The Best Travel Books for Kids
Travel books for kids open a window onto the wider world. They introduce young readers to unfamiliar cultures, remarkable landmarks, faraway places, and the excitement of exploration long before they ever pack a suitcase. Few things are more rewarding than watching a curious child discover something new and start asking questions about the world beyond home. These books help spark that curiosity while offering an engaging alternative to more time spent on screens.
Travelreads has brought together a mix of beautifully illustrated picture books, imaginative adventures, world atlases, destination stories, and books for older children who are curious about life beyond home. We especially love travel books as gifts: they are fun to open, easy to return to, and can spark a lasting interest in reading, geography, and discovery. Our recommendations include both classics and newer favorites, with choices for different ages and reading levels.
FEATURED BOOK:
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, by Dr. Seuss
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is one of Dr. Seuss’s most enduring celebrations of possibility, independence, and the excitement of setting out into the unknown. Best suited for ages 4–10, the book follows an unnamed traveler through colorful landscapes, unexpected setbacks, moments of uncertainty, and the exhilaration of moving forward again. Its message is simple but lasting: life is full of places to discover, choices to make, and adventures that rarely unfold exactly as planned.
That sense of possibility is one reason the book works so well on a travel-themed reading list. It encourages children to imagine what might lie beyond the familiar while also acknowledging that every journey includes difficult stretches along the way. Published in 1990 as Dr. Seuss’s final book during his lifetime, it has also become a popular gift for graduations, birthdays, and other milestones, with a message that continues to resonate well beyond childhood. Learn more about this book here.
Ages 3–6 → Picture Books & First Adventures
Hello, World by Ashley Evanson
The Hello, World series is a treasure trove of travel-themed board books for young explorers just beginning to discover the joy of reading. Best suited for ages 1–4, each book focuses on a single world city, bringing it to life through Ashley Evanson’s vibrant and charming illustrations. The simple yet engaging format makes these books ideal for little hands and growing minds, fostering a love for both reading and global awareness from an early age. Whether used as bedtime stories or as preparation for family trips, the Hello, World series opens up a world of imagination and learning for our youngest armchair travelers. Learn more about this amazing travel book series here.
Journey, by Aaron Becker
With only her imagination and a red crayon, a lonely young girl draws a doorway on her bedroom wall and steps into a world of castles, forests, canals, and flying machines. Aaron Becker’s Journey, a 2014 Caldecott Honor Book, tells the entire story without words, allowing its richly detailed illustrations to carry readers through moments of wonder, danger, courage, and unexpected friendship. Best suited for ages 4–8, the book works especially well for younger children who enjoy visual storytelling, while older readers can still appreciate the detail and emotion woven into each scene. Whenever the girl encounters an obstacle, her crayon creates a way forward, transforming into a boat, a balloon, or a flying carpet. The adventure continues in Quest and concludes with Return, expanding the mysterious world while exploring the power of creativity, loyalty, and connection. Beautifully imagined and accessible well beyond its core age range, the trilogy demonstrates how much emotion and excitement can be conveyed through pictures alone. Learn more about the Journey book series here.
Toot & Puddle, by Holly Hobbie
Holly Hobbie’s beloved Toot & Puddle series follows two pig best friends whose very different personalities make them a perfect pair. Toot is an eager traveler who dreams of distant places, while Puddle is happiest at home in Woodcock Pocket, enjoying the quiet pleasures of everyday life. Best suited for ages 4–8, the books pair gentle storytelling with expressive watercolor illustrations that make them especially appealing to younger readers. Their friendship stretches easily across the miles, whether Toot is sending postcards from faraway destinations or Puddle is creating adventures closer to home. The original Toot & Puddle introduces their enduring friendship, while On Top of the World sends Toot on an ambitious journey to a remote corner of the globe. Across the series, young readers discover that adventure can be found both in exploring the wider world and in appreciating the familiar places that make home special. Learn more about Toot & Puddle here.
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a beloved children’s classic about a young boy who creates an entire world with nothing more than his imagination and a purple crayon. Best suited for ages 3–7, the story begins when Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight—and simply draws the moon, a path, and everything else he needs along the way. His adventure carries him across oceans, past forests, up mountains, and into a series of unexpected situations, all created line by line as he moves through the world he is inventing. When problems arise, Harold relies on creativity, curiosity, and quick thinking to draw his way forward. Crockett Johnson’s simple illustrations and wonderfully inventive premise have made the book a favorite for generations. More than just a story about imagination, Harold and the Purple Crayon captures the spirit of exploration itself, showing young readers how curiosity can turn even the blankest page into a journey.
Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans first introduced readers to Madeline in 1939, opening the doors to an old vine-covered house in Paris where twelve little girls live under the watchful care of Miss Clavel. Best suited for ages 4–8, the stories follow the smallest and boldest of them all as she approaches every adventure with curiosity, courage, and just the right amount of mischief. Whether she is visiting the hospital, exploring the city, or finding herself in another unexpected situation, Madeline’s adventures capture the excitement of childhood against an unmistakably Parisian backdrop of bridges, gardens, grand buildings, and bustling streets. Bemelmans’s distinctive illustrations, playful rhymes, and memorable characters give the books a warmth and energy that have endured for generations. More than eight decades after her debut, Madeline remains one of children’s literature’s most beloved travelers, inviting young readers into a world where friendship, independence, and adventure are always close at hand. Learn more about the Madeline series here.
Little Kids First Big Book of the Word by National Geographic
The Little Kids First Big Book of the World introduces young readers to the planet through a lively mix of geography, culture, science, and hands-on discovery. Best suited for ages 4–8, the book explores continents, languages, landscapes, weather, animals, major cities, and natural wonders in a format designed to be easy for younger children to browse and understand. More than 100 colorful photographs, simple maps, and bite-size facts help bring each part of the world to life, while interactive ideas such as creating a bottle terrarium or learning a few words in another language encourage children to move beyond simply reading and start exploring for themselves. The book also does a nice job of showing how people and places differ across the globe without making the information feel overwhelming. National Geographic’s strength has always been making the world feel vivid and accessible, and this book brings that same spirit to younger readers, giving them an engaging first introduction to geography, culture, and the excitement of discovering how much there is to learn about the world.
Pisa Loves Bella: A Towering Tale of Kindness
In Pisa Loves Bella, Italy’s famous Leaning Tower becomes a character with feelings, worries, and a voice of her own. Best suited for ages 4–8, the story follows Bella as she begins to question herself after overhearing visitors make unkind remarks about the way she leans. When she tries to stand perfectly straight, her attempt creates unexpected trouble and alarms the people who have always loved her exactly as she is. Told in playful rhyme and accompanied by bright, colorful illustrations, the book introduces young readers to one of Italy’s best-known landmarks while exploring themes of confidence, kindness, and self-acceptance. A sprinkling of Italian words adds to the sense of place, making Pisa Loves Bella both a cheerful travel-inspired story and a gentle reminder that the qualities that make someone different may also be what make them special.
Ages 6–9 → Young Readers & World Discovery
Create Your Own Travel Journal, from Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Kids’ Create Your Own Travel Journal turns a trip into something children can actively record, remember, and make their own. Best suited for ages 6–10, the journal is filled with prompts, activities, spaces for drawing and writing, and ideas that encourage young travelers to pay closer attention to the places they visit. Kids can record favorite foods, memorable sights, new words, funny moments, and the small details that might otherwise be forgotten once the trip is over. Rather than simply keeping children occupied, the journal helps them become more observant and engaged with the journey itself, giving them a reason to notice what makes each destination different. It also becomes a personal souvenir afterward, filled with memories created in the child’s own words and pictures. For families traveling together, it is a simple way to encourage curiosity, creativity, and a little more involvement in the adventure. Lonely Planet has long been one of our favorite travel publishers for both adults and younger readers; explore more of our Lonely Planet recommendations.
Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid
Looking for a book that will spark your child’s curiosity about the world? The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid is a wonderfully imaginative introduction to some of the planet’s strangest, most surprising, and least-visited places. Best suited for ages 8–12, it takes young readers on an adventure through hidden caves, unusual festivals, mysterious landscapes, remarkable animals, and extraordinary cultural traditions. Rather than moving country by country like a traditional atlas, the book encourages children to look beyond the familiar and see travel as a chance to discover the unexpected. Colorful illustrations and fascinating facts fill every page, making it the kind of book that can inspire hours of browsing—and perhaps plant the seed for a lifetime of curiosity and adventure.
