to do—you and your kids will finish this travel book knowing so much more about the world!

Barefoot Books World Atlas

I love having reference books at home. We rarely sit down to read them start to finish but rather dip in and out, learning a bit each time we crack it open. The Barefoot Books World Atlas is like that: It’s dense, so you probably won’t want to bring it out at bedtime, but it’s an absolute wealth of information.

My favorite thing about this kids’ World Atlas is it’s a terrific introduction to geography for kids. Its bright, colorful maps and fold-out pages invite kids in, taking away any sense of intimidation they might feel. And the book introduces kids to concepts like continents and borders, making later discussions about travel a lot easier.

Whether you occasionally take this book home from the library or add it to your own bookshelves, the Barefoot Books World Atlas will be a book you return to for years as your kids grow.

Here We Are

My kids and I love Oliver Jeffers, so I knew I’d adore Here We Are . And I was right! This travel book for kids applies his wry sense of humor and distinctive artistic style to a very big topic: the world!

From the macro (space, the atmosphere) to the micro (people who come in all shapes, sizes, colors and headwear), Jeffers addresses what it’s like to live on planet Earth.

In his signature conversational style that makes it feel as though he’s sitting on the couch talking to you, he addresses the things you’d expect in a world book, like regions that are hot and cold, and the many animals that live here with us.

He goes beyond, though. He puts in important messages, like to be kind to animals and to protect our resources.

We could all use a reminder of the closing message: “Well, that is Planet Earth. Make sure you look after it, as it’s all we’ve got.”

Travel books for kids about getting there: Planes, trains and automobiles!

The airport book.

The Airport Book is one of our favorites. It shows everything a family does, from leaving their front door through flying to their vacation destination. This book was how I prepped Max and Edie when they were little when we were getting ready for family trips.

Kids sometimes get nervous or scared about things they’ve never done before. And some parts of travel can be extra-unfamiliar. So it helps to have a fun, colorful book about airports to help them feel more in control of the plans ahead.

Max and Edie’s favorite part about this book about travel is the youngest child’s stuffie. While the family is going through security, getting on the plane and getting their luggage, the stuffie is having an adventure of its own!

Are We There Yet?

Road trips start out as exciting—but for a bored kid in the back seat, they can get pretty tiresome after a while. In Are We There Yet , a child lets his mind wander while his family drives cross-country. And instead of time dragging on, it moves him back in time !

The road trip suddenly becomes a lot less boring when he finds himself in the Wild West and, eventually, the time of the dinosaurs!

Are We There Yet should be required reading for kids about to go on a road trip. It shows the power of imagination—and what can happen when you let a bored imagination roam.

Planes Fly!

Transportation—getting from A to B—doesn’t have to be boring! Planes Fly! is one way to bring a ton of excitement into the prospect of travel.

I like not only this transportation book’s active, energetic illustrations but also its rhymes. Through the rhythmic text, kids will learn all about air travel. Ask your kids which of the planes they’d most like to fly in!

How Airports Work

This Lonely Planet Kids book invites littles to literally look behind the scenes at the airport. Toddlers and even elementary aged kids will have fun lifting the flaps through How Airports Work to better understand everything about air travel.

From how security works to where luggage goes after you check it, this informative kids book about travel answers dozens of questions about the airport.

For children nervous about flying for the first time to transportation nuts who are wild about planes, this airport book is terrific for everyone. My own kids love to fly (I think it has to do with the movies they get to watch on their tablets, as well as other fun things to do on a plane!). This book makes them love to read about it, too.

Travel books for kids about people

Earlier this year, Edie cracked her chin open while trying (and missing) a scooter trick. When she got the stitches out, she distracted herself by looking at a Where’s Waldo? poster on the doctor’s wall. She loved the irreverent crowds. If your kids do, too, they’ll adore People as well.

The simply titled People , by Caldecott Medal winner Peter Spier, shows the many, many ways people can be, act, dress and look all over the globe. The level of detail in each page makes me want to dive in for hours.

Aspects of people and their culture, from religion to pets, features in this iconic book about travel.

Good People Everywhere

Good People Everywhere is not only a wonderful children’s book about people who live all over the world but also a good reminder for grown-ups that people are generally good. (I’m pretty sure I’m not alone that the news cycle makes me wonder sometimes.)

I love that this children’s book emphasizes that, essentially, we’re all cut from the same cloth. No matter where you live or how you grow up, you’re not terribly different from others. Parents have babies. People build homes. Musicians and dancers perform.

What’s more, kids immediately connect to the relatable acts of kindness in Good People Everywhere. They, too, have helped a friend who fell down or taken care of a sibling.

Emphasizing similarities as well as differences helps kids grow their empathy and embrace diversity. This ability is crucial for kids who travel.

The simple message of Good People Everywhere resonates with families who love to travel—and anyone who wants to emphasize that there is more good than bad in the world.

This Is How We Do It

This big, beautiful book shows a day in a life of children who live all over the world. I love its simple, matter-of-fact text. After all, even if there are infinite ways to grow up, each is completely normal and unremarkable to the ones living it.

This Is How We Do It focuses on the parts of a day kids are most interested in. The kids’ travel book highlights where each child lives, their family, their school and, of course, how they play!

The book’s rhythm—each child covers the same topics in the same way—reinforces the underlying message that although we live in different places, eat different food, have different color skin and write in a different language, we’re more similar than not.

Finally, This Is How We Do It is a terrific way to discuss diversity and culture around the globe to young travelers.

Walk This World

The bold, graphic illustrations in Walk This World make this book an instant favorite. Each page takes kids to another place and culture, where they can explore what makes us similar and different.

This is a terrific starting travel book for kids because it’s a lift the flap book! Toddlers (and older kids, too—including my 4 and 6 year old!) love lifting the flaps to see surprises underneath.

Why We Live Where We Live

For older kids with plenty of “why” to go around, Why We Live Where We Live is chock-full of answers. It explores why humans live where they do—in small villages and megacities—and what they need to thrive.

Its no-nonsense, straightforward sections explore everything from how humans adapt to their landscape to where they get food and what kinds of dwellings work best in the local climate. After reading Why We Live Where We Do, your curious kids will have a much better understanding of global geography and culture.

This travel book for kids is also an excellent one to read before traveling to a location where the culture is different from your own. Using it as a touchstone, you and your kids can discuss questions your kids have about your destination—why do the houses look different? why are the roads like this? why are people speaking so many different languages?—using knowledge gleaned from the book.

Hello World! It’s a Small World

This colorful board book is the perfect way to introduce babies and toddlers to people and places around the world. On each page, people say “hello” in their local language. (Don’t worry, there’s pronunciation help for adults!)

I like that Hello World! It’s a Small World is a fun, relatable way to introduce diverse cultures to even the littlest learners (and future travelers). It’s also a terrific way to start conversations about similar and different. Like, what is similar in what we and people from India wear? What’s different about where we live and where this boy in Brazil lives?

This board book about travel is one in the Hello World! series . There are plenty more to explore that introduce kids to concepts in science, nature and geography.

Same, Same But Different

When I was a kid, I loved to write. (Are you surprised?) I had dozens of pen pals over the years, so Same, Same But Different really struck a chord with me. It’s the story of two boys who strike up a pen pal relationship and share what their lives are like, learning that, yes, they’re same, same but different.

This book is laid out in a series of letters back and forth, though each one is more painting than words. (Sounds right for kids!) The text feels so authentic to how young boys would write to each other. On one page, the boy from India asks his American counterpart if he lives in a tree. The innocence and curiosity—and total lack of judgment—make this travel book for kids a great way to learn about others.

Plus, your kids may end up wanting to find a pen pal of their own!

All the Colors of the Earth

We adults tend to think of colors of skin in a very literal way. All the Colors of the Earth turns that on its head, using gorgeous poetry and paintings to celebrate skin color in a whole new way.

We know that children as young as babies see differences in skin color, so the whole “we don’t see race” approach simply doesn’t work. In fact, it can backfire, making important discussions around race, equality, diversity and more difficult to have.

I love that All the Colors of the Earth celebrates our differences with expressive language and descriptions. For example, the whispering gold of summer grasses describes one person’s skin, and another one is the “roaring brown” color of a bear.

Kids (and adults!) need language to comfortably talk about differences and similarities, especially when we travel. This award-winning book provides a new, and beautiful, vocabulary to do just that.

Everybody Cooks Rice

Food is integral to culture and identity, which is why I’m super sensitive about the girls making faces or saying “yuck” about anyone’s food. Still, they stick with their macaroni and cheese while I eat colorful salads, stir fry, refried beans and curry.

Even if I can’t get them to develop more adventurous tastebuds (yet!), I can help them explore other people’s food through books.

Everybody Cooks Rice follows a young girl wandering through her neighborhood at dinnertime. Each family she visits is from a different country—and each is using rice in their meal in a different way. After all, rice is one of the most-eaten foods in the world.

And if your kiddos are willing to explore just a little farther, Everybody Cooks Rice also includes simple recipes so you can make meals featured in the book right at home.

Whoever You Are

“ Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world… “

This comforting message is how Whoever You Are begins. This board book about the people of the world emphasizes diversity as well as commonalities.

After all, sometimes kids feel like they’re alone, weird or unlike anyone else—I know my kids have felt that way before. So it’s a lovely reminder that we’re never, in fact, alone.

Travel book series

Larry gets lost in _____.

Larry the adorable dog has a serious case of wanderlust—and a habit of getting lost! He accompanies his family on trips all over the place, from Washington, DC to San Diego.

Every time, something draws this distractible dog away from his people. In his attempt to find his way back, he discovers what makes each place unique. During the journey, kids will learn about a place’s history, culture and people.

I love the Larry Gets Lost series and recommend you find a copy for the city where you live—or where you’re traveling to next!

This Is ____ Series

The iconic This Is ___ series ( This Is Rome , This Is Paris , This Is New York ) was originally published in the 1960s. It has stood the test of time, showing that these terrific travel books for kids are worth bringing to your bookshelves!

The bold, graphic paintings bring famous cities to life. From famous landmarks to the people who live there and even the stray cats (!), what makes each city unique is lovingly illustrated for young readers.

And if you want to visit more places in one book, check out This Is The World ! The same creator takes readers across the globe in one book.

All Aboard! series

For the littlest travelers, the All Aboard! board book series takes them all over the world, through cities, countries and U.S. states. One of my favorite is All Aboard! National Parks . (I just bought it for my youngest niece. Shh, don’t tell!)

These board books are simple, since they’re for itty bitty readers, but that doesn’t mean they’re dumbed down. The All Aboard! books still share plenty of details and fun facts about each featured destination, from Paris to Texas.

After all, it’s never too early to inspire wanderlust in kids.

Living In ______ Around the World series

Kids are naturally curious. I know my littles want to know everything! That’s one reason why I love nonfiction books like the Living In _____ Around the World series. Each one introduces readers to a child in a different country and shows what life is like there.

These Level 2 easy readers are just above Edie’s independent reading level, so she’ll be able to read them on her own soon. In the meantime, I am happy to read to both her and Max about life in Australia, South Korea, Russia and other countries.

The friendly illustrations in Living In ____ books immediately invite readers in to the story. And while they’re nonfiction, they’re anything but boring.

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Where Have You Been? series

In the Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Where Have You Been? travel book series, a friendly grey cat travels to cities across the United States and the world. Stopping in Rome, Paris, Washington DC and beyond, Kitty Cat explores not only each city’s important landmarks but also teaches why that place is significant.

For example, in Washington DC, Kitty Cat visits the White House. Not only are the illustrations of landmarks like the president’s residence incredibly detailed yet approachable, these pages pack a lot of information into a few rhyming lines. Concepts as complex as the federal government are a little easier to understand with Kitty Cat’s straightforward explanations.

Before you head to a new city, see if Kitty Cat has been there before you. She can help your kids learn about the destination even before you set foot on a plane!

