Adventurous Stories That Celebrate Exploration, Cultures, and the Joy of the Journey
Travel opens children’s eyes to new places, people, and possibilities—and books are one of the best ways to explore the world without leaving home. Whether flying in a plane, taking a road trip, or imagining a visit to a faraway country, travel-themed books spark curiosity and help children see the beauty in global diversity and discovery.
In this post, I’m sharing my favorite travel books for kids, organized by age group. I’ve also included activity ideas and discussion questions to help young readers connect with the spirit of exploration. Let me know which destination your child dreams about most!
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Table of Content
- Why Read Books About Travel?
- The Role of Books in Teaching Kids about Travel
- 11 Travel Books For Children
- What Travel Book(s) Are You Going To Read Later?
Why Read Books About Travel?
Travel books invite children to explore beyond their everyday surroundings and imagine life in different parts of the world.
These stories encourage open-mindedness, empathy, and a love of learning by introducing global cultures, traditions, and landscapes. Travel stories also highlight adventure, courage, and the excitement of the unknown.
Reading about travel inspires a lifelong love for discovery—and teaches kids that the journey matters as much as the destination.
The Role of Books in Teaching Kids about Travel
Books about travel teach kids to celebrate differences, embrace curiosity, and appreciate the world around them.
Characters may try new foods, learn new languages, or explore unfamiliar cities, giving readers a window into other cultures. Travel stories also help children build confidence, adaptability, and wonder as they imagine being explorers themselves.
Whether real or imagined, travel builds global awareness and social-emotional growth.
How to Use Books about Travel with Children
Here are some fun and meaningful ways to explore travel stories together:
- ✈️ Ask Open-Ended Questions: After reading, ask: Where would you want to go if you could travel anywhere? or What new things did the character learn on their journey? Try Turn and Talk for sharing dream destinations.
- 🌍 Engage in Travel-Themed Activities: Create a pretend passport, design postcards from imagined places, make a travel map of places you’ve read about, or cook a recipe from a featured country or region.
- 📚 Refer Back to the Books: During geography lessons or cultural celebrations, bring travel books into the conversation. Say: Remember how the character visited Japan and wore a kimono? Let’s learn more about that tradition.
- 👨👩👧 Involve Other Caregivers: Suggest reading a travel book as a family, then planning a virtual trip with photos, food, and music. You could even create a “Where We’d Like to Go” family bucket list together.
11 Travel Books For Children
Younger Children (Ages 3-6)
#1 Little Hippo Books Amazing Airplane
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A fun, rhyming board book that introduces little ones to planes and what to expect during a flight.
Activity Suggestion: Build a paper airplane and “fly” it through different rooms!
Discussion Questions:
- What do you see on an airplane?
- Where would you love to fly?
- What makes flying fun?
#2 Go, Planes, Go! by Addie Boswell
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A colorful celebration of all types of planes zooming through the sky—great for kids who love vehicles!
Activity Suggestion: Draw your own plane with a fun design.
Discussion Questions:
- What are different jobs planes can do?
- Which type of plane was your favorite?
- What sounds do planes make?
#3 Little Traveler Board Book by Mudpuppy
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This lift-the-flap book gives little ones a peek into countries around the world in a fun, simple way.
Activity Suggestion: Spin a globe or map and “visit” that place for pretend play.
Discussion Questions:
- What’s something cool you learned about another country?
- What food would you like to try on your travels?
- Why is it fun to learn about other cultures?
Lower Elementary Children (Ages 7-9)
#4 Let’s Go on a Plane Ride! by Katrina Liu
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Follow a child’s first airplane experience, from the airport to landing—a perfect prep book for young travelers.
Activity Suggestion: Pack a small suitcase with favorite toys for a pretend trip.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the steps in taking a plane ride?
- What might you feel during takeoff?
- What would you bring in your carry-on?
#5 Ame Goes to Japan by Mami Bacera
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A sweet bilingual book (English and Japanese) that explores Japan through the eyes of a little traveler named Ame.
Activity Suggestion: Try folding a simple origami crane or making sushi with play food.
Discussion Questions:
- What did Ame see in Japan?
- What do you know about Japan?
- Would you like to learn another language?
#6 THE GREAT DANES Big Safari Adventure by Shannon Scharkey
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Join dog siblings on an exciting African safari adventure! Great for introducing travel and animals in one story.
Activity Suggestion: Make binoculars from toilet paper rolls and go on a safari scavenger hunt at home.
Discussion Questions:
- What animals would you like to see on safari?
- What is a safari?
- How can travel help you explore nature?
Check Out Capybara-Theme Daily Reflection Journals For Kids!
#7 Hello, France! by Ekaterina Otiko
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Learn about French culture, foods, landmarks, and language in this vibrant travel-themed book.
Activity Suggestion: Draw the Eiffel Tower or learn how to say “hello” in French.
Discussion Questions:
- What did you learn about France?
- What would you eat in a French café?
- Why do you think learning about other countries is important?
Upper Elementary Children (Ages 9-11)
#8 National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World by Elizabeth Carney
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Filled with amazing photos and facts, this book takes kids on a tour of continents, cultures, and people.
Activity Suggestion: Create a passport and stamp it as you “visit” new countries in the book.
Discussion Questions:
- Which place looks the most interesting to you?
- What would you pack for a big world trip?
- What did you learn about another culture?
#9 Lonely Planet Kids Hidden Wonders by Nicole Maggi
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Explore the world’s most amazing hidden places—from glowing caves to floating villages!
Activity Suggestion: Draw or build your own “hidden wonder” using blocks or art.
Discussion Questions:
- What’s the most surprising place you saw?
- Why do you think some places are hidden?
- If you could create a wonder, what would it be?
#10 The Travel Book (Lonely Planet Kids)
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A big, colorful guide to 200 countries with fun facts and photos that fuel wanderlust in young readers.
Activity Suggestion: Choose a country to explore each week and create a fact sheet.
Discussion Questions:
- How are countries different and the same?
- What makes a country special?
- Where would you go first?
#11 Lonely Planet Kids America’s National Parks by Alexa Ward
🔗 View on Amazon
Take a tour of the U.S.’s stunning national parks and natural wonders—perfect for road trip inspiration!
Activity Suggestion: Plan a pretend camping trip to a park and draw what you’d see.
Discussion Questions:
- What’s your favorite kind of park—forest, canyon, beach?
- Why do we protect these special places?
- Have you visited a park before?
Grab these free resources to make your teaching life easier!
What Travel Book(s) Are You Going To Read Later?
Travel books for kids invite young readers to see the world with wide eyes and open hearts. Whether you’re planning your next trip or just dreaming big, these stories bring adventure, culture, and connection to every page.
Where will your reading journey take you next? Tag me on Instagram @LittleYellowStarTeaches and share your favorite travel stories, maps, or pretend passport crafts!
Happy reading!
Prima at LittleYellowStar
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