These colorful books are perfect for the holidays and make great birthday gifts, too.
With Christmas just days away, the clock is ticking, no matter what time zone you’re in. If you’re still looking for gift ideas, it’s not too late to make a memorable purchase.
We’ve compiled this list of great travel-related books for kids. In most cases, Amazon will deliver these books before Christmas. Of course, you can make a quick trip to your nearest bookstore, if you prefer to shop local.
My curious, travel-loving, adventure-seeking kids have enjoyed each one of the books below. We’ve referenced these books to make travel plans, to learn more about other cities and countries, and to familiarize ourselves with the lives of others around the world.
Good luck as you wrap up that last-minute shopping. I hope this list helps.
KidTripster Tip: If you don’t purchase these books now, you may want to bookmark this link for future gift ideas.
The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for The World’s Most Adventurous Kid
This book features 47 countries and 100 places to visit. The book uses a combination of illustration and facts to showcase some of the most adventurous places to visit in the world. The book is a reminder that we live in a world full of wonder. Get your kids excited about exploring our planet – from learning about ice caves in Argentina to lava lakes in Ethiopia. Cost: $10.99
The Cities Book A Journey Through 86 Of The World’s Greatest Cities
Using a combination of illustrations and photos, this book gives kids a brief overview of some of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world – from the deserts to the jungles and many stops in-between. We’ve used this book as a research tool when visiting other cities and planning trips. This is just one of the many books from Lonely Planet Kids that we’ve purchased. The City Trails series of books is helpful if you’re headed to a particular city, like Tokyo or Paris. Honestly, we’ve yet to be disappointed with a purchase from Lonely Planet Kids. Cost $16.29
Maps
This book features maps from around the world – from the North Pole to the South Pole, from Oceania to the Americas. The maps are colorfully illustrated, each page containing interesting information about that particular place, including the people and animals that live there. Cost $17.89
Atlas of Adventures
This book is a collection of natural wonders and fun festivities from around the globe. Kids will learn about natural sights like the Northern Lights and man-made wonders like the ancient pyramids. The book goes beyond the expected, featuring lesser-known festivities like a horse parade in Spain and a canoe safari in Africa. The publisher, Wide Eyed Editions, has several other atlases and books worth checking out. Cost $19.59
The 50 States
This illustrated atlas goes state-by-state. It shares key facts about each state as well as historical information. Your kids also will learn random things like how just three states have an official state cat (It’s a Calico in Maryland), and they’ll discover the birthplace of marshmallow Peeps (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) where each year on New Year’s Eve, a giant peep is dropped from a crane to ring in the new year. This is another book by Wide Eyed Editions. Cost $17.79
At The Same Moment Around The World
This isn’t necessarily a travel book, but it does take you places. Have your kids ever wondered about how time zones work? My kids have questioned why it’s night where we live, but daytime elsewhere. They’ve also asked why time zones exist at all. Why isn’t it simply noon everywhere at the same time? The book At The Same Moment Around The World by Clotilde Perrin gives children a glimpse of what’s happening across 24-time zones. At the same time that one child is sipping hot cocoa in Paris, another child is watching the sunset in Honolulu. The illustrations are beautiful, and it includes a fold out map. Cost $12.99
This Is How We Do It + This Is How I Do It
Again, not travel books specifically, instead these books are about the lives of children around the world. The first book, This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe, features real children and families from several countries. Readers learn about the types of homes that the kids live in as well as the meals they eat and the clothes they wear. I’ve read this book with my 8-year-old several times. My 13-year-old enjoys reading it, too. Cost: $15.42
The follow-up book, This Is How I Do It: One Day in the Life of You and 59 Real Kids from Around the World, again shows what life is like in other countries. This book is different, though, in that it’s a workbook of sorts. Kids get to fill in the blanks about their lives, like “I have a pet _____. Its name is _____.” The book includes maps, postcards, and stickers. It’s an inexpensive and interactive book that also serves as a time capsule for your child. Because the questions are simple, this can work for kids of all ages. Cost: $10.93
I highly recommend purchasing both books as a combination gift set.
By clicking on our Amazon links, KidTripster does receive a small commission from any purchases you make. This will not cost you any extra money, but it does help support our small business. I’ve purchased each of these books, and I can attest to the quality of each one. They’re on the bookshelf in my home right now.
Don’t forget to check out KidTripster’s Top 10 Travel Gifts list.
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