THE 20 BEST TRAVEL BOOKS FOR TODDLERS
With all of the technology, there is nothing better than a good book. That is why we wanted to write this post, on the best travel books for toddlers.
We are avid believers that children should read books contrary to popular belief they are not old-fashion or out of style.
Books help toddlers learn to read. Having a physical book makes a huge difference. Being able to turn the pages, touch the pictures, and feel the words.
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As a preschool teacher, I think books are one of the best gifts for young children. Although we are full-time travelers, we have seven books that go everywhere with us. As our son gets older, we will start swapping his toys for more books.
Here is our list of the best travel books for toddlers that’ll pique their natural curiosity and hopefully full their wanderlust.
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Oh, the Places You’ll Go! – by Dr. Seuss
There is a reason why Dr. Seuss’s books have been used for toddlers over the last 80 years.
His books are perfect for young children, in every way. I’m sure you can name your favorite Dr. Seuss book(s), without too much thought.
It was hard picking only one book from this collection, but I think Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is the perfect travel book for toddlers.
In his unique fashion, he explains to children the different places they will go and methods to get there.
With his unusual and colorful illustrations, your toddler can let their imagination take them anywhere.
This is my favorite Dr. Seuss book and is one of the toddler travel books that accompanies us around the world.
What Do You Celebrate?: Holidays and Festivals Around the World – by Whitney Stewart
One of the reasons we travel is cultural immersion. We love learning about different cultures, religions, and customs around the world.
What Do You Celebrate?: Holidays and Festivals Around the World teach kids about different holidays and traditions around the world.
Not only do they learn about different cultures, but they also start to understand and accept how people are different.
It is never too early to teach your toddler about how differences are good. Although everyone may not be the same, differences must be respected.
This book is perfect for kids ages 3 and older.
You not only learn about the traditions, food, and culture but there are several activities and recipes for you to do with your toddler. How fun is that?
There are over ten celebrations from around the world. You can pick a different country each week to learn and study.
Little Traveler Board Book Set – by Mudpuppy
The Little Traveler Board Book Set introduces young children, even babies, to traveling. They introduce young children, even babies, to traveling.
This book collection comes with four mini-books that introduce your little one to the world. Since each book is only 8-pages, they will keep your active baby or toddler’s attention for a few moments.
You will travel to Germany, Mexico, Thailand, Japan, India, Italy, and many other countries with this book set.
Your toddler will learn about food, landmarks, animals, and vehicles from different countries.
These books are a great way to introduce your baby to breathtaking places around the world.
Wherever You Go – by Pat Zietlow Miller
Wherever You Go is a story of an adventurous rabbit, that heads on a journey with his friend.
His journey takes him over steep mountains, through busy cities, and along winding roads. See how his journey ends, as he explores the world outside his door.
I enjoy the story, but the illustration is phenomenal. There are some complaints that the illustration is too dark at times, but I think it gives a realistic view of life. Everything isn’t always rainbows and sunshine.
I consider this a great travel book for toddler’s because travel isn’t just about going somewhere far away.
Travel is anything that takes you on an adventure. It’s a feel-good story that’ll remind your kids there is fun everywhere, and home will always be waiting.
Family Trip (Peppa Pig) by Scholastic & Eone
I recently discovered our son likes Peppa Pig during a flight from Flordia back home to Playa Del Carmen.
It was the only show that was downloaded in time on his kid’s tablet before our flight. Family Trip (Peppa Pig) is a story about Peppa Pig and her family taking a trip from England to Italy.
It starts with them packing their bags, flying on an airplane, and arriving in Italy. Throughout their journey, they meet friends, explore, and eat great food.
This book talks about everything that happens during a family vacation. Everything is going great until she leaves behind her teddy bear.
I love this book because it shows toddlers how travel begins and what happened during vacation.
There is also a learning element in how Peppa Pig reacts when she leaves her teddy behind.
If you have a little one that loves Peppa Pig, then this is the perfect travel book for your toddler.
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Paris: A Book of Shapes (Hello, World) by Ashley Evanson
Paris: A Book of Shapes (Hello, World) is part of a series of 9 books that teach toddlers shapes, colors, numbers, opposites, senses, sounds, times, and days.
Each book is in a different country or city around the world. This particular book is Paris and uses well-known landmarks to teach your toddler shapes.
The other books are in New York, London, Germany, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and Tokyo. Your toddler can explore a different city every night.
This travel book is perfect for toddlers 2 and older, who are starting to learn about shapes, colors, and numbers.
My Little Cities: Paris by Jennifer Adams
My Little Cities: Paris is part of a series of books about cities around the world.
Each book takes you on a tour of the city. Your little globe-toddler will want to start seeing all of the astonishing landmarks in person.
This book is perfect for kids as young as 18 months, and the illustrations will catch their attention.
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Little Airport Sticker Activity Book – by A. G. Smith
Little Airport Sticker Activity Book isn’t a travel book for toddlers, it is considered an activity book.
Your little one can create their own story and use the stickers included for illustrating.
This is perfect for road trips or flying on an airplane. This book is perfect for 2-year-olds when you want to be screen-free while traveling.
Baby Einstein World of Exploration: Peek a Flap Book by Jaye Garnett & Cottage Door Press
Baby Einstein is one of my favorite brands when it comes to toddler learning toys and activities. Their Baby Einstein World of Exploration: Peek a Flap Book is a fun flap book to help kids learn about the different animals around the world.
Not only do they learn about animals, but they also learn about their habitats. They’ll go to cool places like the Grand Canyon, the Arctic Circle, the Great Barrier Reef, and Japan.
This book is perfect for young children 18 months and older because it is almost indestructible.
The pages are thick, so they can’t be easily ripped, and the flaps are sturdy. That’s not to say your little one can’t find a way to tear it up, but it won’t be easy.