The Katie Travel Book Series

Multigenerational travel is having a heyday, for good reason. We often travel with both sets of my kids’ grandparents, and Katie—the title character in the Katie series by James Mayhew—is the same.

“Fortunately Grandma was the sort of grandma who liked an adventure,” the book writes—because Katie and her family are always getting into adventure on their vacations!

Take for example Katie in Scotland, where they get an unexpected tour guide. (I won’t spoil the surprise but trust me, it’s fun!)

Other Katie books travel throughout the United Kingdom as well as famous art, including paintings by Van Goh and Monet. (Maybe some of which you’ll see in art museums while traveling with kids ?)

A Walk In ______ series

Walking around a new place is my favorite way to explore a new place, so this children’s travel book series is right up my alley!

The A Walk In _____ series shows cities worldwide through a child’s point of view. It takes readers through a day of walking around, from wandering around the Eiffel Tower in Paris to marveling at the tippy top of the Empire State Building in New York. (This skyscraper is so tall, in fact, it requires a fold-out page, which kids love!)

I like that these books take kids through a city, literally step by step, while tossing in fun tidbits of information. (Did you know more hot dogs are eaten in NYC than any other place in the US?!)

Kids’ feet get tired, of course, so these books have sitting breaks, too. Where will the characters pause to have a rest? Will they write post cards, listen to live music, find a beautiful park?

Whether you’re going to one of these cities or want to walk through one vicariously, these travel books for kids are fun adventures.

Children’s books about travel: Wanderlust

The snail and the whale.

In this charming book, a humble sea snail wants to leave its rock and explore. The other snails scold it, but a kind whale offers some kindness—and its tail—to help the little snail.

The Snail and the Whale takes the title character (and little readers) all over the ocean, from deep sea caves and crashing waves to tropical beaches and frozen glaciers. We see so much of the world via this ocean trip.

Children’s books about travel tend to focus on land, but the earth is actually 71% covered by water. The Snail and the Whale offers a refreshingly different take on exploration, then, while encouraging kids that it’s ok to want to see the world—even if others want to hold you back.

Letters from Felix

In Letters from Felix , disaster strikes at the airport: A little girl loses her favorite toy bunny. But this tragedy turns into adventure when that bunny, Felix, begins traveling the world—and sending letters back to the little girl.

The story takes us along, traveling to Egypt, France, the U.S. and beyond.

Best of all, the story is written in the form of actual letters. My kids love any interactive books, and opening up an actual letter to read a story definitely fits the bill!

If you and your kids fall in love with Felix and his wanderlust spirit, you’re in luck: Felix continues his adventures! There’s a whole series of Felix books plus a cartoon. You can find Letters from Felix videos on YouTube .

How to Make an Apple Pie and Travel the World

We talk a lot about problem solving in my house, and this book’s approach to a problem—a closed grocery store—is hands-down hilarious. In How to Make an Apple Pie and Travel the World , the main character wants to make dessert and ends up traveling all over the globe to collect the needed ingredients.

Wheat in Italy, fresh milk in England, apples in Vermont, USA—nothing but the best for this apple pie!

Not only does this children’s book about travel encourage wanderlust and a can-do attitude; it also teaches kids about where food comes from. In an age when we can get pretty much everything and anything at the market any time of year, it’s important to recognize that people work hard to grow the food on our table and the effort to get it to us.

Explorers: Amazing Tales of the World’s Great Adventurers

This nonfiction travel book for kids is written for older kids, but its large illustrations and short sections of text make it easy for kids to dip in and out. With dense books like these, I read just a few lines per page to Max and Edie, keeping their interest and essentially skimming the story.

Explorers introduces kids to history’s adventurers who crossed oceans, scaled mountains and dove deep underwater. I appreciate the emphasis on explorers from across time and geography.

Most of all, I’m glad this book doesn’t whitewash the often immoral actions of explorers. In a child-appropriate way, the book covers crimes they committed during their travels. After all, it’s a nonfiction book—it needs to teach kids the truth, not a sanitized version that erases the trauma many peoples endured.

Overall, though, Explorers is a book of inspiration. In fact, at the end, it highlights places that have yet to be fully explored! Your own kids may end up dreaming of exploring Mars or deep sea vents after reading this children’s book about travel.

Around the World with Mouk

At the beginning of Around the World with Mouk , two animal friends ask Mouk if they want to play. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m going on a trip around the world,” the little bear replies. And that’s how this vibrantly illustrated travel book for kids starts out!

Mouk travels all over the globe, including places not typically covered by children’s books about travel. (How many other globetrotting children’s books visit Lapland, Norway?)

Every spread introduces kids to a new place and the customs there. The pages are filled with animals going about their daily lives, which reminds me of the Richard Scarry books I loved when I was a kid. The animals’ little conversations are super fun to read with kids.

Toot & Puddle

Toot and Puddle are best friends, and this adorable book shows that friendship can withstand even a year of distance.

Toot decides to spend a year traveling the world, but Puddle prefers to stay home. Toot sends post cards back home, though, keeping Puddle up to date on adventures in Egypt, the Solomon Islands and France.

We are a post card-loving family , so the structure of this story really resonated. (There’s something special about getting snail mail, even if it’s in a book!)

This children’s book ending will resonate for travelers, too. Reunions between loved ones are the best—even better than collecting passport stamps and seeing new places.

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

In The Adventures of Beekle , a very special imaginary friend grows tired of a child to imagine him. Instead, he sets off to the real world to find one.

He has to explore unfamiliar places where his expectations don’t quite match the reality. (What, kids don’t get to eat cake all the time, and they have to take naps?! Bummer!) But he keeps going, continuing his search for a special child who will be his friend.

Beekle’s spirit of adventure shines through and just may inspire some wanderlust in your own family, whether or not it includes imaginary friends or not.

Our favorite travel books for kids

Are you feeling inspired? Are you as excited to crack open these books with your kids as I am?

I’m betting you are. Whether you add these books to your cart or request them all from your library, I know you and your littles will enjoy them.

Let me know which ones you liked the best! And did I miss your favorite travel books for kids? Suggest them below in the comments!

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Why travel is the best way to bond with kids (+ vacation family activities)

What a fun list, and so smart to have kids read up and get excited and learn to appreciate before the travel plans commence!

What a fun list, and so smart to have kids read up and get excited and learn to appreciate before the travel plans commence and help make the logistical transport part of the trip which feels like forever for them go faster with something to look forward to based on the books!

Yes! Kids, like the rest of us, usually don’t love uncertainty. Books about a place they’re visiting, or the travel process in general, can help alleviate those jitters. And they give kids something to look forward to!

My daughter loves reading, this will add great collection to her library!!

Yay, so glad to hear it! I have a house full of book lovers too. 🙂

OMG this is such an amazing compilation for travel books that kiddos will love. Going to gift a few to my niece. Thanks for sharing such amazing detailed article.

You’re so welcome, Mayuri! I’m certain your niece will like these children’s travel books, too!

This is such a sweet idea to fill your little’uns with wanderlust! I actually need to go and get a christmas prezzy for my goddaughter today, so I will have a peek to see if I can find some of these in my local bookshop! 😀

I LOVE giving books for presents – they last so much longer than the latest toys. I hope your goddaughter enjoys one of these books about travel!

Great list! Some of these books have been around and they are timeless. I remember buying them for my daughter. I actually sent your post to my daughter and I asked her which ones she was familiar with and remembered.

Aw, that warms my heart, Anna! When a book was written in the 60s and is still in circulation, it’s a good clue that it’s a story that’ll last. I wonder which of these my kids will remember??

Besides books, I would probably add some board games for kids that teach facts about different countries or map games.

Rudy, that’s a great idea! My kids have a map puzzle of the USA and we regularly refer to it when talking about upcoming travels or things we learn. They have so many questions and it helps to have a visual reference.

Wow, so many nice travel books for kids. I didn’t get to read one but wanderlust developed. Kids of today will find it easier to fall in love with travel!

Glad your wanderlust is intact without reading any of these travel books! I’d rather not leave it to chance with my own kids. 😉

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TO & FRO FAM

This family travel blog is written for you—a mom who wants quality time and memorable vacations with her kids. I’m one of those moms, so I get that you want to leave your stress at home. I crafted (and tested!) these travel hacks and destination ideas to help the whole crew make the most of your time together. xo, Catherine

Drop me a line if you want to collaborate, connect or simply say hello.

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10 English for Tourism Books

English has become an international language, so it’s an important skill for people who work in tourism.

If you have or are looking for a job in the tourism industry, knowing some English for tourism will make it easier for you to communicate clearly.  

In this post, you’ll get 10 textbooks and travel guides that can help you learn the language you’ll use while at work.

Choosing the Right Book for You

English for tourism textbooks and workbooks, 1. “oxford english for careers: tourism 1 student’s book”, 2. “going international: english for tourism student’s book”, 3. “english for international tourism”, 4. “flash on english for tourism”, travel guides in english, 5. “rick steve’s europe” guidebooks, 6. “let’s go” travel guides, 7. lonely planet guidebooks, 8. “bradt’s eccentric” travel guides.

• 9. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides 

10. “Rough Guides” Guidebooks

How to learn english for tourism from textbooks, learning english for tourism from travel guides.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

There are two kinds of books that you can use to learn tourism English: Textbooks and travel guides.

• Textbooks are usually meant to be used in a classroom, with a teacher to guide you through the information. Some textbooks come with workbooks too, which have summaries of the textbook material and exercises where you can practice what you learned.
• Travel guides are written for tourists. They describe the best places to visit, the best hotels to stay in and other useful information for someone traveling in a new place. Many travel guides also include historical information and give tips on the best times to visit popular places. 

Which type of book you choose depends on your study style. If you like things to be explained clearly and in an organized way, you’ll probably like textbook learning.

If you prefer to learn by seeing the language being used in a natural context, and if you don’t mind learning without any guidance, then you might prefer using a travel guide.

This student’s book comes from the high-quality publisher Oxford Press as part of their Oxford English for Careers series. It’s great for any English learner who’s interested in a tourism job. 

• Thousands of learner friendly videos (especially beginners)
• Handpicked, organized, and annotated by FluentU's experts
• Integrated into courses for beginners

The first book teaches you how to talk about and sell tourism products like airplane tickets and holiday trips. It includes practical exercises, industry-specific scenarios and dialogues to help you gain confidence in using English in real-world situations.

There are other great books in the series , so you can choose the one that fits what you’re looking to learn.

This is another Oxford Press book, which focuses on learning tourism vocabulary . It covers a wide range of topics related to travel, customer service, hotel management and cultural awareness.

Every section has a summary with all the vocabulary , and ideas for how to use what you learned in the real world. That makes this a great book to use if you’re already working in the tourism industry because you can apply your new knowledge right away.

The book also provides practical language exercises, scenarios and dialogues that simulate real-life situations in the tourism sector. 

This textbook is from another well-known publisher, Pearson. It uses many photos and has some audio sections so you can hear the material spoken out loud.

• Interactive subtitles: click any word to see detailed examples and explanations
• Slow down or loop the tricky parts
• Show or hide subtitles
• Review words with our powerful learning engine

The book is organized well, but it’s very dense (has a lot of information in one place). It’s better to read this one with a teacher or at least another student so you can practice with the group activities.

If you can, get the workbook to go with it. This book is for the intermediate-level learner . They also have an upper intermediate version and workbook . 

The “Flash on” series is broken up into units that are short and easy to understand.  “Flash on English for Tourism” is a workbook, so it’s much more interactive than a textbook , with many ways to test your knowledge of vocabulary and skills.

It offers a focused approach to learning key vocabulary, phrases and communication strategies that are essential for interactions with tourists and travelers.

The book includes practical exercises and real-life scenarios , making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to enhance their English language abilities in the context of tourism and hospitality . 

Rick Steve’s guidebooks are written in a friendly and easy-to-understand way . There are guides for many European countries, but you can learn a lot from Steve’s books even if you don’t work in Europe.

The guidebooks use many tourism vocabulary words (like sights and accommodations ) and some interesting historical facts about popular sights. They also offer practical advice and cultural context to help travelers make the most of their European adventures.