The Travel Book, by Lonely Planet
The Travel Book from Lonely Planet Kids invites young readers to explore the entire world, with a full page devoted to every independent country as well as a selection of territories, arranged alphabetically from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Best suited for ages 8–12, this updated second edition combines colorful maps, striking photography, playful illustrations, and lively facts to create an engaging introduction to the people, wildlife, landmarks, traditions, and landscapes that make each destination distinctive. Children can learn about Iceland’s geothermal hot springs, discover the unusual animals found only in Madagascar, explore Cambodia’s ancient temples, and uncover countless other details that inspire curiosity about unfamiliar places. The short, accessible entries make it easy to browse one country at a time or spend hours moving across continents. Both a reference book and an invitation to dream, The Travel Book encourages children to see the planet as a vast collection of cultures, stories, and adventures waiting to be discovered.
This is the World, by Miroslav Sasek
The This Is... series by Miroslav Šašek has captivated young travelers since 1959 with whimsical journeys to cities like London, Paris, and Rome, each brought to life through his distinctive mid-century modern aesthetic. Best suited for ages 6–10, the books distill complex destinations into their most memorable elements—the double-decker buses of London, the gondolas of Venice, the cable cars of San Francisco—while also capturing the rhythm of daily life through food, music, architecture, and local traditions. Created between 1959 and 1974, these beautifully illustrated volumes remain remarkably fresh, their warm, witty voice and childlike sense of wonder continuing to inspire curiosity about cities around the world in new generations of readers.
Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas, by National Geographic
Summer is perfect for family road trips, and keeping kids interested in the journey can make the miles pass much more quickly. Best suited for ages 7–12, National Geographic Kids’ Ultimate US Road Trip Atlas turns a long drive into an opportunity to discover more about the country along the way. Packed with colorful maps, state-by-state facts, landmarks, quirky trivia, and entertaining details, the book gives young travelers plenty to explore from the back seat while helping them understand where they are and what makes each region distinctive. It works especially well for children who enjoy maps, geography, and bite-size facts, and its easy-to-browse format makes it useful whether a family is crossing several states or simply heading out on a weekend drive. More than just a way to pass the time, the atlas can become part of the trip itself, encouraging kids to follow the route, spot places they have visited, and take a more active interest in the landscapes and communities outside the car window. It also makes a fun souvenir afterward, preserving some of the curiosity and excitement of a family road trip long after everyone is home.
Ages 9–12 → Independent Readers & Inspiring Journeys
The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide to Inventing the World
The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide to Inventing the World turns curiosity into exploration, making it an especially good choice for young readers fascinated by science, technology, and how ideas evolve. Best suited for ages 8–12, this STEM-focused follow-up to the Atlas Obscura series traces 50 important inventions and scientific breakthroughs across different eras and cultures, showing how one discovery often leads to another. The journey begins with humanity’s early use of fire and moves through innovations involving glass, telescopes, codes, lasers, transportation, and other technologies that have transformed the way people understand and interact with the world. Along the way, readers encounter everything from ancient discoveries to futuristic engineering challenges, all brought to life through vivid illustrations and surprising connections. Rather than presenting invention as a series of isolated moments, the book shows how human curiosity builds across generations, encouraging young readers to see science as an ongoing global story of experimentation, imagination, and discovery.
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is an iconic series of 24 comic albums that began in 1929, following the globe-trotting exploits of Tintin, a young Belgian reporter with an extraordinary talent for finding himself in the middle of mysteries, conspiracies, and far-flung adventures. Best suited for ages 8–12, the series carries readers from European cities and desert kingdoms to Himalayan mountains, tropical ports, and imaginary countries such as Syldavia and Borduria. Tintin is rarely alone for long: his loyal dog Snowy, the explosive Captain Haddock, and the wonderfully absent-minded Professor Calculus help give the stories their distinctive mix of suspense, humor, and adventure. Hergé’s clear-line illustrations make the books fast-moving and highly accessible, while the international settings give young readers an early sense of how large and varied the world can be. Some of the earliest books reflect colonial-era attitudes that can feel dated today, but the strongest volumes remain imaginative, beautifully paced adventures that have inspired generations of readers to think about travel, discovery, and life beyond the familiar.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick
The Invention of Hugo Cabret transports readers to 1930s Paris, where a lonely orphan secretly lives within the walls of a bustling train station. Best suited for ages 9–12, Brian Selznick’s inventive novel tells its story through a striking combination of prose and more than 250 pages of detailed pencil illustrations, giving the book the pace and visual drama of a film. Hugo spends his days maintaining the station’s clocks and trying to repair a mysterious mechanical figure connected to his late father, but his life changes when he meets an irritable toy seller and the man’s curious goddaughter. Their friendship gradually uncovers a remarkable connection to Georges Méliès, the pioneering French filmmaker whose fantastical movies helped shape the earliest days of cinema. Filled with mystery, friendship, invention, and beautifully rendered scenes of Paris, The Invention of Hugo Cabret is both an absorbing adventure and an imaginative introduction to film history, making it especially appealing to independent readers who enjoy stories rooted in a strong sense of place. Read our full review of The Invention of Hugo Cabret here.
