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, GalĆ”pagos, 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 Inā¦ 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!
If I had children, these are the books I would buy them! They look colourful and engaging for children of young ages. I’m sure your two had fun looking through them!It’s very easy to get around London via public transport, just avoid the rush hour!
What a fun idea! I love the cute little illustrations and big text, which, like you said, is easier for kids to read and learn. If I had kids, I’d totally invest in these!
Wow! Why didn’t they have the My Little Cities series when I was growing up? These books help children see beyond their physical environment and recognise that there’s a whole wide world out there. I hope the authors focus on countries too!
How precious! I might pick up a few for my friends who have children!
They would make awesome gifts!
These are absolutely adorable. When my girls were small we’d pick up books from the local library, but they were never about travel. I like the illustration it’s very fun.
I love the travel element because it gives us a lot to talk about!
Loving these little books! The illustrations are really cute and gorgeous! I have two little nieces who would love this. They are starting to read and this will really benefit them!
Aren’t the illustrations cute? My boys seem super engaged!
Great post! These books look like so much fun, I would even read them for myself! š But honestly, I will probably get one of these for my little nephew!
Haha! They do make great gifts!
Thatās quite an innovative concept. Till the first 20 years of my life, my vacation was limited to an annual visit to my grandparentsā home. Kids these days have such amazing opportunities. I would love to gift this to my nephews and nieces.
I love these books. Super cute! I think I’d have more fun reading them than the kids haha.
It’s VERY important to find books that you would enjoy reading over and over (and over and over!)
What cute books. I love that they are board books which makes it easy for toddlers to hold on to.
Yes, both my kids are able to be rough with the books and they have held up nicely!
This is an amazing idea especially for people who can’t afford to travel with their children! Your children are adorable!
Yes, families can travel the world vicariously through books!
I love the idea of these! I can see them being a good way to introduce culture and travel to little ones, or even use as part of a homeschooling program. And the illustrations are adorable!
I’m in love with the illustrations š
I wish I had known about these books a month back! Was visiting my niece after a really long time and didnt know what to gift her. Spent about an hour at toys r us and didn’t even get anything. Ended up giving her some books from Barnes and Noble. Had I known about these, I would have saved so much time and she would have just loved it. Such sure illustrations!
Yes! Shopping for nieces and nephews can be really tricky. Glad you found something eventually, though!
aaaae…these are so adorable. i think it’s really cool to get them reading about travel,. it think it also prepares them to be excited about it as they get older too.
omg these are the cutest books! def the perfect gift for a friend with a kid (none of my own yet! )
These books are super adorable! Great gift idea!
The idea of these books are not just great for learning to read. It is also a great way to expand their thinking beyond the everyday environment and culture they are used to. You can never be too young to start being aware of the rest of the world. What a great way to also encourage a love of books and travel.
We’ve been trying to show cultural awareness with our kids since they were born. It’s really important to us that they really understand that the world does not revolve around THEM.
I love educational books for children too! I was so happy that my nephew was into books so I bought him a few. These kinds of books would be great to teach kids about geography and travel at such a young age.
We totally pull up maps and globes to find these destinations and talk about how long it would take to fly there!
These travel books for children are so informative for them as would create their interest and curiosity to see the world. What an innovative idea to make children adapt to travel. Books are so colorful and their illustrations are very informative too.
I love that these books encourage us to talk about how people live all over the world.
I think this is such a great way to help children start building an awareness for the world and develop that curiosity to explore. You have given your kids such wonderful opportunities to travel and it great that through these books you can keep that encouragement for your kids to be curious about the world. And they are so cute!
Yes, building cultural awareness starts from day one!
Whoa seems like a fun idea. The illustrations are super. Will love to order for my friend kids and nephew
I’d totally decorate my son’s room with the illustrations š
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!!
They are adorable! Plus, it reminds me of places I want to visit!