• Learn words in the context of sentences
• Swipe left or right to see more examples from other videos
• Go beyond just a superficial understanding

With a focus on independent and budget-friendly travel , these guidebooks could be a great resource if you work with clients who are hoping to travel affordably. 

Created by Harvard students, the “Let’s Go” series of travel guides is designed for budget-conscious and adventurous travelers . The guides cover a wide range of destinations worldwide, catering to backpackers and student travelers.

If you’ll be working in a place where you expect to see a lot of younger clients, these guidebooks are a great way to learn some college-age tourism vocabulary .

You’ll learn language related to budget accommodations, dining options, transportation tips and off-the-beaten-path experiences (different from the normal tourist experiences). The guides are known for their detailed research and honest reviews. 

The Lonely Planet guidebooks are known for their comprehensive coverage of destinations across the globe and cater to everyone from solo travelers and backpackers to families.

They also include maps, itineraries and practical travel tips that can help you provide great service and useful information to your tourism clients.

These guidebooks are not easy to read even for a native speaker, so don’t try to understand everything. Instead, use them to look for vocabulary and phrases, like world-famous (known all around the world) and overnight stay (when you only stay at a hotel for a night).

• FluentU builds you up, so you can build sentences on your own
• Start with multiple-choice questions and advance through sentence building to producing your own output
• Go from understanding to speaking in a natural progression.

For travel guides that are educational and interesting to read, try the “Brandt’s Eccentric” series.

These guides talk about things to see that are eccentric—unusual and a little weird. They’re more interesting than normal travel guides , but still use all the vocabulary and phrases you would need for a job in the industry.

With a focus on unusual destinations, events and attractions that differ from the norm, these guides introduce travelers to places they might never have considered. They might be especially usually for you if you’ll be working in a place with unique attractions.

9. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides  

The travel guides from DK Eyewitness are comprehensive resources that help tourists explore destinations worldwide. They provide valuable information about local culture, history attractions and practical travel tips.

The guides combine beautiful photography, detailed illustrations and informative content to help travelers have an immersive and insightful experience.

For English learners, these guides serve as engaging educational tools. By reading them, you can improve your language skills and learn how to describe a wide variety of tourist destinations in English. You can also get their travel guides on Kindle for easy learning on the go. 

• Images, examples, video examples, and tips
• Covering all the tricky edge cases, eg.: phrases, idioms, collocations, and separable verbs
• No reliance on volunteers or open source dictionaries
• 100,000+ hours spent by FluentU's team to create and maintain

The “Rough Guides” series offers travelers a wealth of information and insights into various destinations across the globe. These guides provide travelers with a well-rounded understanding of each location .

By using these guides to learn English for tourism, you can build your vocabulary and communication skills while learning about how to provide enriching travel experiences.

What sets “Rough Guides” apart is their dedication to uncovering hidden gems and providing travelers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This, in turn, can help you become a source of detailed information about many destinations and tourism experiences. 

You can learn a lot from both textbooks and travel guides, but you need to study them differently. Here are some tips for learning as much as you can from textbooks:

• Skim before you read. Every time you start a new chapter, skim the chapter’s pages first by looking over the text without reading every word. Look at the titles and any words in bold or italics. Read the introduction and summary if there is one. This will help you prepare for the new information and will give you a good idea of what the chapter will teach you.
• Do a little bit at a time. The writing in textbooks can sometimes be difficult to understand, or there can be a lot of information on every page. Don’t try to hurry through the entire book. Instead, learn one thing at a time. Only continue to the next chapter of a textbook when you completely understand the material in the previous chapter. 
• Schedule study time… and break time. Make sure you have time to study in a quiet, comfortable area without any distractions. Don’t forget to take breaks. Refresh your mind by relaxing for ten minutes once in a while, and refresh your body by using these breaks to get up and move around.
• Read each chapter twice. The first time you read a chapter, don’t take any notes. Just read it and try to understand. You can make a mark with a pen wherever you don’t entirely understand something. On the second reading, read more carefully, take notes and spend some time understanding the confusing parts.
• Do not read tourism guides like a book. Even tourists don’t read the entire guide from the beginning until the end! There is too much information about too many things in these books. Instead, read a few sections from each part of the book.
• Focus on vocabulary and phrases. Some words are used over and over in travel guides. If you see a word or phrase repeated more than once in the book, write it down and look it up.
• Use a travel guide for the place where you’d like to work. By doing this, you can learn about the different historical facts of the area, places to visit and tips for where to eat and what to do. Knowing about an area will help you in a tourism job!
• Take notes in sections. Tour guides are usually organized by location, with information on places to stay, eat, explore and more. When you’re taking notes, organize them by topic instead of location. For example, put all transportation-related notes together, historical terms and facts in another section, and restaurant vocabulary in a different section.

Thanks to these tourism textbooks and guides, your English will be ready for a job in tourism.

Just don’t be surprised when reading them makes you want to travel too!

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That’s why we created Lonely Planet Kids.

Our first release was The Travel Book in 2011. And since then, we’ve published books on everything from dinosaurs and space travel to secret city walks and woolly mammoths. Our mission is to inspire children and get them excited about the amazing world around them – to help make every day an adventure

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Inspire Young Explorers With These 22 Amazing Books About Travel For Kids

Travel books for children that inspire a love for adventure. Are you looking for children’s travel books that are entertaining and educational? If so, this guide will help you select the best travel books for the children in your life. This list of books about travel for kids will undoubtedly be helpful whether you are planning a trip or wish to introduce them to this great big beautiful world. While reading, keep an eye out for notes on age ranges, type of travel (road trip vs airplane), or learning experiences so you can choose the right books based on what you are looking for.

Travel Books About Packing and Preparing For Travel

Table of Contents

1. My Suitcase: A Fun Book of Travel by Margie and Jimbo

1. maisy goes on a plane: a maisy first experiences book by  lucy cousins, 2. a day at the airport by richard scarry, 3. the airport book by lisa brown , 4. ultimate book of airplanes and airports by sophie bordet-petillon and marc-etienne peintre , 5. going on a plane by anne civardi, 1. pete the cat’s family road trip book by james dean and kimberly dean, 1. molly and the magic suitcase: molly goes to puerto rico by chris and amy oler, 2. the kid’s guide to philadelphia by eileen ogintz, 3. national parks of the usa by quarto kids, 1. my africa vacation by ozi okara, 2. the kids who travel the world: paris by lisa webb, 3. dancing at carnival by christine platt sharon sordo, 4. the traveling child goes to rio de janeiro by monet hambrick, 1. atlas of adventures by rachel williams and lucy letherland , 2. how to make an apple pie and see the world by marjorie priceman , 3. amazing world atlas: bringing the world to life by lonely planet kids , 4. family trip (peppa pig) by scholastic and eone, 5. national geographic little kids first big book of the world by beth carney, 6. around the world, i go by cory j. anderson and jasmine mills, 7. a ticket around the world by melissa owens and natalia diaz, 8. travel the world around you by christopher mitchell.

Pack your suitcase with items you will need for your next vacation.

Assist two siblings with preparing for a wonderful trip by helping them pack their suitcases.

From shampoo and toothbrushes to hats and outfits to their favorite blankets and stuffed animals, their bags contain a variety of goodies. Expect to laugh out loud as the kids try to fit in some odd items, including their pet goldfish, a tricycle, and more.

Each spread introduces a new category of products, such as food, toys, or toiletries, and all of the items are clearly illustrated and labeled for the benefit of young readers.

With amusing illustrations and straightforward text, this book about travel for kids is ideal for children up to 4 years old.

Click here to purchase My Suitcase on Amazon. Available in Kindle or board book.

Read Next: What To Pack on Road Trips With 6-Month-Old

Airport and Air Travel Children’s Books

With Maisy leading the way, little flyers are in good company.

Maisy is flying to see her buddy Ella, and she is thrilled. Follow her as she checks in at the airport, finds her seat, and meets new friends on her trip.

Get your passports ready to travel with Maisy because it’s more enjoyable to fly when you have a friend like Maisy with you.

Perfect for reading to a child going on their first airplane, this colorful book clearly explains the process of flying. Available in paperback or Kindle; best for ages 1-3.

Click here to purchase Maisy Goes on a Plane on Amazon.

Join Huckle Cat, Sally, and Lowly Worm for an exciting day of exploration at the airport. 

Featuring a sticker sheet and more than 70 labeled words, enjoy this jam-packed, up-close look at the terminal, runway, control tower, and more.

Ideal for children between 2-3 years old who look at all the small details in picture books.

Click here to purchase A Day at the Airport on Amazon.

A popular travel book for kids, you’ll find this one at lots of airports.

Great for teaching little kids about the airport and what will happen when you go, follow a family and their child’s beloved sock monkey as they navigate the challenges of the airport.

From checking luggage and watching them vanish on the mysterious conveyor belt to getting through security and waiting at the gate to eventually take off, this book helps children 2-5 years old process the experience.

Click here to purchase The Airport Book on Amazon.

Learn everything there is to know about airports, airplanes, and the exciting world of air travel.

The best part is that there are lots of flaps, popups, pull-tabs, and revolving wheels that bring airports, planes, and even travelers to life.

Readers will peer inside an aircraft, investigate a baggage carousel’s workings, and assist pilots in preparing for flight.

The collection of aircrafts, which ranges from early planes to modern airplanes, will be loved by any child between the ages of 2 and 5 years old who has ever wished to soar in the skies.

Click here to purchase Ultimate Book of Airplanes and Airports on Amazon.

In a fun and approachable style, this series introduces young kids to travel experiences they might have for the first time, such as going through security, boarding a plane, and the overall adventures of flying. The comical illustrations are brimming with plenty for kids 2 to 6 years old to look at, take away from, and discuss. Available in hardcopy or paperback.

Click here to purchase Going on a Plane on Amazon.

Road Trip Books For Kids

This one is for families who enjoy road trips.

Join Pete the Cat and his family on an epic cross-country adventure. They travel to well-known locations, including Savannah, New Orleans, and Niagara Falls. It will give you plenty of things to discover and discuss outside the book!

This book features short sentences and basic ideas for kids 4-8 years old learning to sound out words and sentences. Ideal for those who are ready to start reading independently.

Click here to purchase Pete the Cat’s Family Road Trip on Amazon.

United States Travel Books

Part of a 15-book series, join Molly and Michael as they learn about Puerto Rican culture. Explore the island’s beautiful beaches, ancient cities, and lush rainforests. Best for children ages 2 to 8.

Click here to purchase Molly Goes To Puerto Rico on Amazon.

Get advice from an expert and let the kids help plan your family’s next trip to Philadelphia, ‘The City of Brotherly Love.’ Reading this book, you’ll discover kid-tested advice on things to do in Philly , where to eat, what to see, and where to find the best souvenirs.

Little ones are kept entertained along the way by learning about interesting information and helpful advice, as well as fantastic games that keep them engaged.

This family-friendly travel book for children is full of fun facts, games, and other activities that will interest children between the ages of 6 and 12.

Click here to purchase The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia on Amazon.

Give your kids the opportunity to explore America’s vast outdoors and take in the beauty and diversity of its most popular national parks. Jam-packed with useful information and maps, children love discovering each park’s flora, fauna, history, and why they should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Click here to purchase National Parks of the USA on Amazon.

Books About Countries For Kids

Arinze and his older sister Cheta have been informed by their parents they will travel to Africa this year. Despite having never been, they have grown up hearing about the wonders of the continent.

Beginning in Kenya and visiting ten different African nations, Arinze’s family shows how vibrant and diverse the continent’s geography and cultures are. 

Travel on a safari, marvel at Victoria Falls and Mount Kilimanjaro and discover the architectural and historical marvels of the continent. However, the highlight of the trip is when they get to visit their grandfather in his Nigerian village. 

Arinze and Cheta both have a renewed sense of pride in their heritage and a deeper appreciation for where they came from.