Inside Out & Back Again, by Thanhha Lai
Inspired by Thanhhà Lại’s own childhood, Inside Out & Back Again follows ten-year-old Hà as she is forced to leave Saigon with her family during the final days of the Vietnam War. Best suited for ages 9–12, the novel traces the family’s difficult journey by ship and eventual resettlement in Alabama, where Hà must adjust to a new language, unfamiliar food, schoolyard cruelty, and a culture that often leaves her feeling isolated and misunderstood. Told in spare, expressive verse, the story captures both the upheaval of displacement and the small moments that help a child begin to feel at home again. Hà’s grief for the country she has lost is balanced by her determination, humor, and growing confidence as she learns to navigate her new life. Winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and a Newbery Honor, Inside Out & Back Again offers middle-grade readers a deeply human account of war, immigration, family, identity, and resilience. Read our book review here.
The Passport Project, by Kellie McIntyre
The Passport Project tells the true story of two sisters, ages 13 and 11, who leave behind their familiar routines to join their family on a five-month journey around the world. Best suited for ages 10–14, the book turns travel into a real-life social studies classroom filled with unfamiliar customs, historic places, new foods, and encounters that challenge the way the girls see the world. At the same time, they are still navigating the ordinary complications of adolescence, from sibling disagreements and changing friendships to the frustrations of spending so much time together as a family. That combination gives the book both its educational value and its relatable charm. Written with middle school readers in mind, The Passport Project offers an honest, engaging look at long-term family travel and the many ways it can encourage independence, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of life beyond home. Learn more about The Passport Project here.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
Dive into the depths of imagination with Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, one of the great classics of science fiction and adventure literature. Best suited for ages 10–14, the novel follows French marine biologist Professor Pierre Aronnax as he joins an expedition to investigate reports of a terrifying sea creature attacking ships around the world. The mysterious “monster” turns out to be the Nautilus, an extraordinarily advanced submarine commanded by the brilliant and enigmatic Captain Nemo. Taken aboard with his companions, Aronnax travels beneath the oceans through coral reefs, underwater forests, shipwrecks and other extraordinary environments that few readers of Verne’s time could have imagined. First published in the 19th century, the book was remarkably forward-looking in its vision of undersea technology and remains fascinating for the way it combines scientific curiosity, exploration, danger, and moral ambiguity. Although the language and pacing can be more demanding than many modern children’s books, adventurous older readers are rewarded with a sweeping journey that helped define both science fiction and the modern adventure novel.
One Girl One Dream, by Laura Dekker
One Girl One Dream tells the remarkable true story of Laura Dekker, the Dutch sailor who set out at age 14 to sail around the world on her own. Best suited for ages 10–14, the book follows Dekker from the legal battles and public criticism that nearly prevented her voyage to the day she finally departed aboard her 38-foot sailboat, Guppy. Over the next 518 days, she crossed vast stretches of open ocean, navigated difficult weather, handled repairs and equipment problems, and learned to manage long periods of solitude far from home. Along the way, she also experienced the freedom and exhilaration of life at sea, stopped in ports across the globe, and grew increasingly confident in her ability to make difficult decisions on her own. Her journey is as much about independence and resilience as it is about sailing, giving young readers a vivid sense of the preparation, risk, patience, and determination required to take on something so ambitious. More than an account of an extraordinary voyage, One Girl One Dream is an inspiring story about self-reliance, perseverance, and the courage to pursue a goal even when others insist it cannot be done. Read our full book review here.
Books are just one way to help children see the world with more curiosity. Visit our Curious Kids collection for stories, ideas, and recommendations designed to help young readers discover new places, cultures, and possibilities.