We have this book, and our 23-month-old loves it.
He brings it to me every morning, so we can fit on the floor and read together. It’s those moments that almost make the temper tantrums worth it.
Gifts – JoEllen Bogart
I love the book Gifts because it reminds me of the fun and adventures I had with my grandma. The cover may be offputting, but the story is perfect for toddlers 3 and older.
The story is about a grandmother that travels the world and brings back gifts for her granddaughter. Not all of the gifts are material things, some are just her stories of adventure.
As the granddaughter grows up and has a child of her own, she wants to pass along the gifts her grandmother gave her.
It is a heartwarming story, especially for me, since I inherited my love of adventure from my grandmother.
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10 World Wonders: A Guide For Young Explorers – by Gene Lipen
10 World Wonders: A Guide For Young Explorers is a story about a dog name Arthus that loves to take adventures.
This is part of a series for little ones about exploring. With the fun rhymes and colorful illustrations, your toddler is taken on a fun journey around the world.
Arthur visits some of the wonders of the world including, the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, the Artic, the Pyramid of Giza, and other fun adventures.
He has so much fun you’ll want to start planning one of your own. If this doesn’t make them want to travel, I don’t know what will.
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Let’s Explore With Cor Cor
Let’s Explore With Cor Cor is special to us because it focuses on a kid in a wheelchair that doesn’t let his disability interfere with his imagination.
This is a story about Cor Cor, who believes that anything is possible through imagination.
From the outback in Australia to the green sky of the northern lights in Iceland, he takes you on an exciting journey around the world.
The author is an inspiration to wheelchair users around the world. He has been to all seven continents and doesn’t let his wheelchair stop his adventure.
What I love about the story and the author is that he shows you aren’t bound by the limits people place on you.
If you put your mind to something and work hard, you can make it happen.
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TODDLER TRAVEL BOOKS BY BLACK AUTHORS
I created a separate section for toddler travel books by black authors because there aren’t many, and I did not want them to get lost in the mix above.
These books are important because they show representation for a group of people who are often left out.
Black and brown children need to see themselves traveling, being doctors, lawyers, engineers, pilots, chefs, scientists, judges, and other people that have an impact on our society.
This travel blog isn’t just about traveling with kids, it is so much more to us. Our blog is a place where anyone can see themselves.
We show our imperfections, mistakes, things that work, things that don’t work, and two black women who travel the world with their biracial son. This is more than just a travel blog, this is a symbol of possibilities.
The Traveling Toddler: Goes to Monaco – by JD Boumah
The Traveling Toddler: Goes to Monaco is one of several books about the adventures of JD Boumah and his mother. Their books are base on his experiences in different cities and countries.
In this story, he explores Monte Carlo and talks about all of the fun things he gets to see and do. If you have a curious little one, this book is perfect.
The illustrations are fun and kid-friendly, and the book is great for helping your toddler improve their reading skills.
THE TRAVELING CHILD GOES TO Rio de Janeiro – by Monet Hambrick
THE TRAVELING CHILD GOES TO Rio de Janeiro is the first book in a series about two traveling sisters. Jordyn and Kennedy take you on their journey through Brazil and reveal some interesting facts.
The story is based on the real-life adventures of The Traveling Child. They are a family that travels around the world, much like us.
This book is perfect not only for toddlers but for older kids too. The way they tell the story makes you feel as though you are there. By the time you are done, you’ll be planning your trip to Brazil.
Captain Carson Goes to Bali – by TeAndra Taylor
Captain Carson Goes to Bali is the first book of a series about the adventures of Captin Carson.
What makes this one of the best travel books for toddlers is that it is written by a young boy with the help of his mother.
The story is based on his adventures around the world with his mom.
As Captin Carson makes his way around Bali, he helps kids understand the culture, food, and interesting facts.
The fun illustrations and facts will have your toddler wanting to head to Bali.
The Amazing Adventures of Aya & Pete in Paris! – by Serena Minott
The Amazing Adventures of Aya & Pete in Paris! is a story about a girl named Maya, she travels the world with her parents and best friend Pete.
She is always up for an adventure with Pete. They’ve been to the Mayan Ruin in Mexico, ridden buses in London, and eaten their share of baguettes in Paris.
The story begins before they head off for their trip. There is so much Aya and her parents need to do before leaving for the airport.
As they finish their errands and head to the airport, the story takes you through their time in Paris.
As part of a series, Aya takes you on their adventures to different cities around the world.
Titan and the Worldschoolers: An ABC Guide Around the World – by Titan Knightley and Tai Travels
The Titan and the Worldschoolers: An ABC Guide Around the World is a fun way for toddlers to learn about the world. Kids as young as 3 years old can learn from Titan and his mom as they make their way around the world.
It is based on a concept called “world-schooling”, where you learn through experience and adventures.
A World-Schooler is a student that travels around the world, visiting many different countries with family; gaining knowledge directly from experience and interactions with other cultures.
This is what we plan on doing with our son as he gets older. Why talk about it, when you can experience it?
WHY TODDLERS NEED TRAVEL BOOKS
Toddlers are full of imagination and curiosity. Encouraging their curiosity helps them learn, and travel is a great teacher.
Kids will not only learn about language, geography, and history, but they also learn how to be kind, empathetic, compassionate, and open-minded.
With the current state of the world, we could use more accepting, compassionate, and kind people. Traveling with toddlers isn’t just about the fun, it’s about the lessons learned.
Children need to learn the world is a lot bigger than their city, town, state, and even country. They will be amazed at the cool things they can see all around the world.
Wouldn’t it be great if history came to life; instead of reading about it, they were able to see it for themselves. That is what travel books do for young children; it inspires them and encourages their natural curiosity.