Appropriate for children up to 9 years old, discover the diversity and richness of Africa, which may also inspire them to one day travel to the continent on their own.

Click here to purchase My Africa Vacation on Amazon.

Join two adventurous sisters as they explore the globe and discover new things in Paris.

Picking up some French along the way, join them as they explore ‘The City of Lights’ by taking the metro, visiting the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and more.

Whether you intend to visit Paris for the first time or only through the pages of this book, children between the ages of 5 and 7 will enjoy all things Parisian with this one.

Click here to purchase The Kids Who Travel the World on Amazon.

Listen to this podcast episode below for first-time Paris travel tips or read the blog post by clicking the link.

Spring break is here!

Ana and Andrew travel to their homeland of Trinidad during Carnival to see their relatives. They enjoy listening to the music and watching the parade. Throughout the book,  they discover how their ancestors contributed to the holiday’s creation and what participants can expect. Ideal for curious readers between the ages of 5 and 6.

Click here to purchase Dancing at Carnival on Amazon.

Inspired by the Hambrick family’s spring break trip, where they spent seven days in Rio de Janeiro, learn about the culture of Brazil through the eyes of two sisters, Jordyn and Kennedy. This book will not only educate little ones on the city and country but also offer ideas for vacation planning. In addition to the beautiful illustrations, every page is full of culture, landmarks, and facts about Rio de Janeiro. Ideal for young children between 2-5 years old.

Click here to purchase The Traveling Child Goes To Rio de Janeiro on Amazon.

General Adventures and Activities Around the World

This gorgeously illustrated children’s book about traveling around the world will help unleash their sense of adventure. 

It contains more than 100 challenges and activities to motivate armchair explorers between 4 and 7 years old, whether you want to see the penguins in Antarctica, take part in the Carnival in Brazil, or go on a canoe trip down the Zambezi River.

Celebrate the rich diversity of our planet by turning the pages to discover new creatures, people, and vistas that are specific to each of the locales.

As you read this book, watch out for two adventurous characters in each scenario. Find hundreds of items to spot and learn about. Each section opens with an infographic map of the area it investigates, followed by two-page spreads highlighting the region’s most noteworthy locations. 

Click here to purchase Atlas of Adventures on Amazon.

This picture book about travel takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients for a delicious treat: apple pie.

First, take a steamboat to Italy to find the best semolina wheat. Then, take a journey to England and kidnap a cow for the freshest possible milk.

Lastly, remember to go apple-picking in Vermont!

In the end, a simple recipe for apple pie is included.

Children will be delighted by this little excursion and inspired to tour the globe to collect items they can use to make something unique.

Click here to purchase How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World on Amazon.

This atlas gives kids a realistic worldview with 160 pages of colorful maps, interesting infographics, photos, and lots of humor.

For children ages 8+, this will bring the world to life as it touches on popular culture, sports, and school life.

Since 1973, Lonely Planet has been a leading publisher of travel guides, offering publications for every country and region, an award-winning website, and digital travel products. The goal is to make it possible for travelers to explore the globe and deeply engage with the cultures they encounter.

Click here to purchase Amazing World Atlas on Amazon.

The family of Peppa Pig is taking a vacation, traveling to Italy. They prepare their belongings, board a plane, make new friends, and even discover how pizza is created.

As a fun treat, this book comes with Peppa Pig postcards that kids can send while on family vacations! Ideal for children ages 2 to 5.

Click here to purchase Family Trip Peppa Pig on Amazon.

Explore languages, cultures, weather, animals, major cities, mountains, deserts, and other landscapes and landforms to acquaint young readers between ages 3 to 6 with the world and encourage them to travel.

More than 100 vibrant images are accompanied by kid-friendly and age-appropriate maps, as well as fundamental information about each continent. 

It won’t take long for this book to become a favorite during story time, bedtime, or while traveling. 

Click here to purchase National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World on Amazon.

Imani had an incredible dream to explore the world. Join her as she travels to all seven continents and explores amazing locations on each trip.

This book introduces the concept of travel to a very young child, less than 3 years old.

You’ll love the activity on the last page, where you can recap what was learned and write down places you’d like to visit together.

Click here to purchase Around the World I Go on Amazon.

A resource for learning about other countries follows a young child as he visits friends from different countries.

Along the way, he introduces readers to the surroundings and traditions of each friend he visits and gives fascinating information about the history, people, geography, animals, and other aspects of each country.

Visualize traveling to each country, such as India, Jordan, and The Philippines.

Young readers between 5-8 will find this picture book intriguing since it demonstrates how kids just like them live all across the world.

Click here to purchase A Ticket Around the World on Amazon.

This book helps kids (and their parents) realize that travel does not have to be to far-flung destinations and that there is plenty to learn wherever you go, even in your town, city, state, or province.

Join Theo and Kotu, the cat, as they discover what it really means to travel, one adventure at a time.

Ideal for curious readers between 6 and 9 years old.

Click here to purchase Travel the World Around You! on Amazon.

In summary, with so many travel books for children to choose from, this blog post offered lots of options, from location-specific destination guides to interesting travel stories and books that cover travel generally.

Plan a trip together or plant wanderlust seeds that will sprout as you create lifelong memories. Remember, you do not have to purchase all these books; head to your local library or use a free library app like Libby and Hoopla.

What are your favorite books about travel for kids? Let us know in the comments below!

Jael   Jean – Louis is a freelance writer and college student who is majoring in Psychology. She enjoys learning new things, traveling, and developing her personal finance and financial literacy knowledge. She participates in various activities, including serving as an intern for the mental health club at her school and being a member of the National Honor Society, among other things. Besides keeping herself busy with extracurricular activities, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and living life to the fullest. She also receives excellent support from her family and enjoys spending time with them.

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Hello Jael, thanks for a very interesting post. My daughter loves to read, and I’m planning on taking the family overseas to the USA next year. I thought I could inspire her by giving her something to read related to travel. I’m leaning toward National Parks of the USA by Quarto Kids, and then taking them to visit a few of the parks while we’re there. I think they’d have a blast. Thanks again for sharing :)

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21 Travel Books for Children to Spark Their Imagination

Are you looking for ways to encourage your child’s wanderlust? Reading travel books can be a great way to introduce them to different cultures, customs, and experiences from around the world. Below is a list of travel books for children that can captivate their imagination, foster a love for reading, and spur a desire to explore new places.

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1. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

This classic Dr. Seuss book is perfect for children of all ages. It’s a fun and playful story about the excitement and adventure that comes with life. It encourages children to dream big and keep exploring. This book is a great pick to start your child’s reading habit.

Reading age: 3+ years

2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

A timeless classic that tells the story of a young boy named Max, who travels to the land of the Wild Things. This book lets children go on adventures without ever leaving their bedrooms. The magical illustrations and impressive storyline will capture your child’s imagination.

Reading ages: 4-8

3. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

A charming story of the young Madeline, who lives in a boarding school in Paris. It is a perfect introduction to French culture and language for young children. The beautiful illustrations and enchanting storyline will take your child on a journey to Paris.

Reading age: 3-7

4. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

A heartwarming story of a small train engine that sets out to climb a steep hill. It reminds children of the importance of perseverance and the power of a positive attitude. The inspiring message will motivate your child to explore new adventures.

Reading age: 3-7 years

5. Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

One of the classic adventure novels for children, telling the tale of a family stranded on a deserted island. It features beautiful descriptions of exotic plants and animals that will make your child want to explore new worlds.

Reading age: 10-18 years

6. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

A fun-loving and free-spirited girl, Pippi, lives on her own in a Swedish village and constantly gets into silly mischief. This adventurous and humorous portrayal of Pippi’s life will keep your child entertained and engaged.

Reading age: 8-10

7. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

A classic travel story about a man named Phileas Fogg who travels around the world in 80 days. This abridged version for children retains the essence of the original story and introduces them to different countries and their cultures.

Reading age: 10-12 years

8. The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

A bestselling children’s book series that takes young readers through time and around the world. The books transport the main characters, Jack and Annie, to various time periods and locations with magical adventures and mysteries to solve.

Reading age: 5-8 years

9. The Berenstain Bears Go on Vacation by Stan and Jan Berenstain

A delightful story about the Berenstain family’s vacation to the beach. This book makes a great introduction to teach young children about the joys of vacationing with family and exploring new destinations.

Reading age: 4-8 years

10. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

A timeless classic with vivid illustrations and an engaging narrative that follows little Peter Rabbit as he explores the garden. The tale is sure to encourage children to appreciate nature and explore the outdoors.

Reading age: 2-5 years

11. How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague

This book is a hilarious tale of a boy named Wallace recounting his summer vacation adventures. The story features some unlikely friends and an unforgettable day at the beach, making it a fun read for children of all ages.

Reading age: 6-10 years

12. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon (Young Adult)

This young adult novel tells the tale of two Jewish boys during World War II who create a comic book hero and become entangled in a spy ring. This book is a great introduction to history, culture and different perspectives on life lessons for teenagers.

Reading age: 12-18

13. The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew series) by Carolyn Keene

A gripping mystery series where the teenage detective, Nancy Drew, solves various mysteries with her quick wit, intelligence, and bravery. This book is exciting, informative, and will introduce your child to the world of detective and investigation.

Reading age: 8-12

14. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials series)

A thrilling fantasy novel that follows a young girl named Lyra on her journey to unravel the mysteries of her world. It is a perfect example of imaginative storytelling that’ll capture both young and adult audiences.

Reading age: 10+

15. The Adventures of Tintin series by Hergé

Tintin’s adventures are amongst the most popular foreign literature for children. The series follows a young reporter as he travels the world solving mysteries and making new friends. It is fun, exciting, and has some beautiful illustrations.

Reading age: 4+

16. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A fantasy novel about a young girl named Meg who discovers she has the ability to travel through time and space. It is a whimsical story that’s full of adventure, making it a must-read for any child who loves exploring new worlds.

Reading age: 8+

17. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

A classic science fiction novel that follows a group of explorers on a journey to the center of the Earth. This adaptation for children retains the essence of the original story, inspiring and encouraging your child to explore science and geography.

Reading age: 9-12

18. The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

A heartwarming story of two dogs and a cat that sets out on an adventurous journey to find their way home. This tale is both entertaining and educational, making it a great pick for an early reading.

Reading age: 8-11

19. What Was The Titanic? by Stephanie Sable

“What Was the Titanic?” is a captivating book that delves into the disastrous sinking of the Titanic over a century ago. It explores the tragic event that claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people and uncovers the intriguing story of how the great ship went down and was eventually discovered seventy-five years later. With vivid details and engaging storytelling, young readers will be enthralled by this remarkable tale about the “unsinkable” ship that met its fateful end after colliding with an iceberg.

Reading age: 7-10

20. The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

A series of mystery books that follows the adventures of four orphaned siblings who live in an abandoned boxcar. These stories encourage children to think about independent problem-solving and also add a sense of adventure.

21. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World by Elizabeth Carney

“National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World” is a delightful and educational reference that takes young readers on an exciting journey around the globe. Through captivating photos, engaging facts, and a range of activities, kids will discover languages, landscapes, weather, animals, and more. From creating a mini-rainforest to singing a simple song in Spanish, this book encourages playful exploration. With kid-friendly maps and fascinating information about each continent, it will undoubtedly become a cherished addition to storytime, bedtime, or any other occasion.

Reading age: 3-6

Reading can be a magical and fulfilling way for children to explore the world from the comfort of their homes. These travel books for children offer a captivating blend of adventure, exploration, and discovery that’ll help children develop their imagination and creativity. So, pick up one or more ofthese books and let your child discover the joy of reading and the wonders of the world! 

And for the travelers in your circle, our Travel Resources provide information that can help you plan your future travel adventures.

Thanks for visiting our website. We hope to see you at the places where we go.

Julie & Art #travelbooks

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Art Dobrucki is a travel writer and podcast host for The Places Where We Go. With his wife Julie, they bring their travel stories to curious travelers to inspire adventures. Art is also a composer and keyboardist with several albums to his credit. Check out more information on our About Us page.

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Travel Books For Kids: 19 books to inspire your children to travel and have adventure

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As a former elementary teacher and a current world traveler, turned Mama, I have a slight obsession with books. You see, I love the idea of using books to inspire your children to travel!

Some of Lil B’s first children’s books had a travel theme to them or were specifically travel books for kids. It started as just finding children’s books about travel (you know, general themes about the excitement of travel, like “Penguin’s Big Adventure” (an absolute FAVE in our household since day 1!)

But then, as we would travel to new places, cities and countries, I would go search out books about that location. Sometimes they were fiction and other times non-fiction (I’m also a huge believer in reading tons of non-fiction starting at an early age and getting them accustomed to all genres of reading!- yes, HELLO 4th grade teacher in me!)

As a little traveler, having inspirational books to read about travel is not only a great way to include them in your trip planning but to also culturally enrich your kiddos.

So I took to the streets and asked fellow family travelers what some of their kids’ favorite books about travel were and got some really amazing responses! Click here to jump straight to the full book list below

But first…

Why Use Books About World Travel With Your Kids

1) it introduces them to various genres.

Many children are only read fictional books from an early age and while ANY amount of reading to kids is invaluable, I love getting kids used to all genres from the very start. My two year old loves a good picture book reading but also gobbles up nonfiction books with real photographs instead of illustrations.

2) Get Them Excited To Travel

Even from a very very young age, you can use books to instill an excitement about adventure and travel. With the especially young ones, books that have more of a “theme” of travel or adventure are great! They teach them young that they can conquer the world and go out and explore!

As they get older, you can use specific destinations and find books that correlate with this. The kids will read these books and look forward to going to an upcoming camping trip, exploring Asia, or seeing ancient Roman Ruins because they have context from their books.

3) Involve Them In Trip Planning

As your kids get older, have your children be apart of travel planning.

Maybe they love Harry Potter, so you ask them to help plan a trip to the UK. Go a step further and include specific locations that are mentioned in the books!

Or maybe they’ve read Hatchet, by Gary Paulson and wants to go on a hike themselves. Use this to your advantage and plan a trip to make that a reality!

I know a lot of travelers who have older children and teens that allow their kids to completely plan a trip every certain number of years. What a great way to incorporate books and reading into that process!

4) Have Something Other Than IPADS

We limit screen time, even while traveling. In fact, we didn’t whip out a tablet for Lil B until well after 2 years old. Instead, we packed tons of books to read while traveling and relied heavily on those.

I fully intend that as he gets older that we will have a reading instated rule such as, “You must read X minutes” before you get the tablet.

5) Listen To An AudioBook As a Family

If you are planning a road trip, listening to an audiobook that the whole family enjoys is the perfect way to spend the long hours! ( Here are our other suggestions for Surviving a Road Trip With Toddlers )

Not only does it help pass the time, but it keeps the kiddos genuinely entertained, avoiding the dreaded “Are We There Yet” question.

If you have an Amazon Kindle Account , there are thousands of free audiobooks and tablet books to download immediately!

Or, Click Here For 1 Month Free

Here are 18 of the Best Travel Stories and Children’s Books About the World

As recommended by real family travelers for various ages, the perfect shell by jo-anne mason.

Synopsis: This book about Hattie the hermit crab and her journey to find a new, perfect shell in Saint Martin and Sint Maarten the beautiful Caribbean island with two names . Hattie meets a lot of interesting creatures along the way and ends up with the shell she least expected. Why Kids Love It: This book is great for kids of all ages that travel because it introduces them to The Friendly island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin; the only island belonging to two countries and some interesting animals that can be found there. – Michelle, from Travel Fun Fam

Get This Book FREE on Kindle Here!

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

Synopsis: A snail with a yearning for adventure leaves the rock that is her home to travel around the world on the back of a whale. On the way, she sees many places and learns that despite being small she can still make a difference. Why Kids Love It: We love that reading this book to young kids encourages a sense of adventure and highlights that the world is full of wonderful places. It’s the perfect travel picture book with fantastic rhymes as well, perfect for little ones! – Chris, from MoreLifeInYourDays

Read Why Other Parents Adore This Book As Well

I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi

Synopsis: The story follows 2 children who live in Tokyo, Japan and each month the special celebrations that take place. Why Kids Love It: It is fantastic for children to learn about the lives and traditions of a different culture through a child’s experience. We read this book before we traveled to Tokyo and it got the kids really excited to try different sushi and to see Mt Fuji.     -Bron from SmithsHolidayRoad

Read “I Live In Tokyo” Now

Aijethai and other Traditional Stories from Laos by Siphone Vouthisukdy

Synopsis: This is a book of Lao folktales sharing important lessons for life. Why Kids Love It: It was published in a combined English-Lao format, for Lao children who are also trying to learn English, but also gives young English readers insight into another culture. Bonus! And the best part of all is that the publisher, Big Brother Mouse, is a not-for-profit organization in Laos, dedicated to providing educational resources for children in remote villages, so buying their books helps a good cause!  – Jo from Beyond The Lamp Post

S went Surfing in Hawaii

Synopsis:  “S Went Surfing In Hawaii” is a children’s book about the ABC’s and Hawaiian culture. It follows the story of “S” who is busy surfing throughout the book. Why Kids Love It: It teaches kids about the amazing Hawaiian culture without them knowing it and it has a catchy rhyme and colorful photos! – Lindsay, from Carpe Diem Our Way 

Get This Book For Your Little Learner 

The Avion My Uncle Flew by Cyrus Fisher

Synopsis: This book follows a young boys adventures as he spends summer in France after WW2. There are spies, adventure and fun for him as well as learning the new language and culture. Why Kids Love It: It’s a great book for traveling kids (I’d say for ages 10+) as it teaches a couple of French words in each chapter – the last bit of the book is a letter the boy writes in French and my kids could read it solely through being taught by the book.  -Kristy, from Lost in Landmarks

Read the Reviews of Why This is a Classic!

Crepes By Suzette by Monica Wellington

Synopsis: This is one of our favorite kids books about Paris. It’s a fantastic orientation to the city’s iconic sites and everyday scenes as young readers follow Suzette and her crepe cart around the city! Why Kids Love It: While there isn’t a lengthy story, our children loved pointing out sites they recognized when we visited! It’s the perfect introduction for preschoolers and early elementary students! – Melissa, from The Family Voyage

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Synopsis: A much loved children’s classic by French novelist Jules Verne, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ is a tale of adventure, action and intrigue that spans London to India to Hong Kong and beyond. With a colorful cast of characters and a captivating plot, it’s a timeless tale that touches on the importance of travel – for both children and adults alike! Why Kids Love It:  Children love the colorful cast of characters and the weird and wonderful modes of transport Phileas Fogg uses – from steamboat to elephant – as he travels around the world. From escaping kidnap to battling against hurricane winds, this tale is rich in excitement and enduring charm  – Lucy, from The Literary Edit

Get this Classic Book Here

Are We There Yet? by Alison Lester

Synopsis: A family drives along the well-known Great Ocean Road, into the outback and experiences the Great Barrier Reef before returning home to see their grandparents and all their pets they had to leave behind. Why Kids Love It: This fabulous Australian children’s book is ideal for kids to inspire them during their travel in Australia. It tells of a family heading off on an around Australian trip, describing all the famous places and animals they encounter along the way. It’s relatable and gets kids really interested in all there is to see and do in Australia! -Jane, from Explore the Great Ocean Road

Get This Book Now

Paddington – a Peruvian bear in London

Synopsis: A much-loved bear from darkest Peru gets into scrapes and mischief in London after he is discovered at Paddington Station. Adopted by proper English family the Browns, marmalade-loving Paddington has many adventures with them on Portobello Road and other London landmarks. Why Kids Love It:   Kids love Paddington because he has exciting adventures in a new city and questions social norms in a matter of fact way which they love doing themselves! Paddington’s awe at riding on an underground train and going up and down escalators captures the feelings children have in London’s busy train stations  – Katy, from Untold Morsels

Get the Pop Up Edition Here!

Letters From Felix

Synopsis:   Letters from Felix is a gorgeous book about a little girl, Sophia, who loses Felix, her toy rabbit, at the airport.  The book then takes the reader on a journey through letters sent home to Sophia from Felix as he travels the world. Why Kids Love It:  A fun read for kids who travel, by inspiring imagination of a toy rabbit that is experiencing adventure in the same cities around the world that they themselves have visited.  -Lisa, from The Schooled Parent

Check Out All the Adorable Other Felix Books Here

The Little Prince

Synopsis: This is a story about the lonely prince who lives alone on his own planet. During his adventures, he meets various characters that help him to discover the different worlds around him. A great sense of  adventure and travel inspiration  for both kids and young at heart as the little prince discovers various life lessons during his travels. Why Kids Love It: The book is presented in a cartoon style and in an easy to understand style that will surely appeal to the younger reader.      -Ryazan, from EverythingZany

Good Book SERIES for Kids Encouraging Travel

Percy jackson (series).

Buy The Whole Series Here

Lonely Planet’s ‘Not For Parents’ Everything You Ever Wanted To Know Destination Guides (Series)

Synopsis: This series is written in a fun, kid-friendly format specifically for children aged 8 – 12 years old and contains intriguing story snippets, fascinating facts and occasional silly and gross tidbits of information that kids will love about the people, places, history and culture of the destination each book concentrates on. Why Kids Love The Whole Series : My kids love the Lonely Planet ‘Not For Parents’ Everything You Ever Wanted To Know Destination Guide Series and to be honest so do I! My kids have learned so much from this series of books and it’s amazing the facts they are able to recall and tell me when we visit a destination or it comes up in conversation.

These books are brilliant for building up interest and excitement in children before travel to a specific destination.  -Ingrid, from Fabulous And Fun Life 

See All The Different Lonely Planet Destinations Here

Larry Get’s Lost In…(Series)

Synopsis: Larry Get’s Lost is a Children’s Travel Series that focuses on showing major American cities such as New York, Chicago and Seattle through the eyes of a dog. Larry the dog gets lost in each book and works his way around each city visiting major tourists attractions and areas such as Times Square in New York on his adventure to his way back to his family. The book also includes fun facts about unique places he visits in the side bar of each page. Why Kids Love The Series: These books are great for kids as they identify major landmarks in each city, and teach the children more about them in a fun way so that they can connect to them when traveling to that location. -Erin from Little Miss Kate 

See All The Cities that Larry Gets Lost In

Flat Stanley (Series)

Synopsis: The premise of the Flat Stanley is simple. One day the main character Stanley Lambchop survives being crushed while sleeping by a falling bulletin board and after that, he makes the most of his newly altered state by visiting his friends and family by being mailed in an envelope all over the world!  The books take Flat Stanley on a series of worldwide adventures visiting Egypt, Canada, Mexico, Africa, China, Australia, and France to name just a few of the countriess he visits on his fun travels as a super flat person. Why Kids Love It: Kids LOVE to do their own version of a “Flat Stanly” (often a “puppet” of themselves!) and go all over their own town to take photos with it.  Alternatively, kids love it when OTHERS participate in their own “flat” series!      -Frances, from Inspiring Life Dreams

Famous Five (Series)

Synopsis: As a child, I was an avid fan of the popular Famous Five children’s books. Five young adventurers go all across the UK, namely the South West. This inspired such a love for the area in me that I eventually moved down to Devon in order to attend university when I was 18 and it’s still one of my favourite parts of the UK. Why Kids Love The Series: I think it’s great for kids who travel as the series focuses around 5 young children who live a life of mystery and intrigue wherever they go, inspiring other young children to use their imagination and have their own adventures in their everyday lives.  – Bradley, from Dream Big, Travel Far 

Get The Famous Five Series Here

Bear Grylls Adventure (Series)

Synopsis: I love reading all of Bear Grylls books for kids. They are really fun stories about traveling and adventures. My personal favorite is called “The Jungle Challenge.” This book is about some kids going through a jungle and the main character, Omar, learns a lot about how to find his way through it. Why Kids Love It: These books really instill a love for adventure! If you like to travel and adventure then you will enjoy this book and probably his other books too.     – Suewan , from RTW Families

See The Different Adventures Here

Peppa Goes On Holiday (Series)

(Italy) Synopsis: This book sees Peppa Pig go to Italy where she eats pizza and goes sightseeing. With all the fun, Peppa keeps leaving her teddy bear behind; luckily there’s always a kindly policeman on hand to return teddy to her.

Why Kids Love It: What kid DOESN’T love the Peppa Pig cartoons!? This particular book is the familiar character they watch on tv and is great for young children (2-4 years old) as it gets them excited about the adventures to be had away from home and flying on an airplane.     -Clare, from Epic Road Rides

See Where Else Peppa Goes Here

There are SO many amazing books about travel and adventure for kids, we’ve only just scratched the surface.

But I’d love to hear from you, what books, fiction or non-fiction have your kids loved about traveling?

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25 Enchanting Travel Books for Kids of All Ages

Posted on Last updated: January 13, 2024

Home » Product Reviews » 25 Enchanting Travel Books for Kids of All Ages

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Travel books for kids are a fun way to introduce new places and cultures. They’re also a great way to get kids excited about the next family vacation! Keep reading for the best travel books for babies, toddlers, and elementary school-age children.

This post about travel books for kids was written by family travel expert marcie cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, i may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog..

As a family who has had the privilege of traveling the world, we’ve put together quite the library of travel books for kids.

Traveling has been an amazing opportunity for us and books have always been a way we add to the excitement!

But like most families, we don’t spend all of our days traveling the world. This is where children’s travel books come into play.

Books have the ability to introduce children to different countries and other cultures, as well as inspire wanderlust.

Whether you want to open a window to the world or hype up your kids for the next family vacation, the books on my list are just the ticket.

Keep reading for the best travel books for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school-age kids!

Best Travel Books for Kids: Ages 0-3

I love board books! They’re sturdy enough for babies and toddlers to handle. Plus, the images and simple sentences are engaging enough for preschoolers!

And it’s never too early to teach kids about the world! Check out some of my family’s favorite travel books for babies and toddlers.

My Little Cities series by Jennifer Adams

The My Little Cities board books are a favorite in our house! There are 4 different cities in the series: San Francisco, London, New York City, and Paris. Check the latest rates and availability .

Each page is filled with fun illustrations that won’t be overwhelming for young children. And the text on each page is large and succinct.

This also makes them great first books for early readers! In fact, My Little Cities: Paris has been my preschooler’s favorite travel book for kids since we recently spent  3 days in Paris .

And if you love the My Little Cities series as much as we do, you’ll also want to check out the complimentary  New York City Skyline Playset  and  Travel Matching Game !

Lonely Planet Kids First Words

It’s never too early to introduce your kids to a second language. The Lonely Planet Kids First Words series are a great place to start!

The series includes 6 different languages from around the world, and each book contains 12 everyday words.

These board books have bright, bold images that are perfect for babies and toddlers. And I love that each word also includes the English equivalent and the correct pronunciation. Check the latest rates and availability .

What Do You See Around the World by Kathy Broderick

The best travel books for children expose them to new cultures and places. What Do You See Around the World does that in a simple way that 1- and 2-year-olds can understand!

Each 2-page spread presents a different country with iconic images, landmarks, and the country’s flag.

And I love that the beautiful images are presented on a serene background. The perfect book for naming and pointing at things.

Plus, if you’re a fan of rhyming books, this is a great one! Bold words in the text tell you which words to have kids point to, which is a great pre-reading skill. Check the latest rates and availability .

All Aboard! Series by Hailey and Kevin Meyers

The All Aboard! board books are a lovely series that parents and babies alike will enjoy.

The 10 books in the collection feature different destinations, like London and Paris but also the Pacific Northwest and the national parks!

Before we even visited New York City for the first time , my kids LOVED books about the Big Apple!

We would talk a bit about familiar things like taxis and busy streets. But we also get to wonder aloud what it would be like to see the Statue of Liberty in person.

With each turn of the page of these books, you’ll find simple sentences and stunning images that take you somewhere new around the world. Check the latest rates and availability .

Hello World! Series by Ashley Evanson

The Hello World! series is a treasure, and you’ll want to collect all 10 books! They all contain the MOST beautiful illustrations that remind me of Disney World rides (especially the Paris one).

Plus, each book features age-appropriate themes for babies and toddlers, such as opposites, colors, or numbers.

You’ll find destinations like Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, but also cities like San Francisco. And they all include recognizable historical landmarks from each destination. Check the latest rates and availability .

Good Night Our World Series

You may recognize the Good Night Our World books , with over 200 titles! That’s because they’re often given as souvenirs, but they also make the perfect gift for your next adventure!

This adorable series features a wide range of themes. There are different cities and countries that you call home or love to visit.

But there are also a bunch of books on more specific places, like Ski Mountain, Campsite, Grand Teton National Park, and Central Park!

It will be tons of fun for your kids to recognize the different things they’ve read about when you go on your next big adventure. Check the latest rates and availability .

Little Traveler Board Book Set by Mudpuppy

The Little Traveler Board Book Set is another great option for your littlest travelers! This is a set of 4 easy to read books for babies.

Each book is themed differently, featuring animals, landmarks, food, and vehicles from around the world.

What I love about these books is that they include countries you don’t typically see in most books. This includes countries like Madagascar, Galápagos, Barbados, and Iceland! Check the latest rates and availability .

Global Babies by the Global Trust Fund for Children

If you’re looking for something with beautiful photographs and not drawn images, check out Global Babies . This is actually the original, but now there’s a collection of 6 board books in this series.

If you’re looking for something a little more inclusive, this is a special book. Each page features a different baby from around the world.

It shows how babies dress, eat, and are cared for across different cultures around the world. Global Babies is a great book for social babies and toddlers who get excited to see faces! Check the latest rates and availability .

You can check out more of my favorite travel books for babies and toddlers here !

Best travel books for kids: ages 3-5.

For your little travelers between 3 and 5 years old, travel books can be a great way to prepare them for a new adventure, like boarding a plane.

It can also be exciting to recognize the people and places that you’ve been reading about! For this age, focus on picture books with a storyline or travel books filled with fun facts.

The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

Are you taking your 3- to 5-year-old on a plane for the first time? Get them ready with The Airport Book . It’s all about everything to do with taking an airplane ride.

From arriving at the airport and standing in line at security to taking off, this informative book will set any nerves at ease!

The Airport Book features simple sentences and beautiful pictures that are fun to peruse for kids and parents alike. Check the latest rates and availability .

Time for a Trip by Phillis Gershator

Time for a Trip is part of the Snuggle Time Stories series. Specifically in this book, the Little Bunny is getting ready for a trip and anticipates what will happen.

After lots of wondering and imagining, Little Bunny’s family goes on a car ride to see Gramps and Granny!

With all the unknowns of travel, this simple story reminds kids that travel can be rewarding. It comes in a hard-cover format or as a board book. Check the latest rates and availability .

A Walk In… Series by Salvatore Rubbino

What’s great about A Walk In… books is that they will grow with your child. What I mean is, how you read it depends on their age!

There’s A Walk in London , A Walk in New York , and A Walk in Paris . In each book, the city is seen from the perspective of the child who is exploring with a parent or grandparent.

For young kids, just follow the story, which is written in a larger print. For older kids, you can add in the smaller print with interesting facts about the different landmarks visited in the books.

You’ll love the bright images. Plus, there’s a great fold-out map in the front of the book!

This Is Paris by Miroslav Sasek

Miroslav Sasek’s This Is Paris has been a beloved children’s book since it was first published in 1959! Today, Sasek has added many more books to his collection for a total of 18.

Paris is a favorite of ours, but any of them will make a beautiful addition to your travel library!

These beautifully illustrated book feature Sasek’s own artwork. It’s fun to recognize the landmarks and everyday places in the city that the main character visits.

Whenever my oldest and I read This Is Paris, he likes to proudly point out the Eiffel Tower!

I like to point out the glass pyramid and try to explain how the Louvre is home to world-famous art.

Mostly, we look at the pictures, reminisce about our own trip, and practice a little bit of French. And we talk about the yummy food we ate! Check the latest rates and availability .

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Where

You’ll want to flip through National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Where with your child!

This is one of the best travel books for kids, with page after page of interesting facts that will keep curious minds coming back.

It’s no surprise that National Geographic puts out beautiful books with high-quality images and tons of great information.

At the beginning of the book, there’s also tons of great information for how to read this book with your kids. Check the latest rates and availability .

National Geographic Kids My First Atlas of the World

The National Geographic Kids My First Atlas of the World is another beautiful publication by National Geographic.

The simple but vibrant images are a great way to introduce maps, continents, countries, terrains, and more to your little traveler.

Getting ready for a big trip? Find your destination on the fold-out atlas in the book! Or look up how close your house is to the ocean. Check the latest rates and availability .

Tiny Travelers series by Steven Wolfe Pereira and Susie Jaramillo

A hidden gem on my list of best travel books is the Tiny Travelers series . Looking for more detailed information on specific countries that’s still easy to understand? Get these books.

You can use these books to introduce children to different countries in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe.

They boast stunning, colorful illustrations and interesting facts about each country.

Plus, each book is thoroughly researched and authenticated for culturally relevant information. These books are truly top-notch educational content! Check the latest rates and availability .

Best Travel Books for Kids: ages 5-10

When it comes to travel books for kids 5 to 10, look for genres they actually like to read! You can find activity books, chapter books, fun fact books, and more.

Books on specific destinations are a great way to engage them when you’re traveling. And travel-themed stories can inspire kids to learn more about and see the world!

On the Plane Activity Book by Heather Alexander

Some of the best travel books for children between 5 and 10 are interactive books with fun activities. On the Plane Activity Book is especially great if you have a child that’s nervous about flying.

This book contains puzzles, writing prompts, drawing prompts, and more. There are also bright images with interesting facts about planes and plane travel.

Give it to them with a set of fine-tip markers or gel pens and they’ll stay busy for a whole flight! Check the latest rates and availability .

Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal for Kids by Kristy Alpert

Trust me, journal-style books like The Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal for Kids can become keepsakes for future memories!

If you’re taking an epic family road trip, they’ll keep this handy the whole time. There are fun activities like car yoga and imaginative drawing prompts.

The whole family can have fun with road trip games like Car Bingo and photo scavenger hunts!

At the beginning of each chapter is a travel log, and there’s even an entire chapter on preparing for your road trip to get kids excited. Check the latest rates and availability .

Lonely Planet’s City Trails Series

Lonely Planet Kids puts out so many good books for kids of all ages. Their City Trails Series is tons of fun, whether you’re sitting at home or traveling.

Let your school-age kids lead the way with these books featuring different cities around the world, including Barcelona, London, Washington DC, NYC, and more!

I like to use books like these to familiarize my kids with the city we’re heading to. Then they’ll recognize places when we actually visit.

You can choose from over a dozen different walking paths to take in each city, so it’s highly engaging for kids.

As you walk the trails, you’ll see different historical landmarks and read interesting tidbits on each site. Check the latest rates and availability .

National Geographic Kids’ Weird But True World 2023

National Geographic Kids Weird But True World 2023 is a yearly publication that makes for an exciting travel companion for kids.

Like their world atlases, this book is full of interesting information. But it covers a wide range of strange facts from around the world.

The bold images and unique topics from culture to science will keep kids interested while exploring the world. It’ll inspire adventure and make travel even more awesome! Check the latest rates and availability .

Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne

The Magic Tree House series follows the adventures of a boy and girl who go on exciting adventures in Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, the Amazon, the National Parks, and more!

The original Magic Treehouse series set of 28 books is stunning, with beautifully illustrated book covers.

Made for kids just starting to read chapter books, they all have short chapters and not so many words on each page, plus the occasional illustration to keep them engaged.

Parents will love the historical aspect of many of the stories and kids will love the detailed pictures dispersed throughout the book! Check the latest rates and availability .

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney

If you want to get your child excited about an upcoming family road trip and they love Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Long Haul is sure to be a winning travel companion!

Plus, you can toss it in with a few other books on my list! That’s because this one isn’t as centered around fun facts or specific destinations, but rather the theme is going on a road trip.

Read about how things don’t go quite as planned for Greg and the rest of the Heffleys. It’s funny enough that this might be one that you and your kids want to read together! Check the latest rates and availability .

Girl on a Motorcycle by Amy Novesky

Based on a true story, Girl on a Motorcycle tells the tale of a girl who jumped on her motorcycle to see the world.

What follows is a tale that will inspire wanderlust in young readers! Follow along as a young Parisian girl travels through Canada, South Asia, and Europe.

This book is packed with stunning images and a poetic story that’s still simple enough for 7 through 10-year-olds to fully appreciate.

Girl on a Motorcycle is a story of female empowerment. And it shows that the world is beautiful and worth seeing! Check the latest rates and availability .

The Scavenger Hunt Adventure Series by Catherine Aragon

For the family that likes some healthy competition, consider one of the Scavenger Hunt Adventure books !

You’ll find many popular international cities in this series, including London, Libson, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, and more!

In the Scavenger Hunt Adventure: London book, your mission is to find famous landmarks like Big Ben, the Tower of London, Hyde Park, and the British Museum.

At each location, you’ll identify important details and learn fun facts. Complete your mission and you’ll gain access to a secret mission online!

These books are definitely a great way to get kids engaged in a new city. I can’t wait to take this book on our next family trip to London! Check the latest rates and availability .

Heading to London with kids? Check out this 4-day kid-friendly London itinerary !

50 adventures in the 50 states by kate siber.

 There are so many GORGEOUS 50 States books to choose from, including a children’s atlas book and activities books!

But I consider 50 Adventures in the 50 States one of the best travel books for children because of the way each page focuses on a different state.

You never have to leave home to teach kids about the beauty and wonder of each of the 50 states in the US!

Or have the kids learn about each state as you go on an epic road trip! You’ll learn what each state is known for and be challenged to a different unforgettable activity in each state. Check the latest rates and availability .

Lonely Planet Kids Ancient Wonders

Lonely Planet Kids has SO MANY amazing (and beautiful series) and they make my list once again for their Ancient Wonders book!

If your kid just isn’t impressed with historical sites, this is a great book to show them a unique perspective.

Flip pages show site you can visit today, like Stonehenge, The Roman Colosseum, and The Great Pyramid of Giza. Then lift the tab and see what they once looked like!

Lonely Planet Kids does a great job including easy-to-digest information for kids ages 8-10 about each of these famous sites around the world. Check the latest rates and availability .

Keep Kids Entertained with the Best Children’s Travel Books

Books are magical in the way they can open up the world with a turn of a page! You might be looking for travel books for kids to take on your next big trip.

Or perhaps you just want to expose your kids to different cultures, faces, and ways of thinking about the world.

A good book can help a parent and child bond and even inspire a passion to see the world!

Looking for more travel-related items for kids? Check out these posts Baby + Toddler Travel Books to Inspire Wanderlust , Paris Gift Ideas , Best Travel Toys for Toddlers , and my favorite Baby Travel Essentials !

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Tuesday 26th of September 2017

Awww! These books are the cutest things ever! If and when I have kids in the future, I'll definitely wanna get them these as well. Such a great way for toddlers to learn about the world!!

marciecheung

They are adorable! Plus, it reminds me of places I want to visit!

Monday 25th of September 2017

These are the cutest little books ever. Even though I don't have kids, I will hopefully one day and would love for them to read these!! I want them to be well rounded and accustomed to the the culture, language and diversity of other countries!

These books start a lot of great conversations about how life is different in other parts of the world.

Sunday 24th of September 2017

What a gorgeous set of books for little ones! My three girls would love these. It's a great way to start showing kids what a wide and wonderful world we have and get them to start dreaming of their own adventures! We are London based and love seeing the changing of the guard!

These books are so pretty to look through! I'm all about encouraging kids to explore their world!

I have a 3 year old so can appreciate how useful these books are. My daughter would really relate to the pictures, especially after visiting them and I'm sure she'd attach a story to them. What a good idea these travel books are!

Yes, it's so cool when kids start developing memories based on destinations!

Saturday 23rd of September 2017

Loved the books. This looks like a great idea for kids to fell in love with travel. If i would have had kids I would have definitely bought for them. The pictures are so colorful. Loved the illustrations.

The bright colors really are fabulous! Plus, reading about fun destinations sparks a lot of interesting bedtime conversations!

The Mighty Tethys Sea – Archaeology

Author: Juvena Jalal, Illustrator: Sarthak Sinha

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Beginner English , Children , Creative Commons , Geography and Travel , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Non-Fiction , Science , Storyweaver-Pratham

The Mighty Tethys Sea explains how the continents split apart, from the mighty Gondwana and the mighty Tethys sea, to what they are now, and how the Himalayas were formed. Discover how once there were seas where there now are mountains, and how it all changed into the shape of the earth today. Author: Juvena …

The Grass Seeker – A Himalaya Shepherd

Author: Uddalak Gupta, Photographer: Ruhani Kaur

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Creative Commons , Geography and Travel , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , History , Intermediate English , Non-Fiction , Storyweaver-Pratham

The Grass Seeker – As the weather turns warm, shepherd Room Singh takes his flock of goats and sheep and scales the Himalayas for fresh grass. With global warming a reality, this photo book traces the journey that a Gaddi shepherd has been making for the last 40 years, how many more will it be? …

Whoopee…Hyperloop! Future technology coming soon

Author: Sreelata Menon, Illustrator: Satya Krishna Prakash

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Children , Creative Commons , Geography and Travel , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , Intermediate English , Storyweaver-Pratham , Trains , Transport

Whoopee…Hyperloop! Future technology coming soon – Vishnu loves to see new places. But he hates long journeys. Why can’t we have a faster mass transport system, he wonders? So when he reads about the hyperloop, he is blown away… whoopee! What’s this futuristic mass transport system? Vishnu and his friends read all about it in …

The Time-Travelling River – History, geography, and environmentalism in a story

Written by Parinita Shetty, Illustrated by Sunaina Coelho

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Applied Science , Children , Conservation , Creative Commons , Geography and Travel , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , History , Intermediate English , Nature , Non-Fiction , Science , Storyweaver-Pratham

The Time-Traveling River tells a tale of rivers and how important they are in history and for our future, and how we need to protect them. An important look at environmentalism from a river’s perspective. Written by Parinita Shetty, Illustrated by Sunaina Coelho Sample Text from The Time-Travelling River Rivers are like time machines. If people jump …

Ancient Egypt – CKF reference book for elementary

Core Knowledge Foundation

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Children , Core Knowledge Foundation , Geography and Travel , History , Non-Fiction

Ancient Egypt is a reference book suitable for early to mid-elementary school students, grades 1-4. This is suitable for use as a reference for projects and as a learning tool, designed to be read aloud to early grades or to be read by older grades. More resources associated with this module, including a teachers guide …

We Love Our Home – Animal habitats in India

Author: Karthika G Illustrator: Chaaya Prabhat

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Animals , Children , Geography and Travel , Nature , Non-Fiction , Science , Storyweaver-Pratham

We Love Our Home is a story about animal habitats in India. This is a great nature ebook for early elementary that combines biology and  geography, Have some fun looking up the animal types and the locations, make a project out of researching each species and location, there are very unique and special conservation values …

Europe – Wikijunior

Categories: Age 10-13 years , All FKB Books , Creative Commons , Fluent English , Geography and Travel , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , Non-Fiction , Older Children , WikiBooks

Europe is a great concise textbook for learning European geography, suitable for upper elementary and middle school. The book contains summaries of all the different countries, each summary includes history, geography, people, and sights. Along with each country’s summary the introduction includes an overview of the geography, languages, people, and the European Union. This is …

Tania Gets Lost

Categories: Adventure , Age 10-13 years , Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Dogs , Fluent English , Friendship , Geography and Travel , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , Kanika G

  This is book 32 of The Tania Series. Tania is growing up, and so is her thirst for adventure. After reading many books about kids solving mysteries and stumbling upon secret passages, Tania is craving an adventure of her own. Tania and her best friend Tanisha, are vacationing with their families in a small …

Cat in the Ghat! – Adventure in the Western Ghats

Author: Ambika Rao Illustrator: Ruchi Shah

Categories: Adventure , Age 2-5 Years , Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Animals , Cats , Children , Creative Commons , Geography and Travel , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Intermediate English , School Projects , Storyweaver-Pratham

The Cat in the Ghat provides a rhyming tale of an exciting adventure in the Western Ghats. The story is inspired by the real-life expeditions of National Geographic explorer, photographer and filmmaker Sandesh Kadur in search of the elusive Pogeyan in the Western Ghats. In the beautifully illustrated picture book, Uncle Sandy (Sandesh Kadur) searches for the mysterious cat, and …

Tania In A Winter Wonderland

Categories: Age 10-13 years , Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Children , Family , Games and Activities , Geography and Travel , Kanika G , Nature , Science , Seasons

Tania In A Winter Wonderland – This is book 31 of The Tania Series. Tania and her family visit Shimla again, but this time in winter. Tania and Sonia see, and play in, snow for the very first time ever. The family has to deal with a winter crisis, but they all co-operate to overcome …

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Thomas acknowledges more travel paid for by…

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Thomas acknowledges more travel paid for by harlan crow. colleagues report six-figure book payments.

FILE – Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait following the addition of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. Bottom row, from left, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

FILE – Beyoncé performs at the Wolstein Center, Nov. 4, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. Apple Music announced on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, their 10 greatest albums of all time and Beyonce’s 2016 “Lemonade” came in 10th on the list. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday belatedly acknowledged more travel paid by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, while several colleagues reported six-figure payments as part of book deals.

Thomas, who has faced criticism for failing to report luxury trips paid for by Crow and others over many years, said in his annual financial disclosure that, in 2019, Crow paid for a hotel room in Bali, Indonesia, for a single night, and food and lodging at a private club in Sonoma County, California. He did not report any travel paid by others last year.

The disclosure on Indonesia is curious for what it omits: the rest of the trip. ProPublica reported last year that Thomas flew to Indonesia on Crow’s private jet and then boarded his superyacht for an islands tour, one of many trips Crow has given to Thomas and his wife, Ginni, over the years.

Another justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson , reported eye-popping numbers, a nearly $900,000 advance for her upcoming memoir, and attention-grabbing gifts, four tickets to a Beyoncé concert valued at $3,700 from the singer herself.

Jackson was one of four Supreme Court justices who reported sizable income from book deals. Justice Brett Kavanaugh reported being paid $340,000 by the conservative Regnery Publishing company. The company was sold and the book is to be published by an imprint at Hachette Book Group, according to Axios, which also reported this week that Kavanaugh’s book will deal with his contentious confirmation hearing that included allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. The court confirmed Friday that the justice is writing a legal memoir.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor reported royalty income of $250,000 and nearly $90,000, respectively.

In their day jobs, the justices are being paid $298,500 this year, except for Chief Justice John Roberts, who earns $312,200.

The only justice whose report was not available Friday is Samuel Alito, who received an extension for up to 90 days, as he does most years. The justice has separately been under scrutiny over flags that flew outside homes he owned. He has said they were raised by his wife.

Jackson, the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court, signed a book contract soon after taking her seat in 2022. The book, “Lovely One,” is to be published in September.

The total value of her book deal has not been publicly disclosed, but it is expected to rival if not exceed what Sotomayor was paid for her memoir, “My Beloved World,” more than $3 million.

Among the current justices, only Roberts, Alito and Justice Elena Kagan have so far not cut book deals. Thomas received a $1.5 million advance, stunning at the time, for his 2007 book, “My Grandfather’s Son.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2022 reported receiving $425,000 for a yet-to-be-released book, part of a reported $2 million deal she signed soon after joining the court in 2020.

The disclosures paint a partial picture of the justices’ finances, as they are not required to reveal the value of their homes or, for those who are married, their spouses’ salary.

The justices adopted an ethics code in November, though it lacks a means of enforcement. The code treats travel, food and lodging as expenses rather than gifts, for which monetary values must be reported. Justices aren’t required to attach a value to expenses.

In March, the federal judiciary began requiring judges to disclose travel-related gifts and their values — rather than reporting such gifts as reimbursements. The justices say they generally abide by the same rules, but Thomas did not disclose the cost of the Bali hotel.

Some Democratic lawmakers are continuing to press legislation that would require the court to adopt a binding code of conduct and provide for investigations of alleged violations. But the prospect for such legislation is considered remote in a closely divided Congress.

Only two justices reported receiving gifts last year. Thomas said he was given two photo albums worth $2,000 by Terrence Giroux and his wife. Giroux is the executive director emeritus of the Horatio Alger Association.

Jackson received artwork for her Supreme Court office worth $12,500. And then there were the Beyoncé tickets, worth more than $900 a pop. Beyoncé performed two concerts in the Washington area in August 2023, though Jackson’s disclosure does not say when or where the tickets were for.

“Justice Jackson is Crazy in Love with Beyonce’s music,” Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said, invoking a Beyoncé song. “Who isn’t?”

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Meet the Himalayan trekking guide reclaiming the mountains for women

The Himalayan trekking leader is part of a new generation of Nepalese women claiming their space amid some of the world’s highest peaks.

When 27-year-old Sumitra Acharya took on a job as a trekking porter in 2019, she had a mountain to climb. With Nepal’s outdoor industry a male-dominated field, she defied societal expectations, carrying 15kg loads of clothing, supplies, sleeping bags and more for some 10 miles a day to ease the burden for visiting mountaineers. Five years on, she’s leading expeditions to Everest Base Camp and Annapurna — and, she hopes, inspiring other Nepalese women to reach for new heights.

Why are there so few women in Nepal’s trekking industry?

The willingness is there, but it’s not easy out in the field. Guides are on the job for long stretches of time, and for long days, mostly in male groups. The traditional view in our society is still that women need to be near the house, do chores. The outdoors isn’t thought to be for them — not yet.

Why did you decide to become a porter?

I decided to work in the tourism industry, and I saw tour operator Intrepid was looking for female porters. I instantly said no; at the time, I’d even complain about having to carry bags home from my local market. But when I told my mother, her first reaction was, “If it’s not for you, you can always come back home — but at least give it a try.” So, I did.

What challenges did you face?

My parents and brothers supported me, but other relatives and friends told me I was making a mistake. And while there were other female porters and guides at Intrepid, I   saw   no local women on the trails. I was discouraged by male porters I’d meet at base camps or checkpoints. They’d   see me and snort. They told me I was beautiful, that   I   should get married and enjoy my husband’s money. Some would stare at me like I was an alien, around hotel corners or sitting in dining halls.

Where did you find the resilience to keep going?

The people I was working with had my back. They taught me everything, from controlling my pace while hiking to befriending hotel owners so I wouldn’t get homesick. As we say, when there are 1,000 shackles binding you, there’s always one thing that can set you free.

Has the industry changed since you joined?

The number of female porters, assistant guides and leaders at Intrepid keeps growing. There were a few when I joined; this year, at Intrepid, we’re 37 and counting. I have a few close friends who are passionate about the outdoors, be it climbing or trekking. Their families don’t believe they should pursue it as a career, but they’re taking a stand for themselves. I think that’s the major difference now. Girls are getting an education and want to be independent.

Where does your passion for the outdoors come from?

I always wanted to do solo backpacking trips, but I didn’t do any exploring until I was 20. I was born in a rural community in Sindhupalchok district, northeast of Kathmandu, but raised in a city in the Kathmandu Valley. There are no transport links to my home village; whenever I visited, I struggled to walk the hour and a half it took to get there, so I thought I wasn’t made to climb mountains. Then, while studying agriculture in Jiri town, I went on a hike to nearby Cherdung Hill, which reaches 12,000ft. It proved to me that this was something I could do.

What are some of your favourite hikes?

Besides Everest, another popular trekking area in the Himalayas is Manaslu — the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 26,781ft. You can still find a proper sense of rawness there, in the local culture and traditions. As for new hikes I’d like to do myself, it would be the country’s far west. There are a number of destinations, but my pick would be Upper Dolpo.

What is your proudest achievement?

If one single girl is inspired by my story, that’d be it. But equally, I’m proud to be here, talking about my life and how it’s changed in just five years. I’m doing my dream job, showing my country to   people from around the world. I feel like a leader.

Intrepid runs a number of small-group trips to   Nepal.

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Kennedy says he has secured ballot access in…

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Subscriber only, kennedy says he has secured ballot access in enough states to win. that’s not yet true.

PHOENIX (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claimed Friday that he’s qualified for the ballot in enough states to win the presidency as an independent candidate, but there’s a major caveat: at least 10 of the states have not certified his candidacy.

Kennedy is racing to secure a place on the ballot in states with at least 270 electoral votes, the minimum needed to become president, before a June 20 deadline to qualify for a CNN debate later this month.

Kennedy’s campaign said he submitted 3,300 signatures in Minnesota on Friday and listed the state among 19 states with 278 electoral votes where he claims ballot access. But by the campaign’s own admission, at least half of those states have not verified that his submission is valid.

CNN has signaled that it won’t count states where Kennedy has applied for ballot access but not been confirmed. Kennedy filed a Federal Election Commission complaint last month alleging the cable network is colluding with Democratic President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump to exclude him from the debate .

Kennedy also has not met the debate’s requirement to get at least 15% in four reputable polls.

Biden and Trump agreed to the CNN debate and a second on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC, bypassing the nonpartisan commission that has organized debates for nearly four decades.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and prominent anti-vaccine activist, abandoned his Democratic primary challenge to Biden last year and began campaigning as an independent. Among the major obstacles he faces is an expensive and time-consuming requirement to secure ballot access state by state, which will require him to collect millions of signatures that must be verified by election officials before his candidacy is approved.

He’s built a loyal following among people disaffected by American institutions including the government, corporations and the media, an ideologically eclectic group that will have an unpredictable impact on the election. Biden and Trump both fear that Kennedy will draw voters who might otherwise vote for them.

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Thomas acknowledges more travel paid for by Harlan Crow. Colleagues report six-figure book payments

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Thomas acknowledges more travel paid for by…

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Thomas acknowledges more travel paid for by harlan crow. colleagues report six-figure book payments.

FILE – Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait following the addition of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. Bottom row, from left, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

FILE – Beyoncé performs at the Wolstein Center, Nov. 4, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. Apple Music announced on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, their 10 greatest albums of all time and Beyonce’s 2016 “Lemonade” came in 10th on the list. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday belatedly acknowledged more travel paid by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, while several colleagues reported six-figure payments as part of book deals.

Thomas, who has faced criticism for failing to report luxury trips paid for by Crow and others over many years, said in his annual financial disclosure that, in 2019, Crow paid for a hotel room in Bali, Indonesia, for a single night, and food and lodging at a private club in Sonoma County, California. He did not report any travel paid by others last year.

The disclosure on Indonesia is curious for what it omits: the rest of the trip. ProPublica reported last year that Thomas flew to Indonesia on Crow’s private jet and then boarded his superyacht for an islands tour, one of many trips Crow has given to Thomas and his wife, Ginni, over the years.

Another justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson , reported eye-popping numbers, a nearly $900,000 advance for her upcoming memoir, and attention-grabbing gifts, four tickets to a Beyoncé concert valued at $3,700 from the singer herself.

Jackson was one of four Supreme Court justices who reported sizable income from book deals. Justice Brett Kavanaugh reported being paid $340,000 by the conservative Regnery Publishing company. The company was sold and the book is to be published by an imprint at Hachette Book Group, according to Axios, which also reported this week that Kavanaugh’s book will deal with his contentious confirmation hearing that included allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. The court confirmed Friday that the justice is writing a legal memoir.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor reported royalty income of $250,000 and nearly $90,000, respectively.

In their day jobs, the justices are being paid $298,500 this year, except for Chief Justice John Roberts, who earns $312,200.

The only justice whose report was not available Friday is Samuel Alito, who received an extension for up to 90 days, as he does most years. The justice has separately been under scrutiny over flags that flew outside homes he owned. He has said they were raised by his wife.

Jackson, the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court, signed a book contract soon after taking her seat in 2022. The book, “Lovely One,” is to be published in September.

The total value of her book deal has not been publicly disclosed, but it is expected to rival if not exceed what Sotomayor was paid for her memoir, “My Beloved World,” more than $3 million.

Among the current justices, only Roberts, Alito and Justice Elena Kagan have so far not cut book deals. Thomas received a $1.5 million advance, stunning at the time, for his 2007 book, “My Grandfather’s Son.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2022 reported receiving $425,000 for a yet-to-be-released book, part of a reported $2 million deal she signed soon after joining the court in 2020.

The disclosures paint a partial picture of the justices’ finances, as they are not required to reveal the value of their homes or, for those who are married, their spouses’ salary.

The justices adopted an ethics code in November, though it lacks a means of enforcement. The code treats travel, food and lodging as expenses rather than gifts, for which monetary values must be reported. Justices aren’t required to attach a value to expenses.

In March, the federal judiciary began requiring judges to disclose travel-related gifts and their values — rather than reporting such gifts as reimbursements. The justices say they generally abide by the same rules, but Thomas did not disclose the cost of the Bali hotel.

Some Democratic lawmakers are continuing to press legislation that would require the court to adopt a binding code of conduct and provide for investigations of alleged violations. But the prospect for such legislation is considered remote in a closely divided Congress.

Only two justices reported receiving gifts last year. Thomas said he was given two photo albums worth $2,000 by Terrence Giroux and his wife. Giroux is the executive director emeritus of the Horatio Alger Association.

Jackson received artwork for her Supreme Court office worth $12,500. And then there were the Beyoncé tickets, worth more than $900 a pop. Beyoncé performed two concerts in the Washington area in August 2023, though Jackson’s disclosure does not say when or where the tickets were for.

“Justice Jackson is Crazy in Love with Beyonce’s music,” Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said, invoking a Beyoncé song. “Who isn’t?”

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Israel to require American visitors to apply in advance for electronic travel authorization

Israel is joining the Western nations requiring an advance online application and a fee for citizens from visa-exempt countries, including the United States.

Until now, Americans who want to travel to Israel haven’t needed to do anything other than purchase a plane ticket and pack their bags.

But starting Aug. 1, electronic travel authorization through a designated website will be required, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism announced this week. A pilot program, with the NIS 25 ($7) fee waived, will launch Saturday for travelers from the United States and Germany and will extend to all visa-exempt countries on July 1.

Travelers are advised to apply 72 hours before booking flights and lodging. Travelers without the authorization will not be permitted to board planes headed to Israel, and Interior Ministry spokeswoman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The ETA-IL program is similar to others that have been put in place in recent years in Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Their goal is to screen out travelers suspected of posing a security threat or of potentially violating tourist visa restrictions through work or overstaying before they land at ports of entry.

Most countries that have launched similar programs advise a 72-hour heads-up, although the authorization frequently arrives via email within hours. The United States warns that people who do not apply in advance for travel authorization can face delays boarding flights or be turned away at the border, even if they come from countries that participate in the U.S. visa-waiver program. ( Israel was added to the program only last September .)

Citizens of visa-exempt countries who are citizens or permanent residents of Israel are not required to request authorization. Citizens of nonexempt countries will still need to complete a more arduous visa application process. The authorization will last for two years and will allow multiple entries of up to 90 days.

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