Over 100 Books to Transport You without a Passport
Books have the power to transport you. To pull you into the story and carry you around the world to another place and another time. To give you a glimpse at life from a whole new perspective.
In fact, some people have said books are their favorite way to travel. Imagine a book acting as your passport! You can travel through the words of a book. You can leave your worries behind as you dive deep into the pages, getting caught up in the mystery and thrill of a good adventure story. You can imagine yourself as the character in your story walking through the incredible circumstances you find yourself in.
Books are an escape, a way to wander without getting lost. A way to experience different cultures and places you may never have the opportunity to visit in person. A way to travel when traveling just isn’t possible in the moment.
But as wonderful as it is to get lost in a book, sometimes you can get lost trying to figure out what book to start with! There are so many good books out there. So many books to travel around the world with. Where do you even begin? How do you know which one to choose?
Never fear, my Friend! I’ve pulled together a list of some incredible children’s books guaranteed to take you on adventures around the world. In this list, you’ll find everything from simple picture books you can read with your toddler to story books written for children to chapter books and beyond.
But don’t be deceived by the name “children’s books.” These books aren’t just for children! Yes, they are written for children, but they’re interesting for everyone! Your little ones might gravitate towards the picture books, but they can listen and enjoy the longer chapter books. Your older ones might gravitate towards the chapter books, but there’s still a lot to be learned and enjoyed through the picture books. In fact, I enjoy reading all of the books on this list with or without my children – and I’m willing to guess that you’ll enjoy them, too!
Are you ready to travel the world without leaving the comfort of your favorite reading chair? Grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, snuggle up in your favorite reading nook by yourself or with your traveling companions and get ready to see the sights!
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Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Meet Madeline, a fun and mischievous young girl who lives in Paris. While some might look at Madeline and think her life might not be grand, Madeline and her friends always find a way to go on adventures around Paris, to make life interesting, and to show you glimpses of the City of Lights along their way.
Each story in this 15 book series takes you on a different imaginative journey. And while the events in the book seem rather unlikely in real life, reading the story of Madeline gives you a fun and entertaining look at life in Paris from a small girls’ perspective.
Zarafa, the Giraffe who Walked to the King by Judith St George
This colorful and intriguing children’s story book tells the story of Zarafa, the giraffe, who was given to the king of France as a gift from the ruler of Egypt. While not long, this picture book is an adventure well worth reading.
Can you imagine the challenges of transporting a giraffe from Africa all the way to Paris for the first time? Can you imagine what it must have been like to see a giraffe in person for the very first time? A creature you had only ever heard existed? Come along on this journey with Zarafa and find out for yourself!
The Adventures of Bella and Harry by Lisa Manzione
What happens when two Chihuahuas love traveling with their families and exploring new places? Why, the Adventures of Bella and Harry! Join these two travel-loving pups as they explore the world from a unique perspective in this picture book series. You can explore famous cities like Rome, Edinburgh, Cairo, Istanbul, Dublin, Vancouver, Beijing, Rio de Janeiro and more!
As they travel each city, Bella and Harry explore not only the places most tourists go, but interesting landmarks and places off the beaten path. They combine their adventures with lots of true facts about each city, so not only do you get to see a glimpse of another place, but you get to learn about it while you travel. So far, Bella and Harry have visited 25 different places around the globe. And with the way they love adventure, there just might be more to come!
Are We There Yet? By Alison Lester
This fun picture book takes you on a road trip around the country of Australia. Pack your bags and travel with Grace and her family as they drive around the entire continent, sharing their experiences with you along the way.
But this isn’t just any road trip book telling you about what happens in the car. Grace brings you along as she meets new people, sees amazing animals, and realizes how vast her country is, all while experiencing the natural, incredible, and diverse landscape.
The Gift of the Crocodile. A Cinderella Story by Judy Sierra
The fairy tale of Cinderella can be found all over the world. Each culture has brought their own unique spin to this classic tale of the maid mistreated by her family, helped by her fairy godmother, and rescued by the prince. This particular version of the fairy tale takes place in the Spice Islands of Indonesia, complete with an unusual fairy godmother: A crocodile. This is one retelling of the Cinderella tale you won’t want to miss!
Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures by Jeff Brown and Sara Pennypacker
When a young boy gets flattened by a bulletin board and lives to tell the tale, you can expect that many interesting – albeit improbable – adventures will follow. Join Stanley Lambchop as his fame as the flat boy grows not only in his town, but around the world.
Stanley’s adventures are far more imaginative than realistic. What would you expect when the main character has been flattened to less than one inch thick? But even though the idea of mailing yourself around the world in an envelope is rather bizarre, Stanley’s adventures around the world are incredibly unique. On top of that, they give you a glimpse into the culture of each place he is mailed to. Join in as he travels from Egypt to China to Kenya to Mexico and more in this 13 book series. The best part of all is that you can travel with Stanley without needing to fold yourself into an envelope!
Bindi’s Wildlife Adventures by Bindi Irwin
What could be better than traveling the world and getting to see incredible creatures up close? In this 20-book adventure series, Bindi Irwin brings you along on her adventures from the heart of Africa to the jungles of Indonesia. From the snow covered mountains of Japan to the high country of Nepal. From the Australian outback to the Mexican coast. From the island of Madagascar to the frigid waters of Alaska.
Each and every book takes you along on a journey to a distant land. But the most incredible feature of this book series is its focus on the amazing creatures found in each and every place you visit. Each book takes you to a new place and introduces you to a new animal from a perspective you may never have seen – all while bringing you along on an unforgettable adventure.
Click here to read more about Bindi’s Wildlife Adventures in ‘Animal Adventures Around the World’.
The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Set in the latter half of the 1800s, this insightful series tells the true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life in the midwest United States. Live with Laura and her family as she tells you all about her life growing up in the Wisconsin woods. Travel with the Ingalls as they load their covered wagon and cross the prairie to South Dakota. Experience life through Almanzo Wilder eyes as he grow up on his family’s farm in New York State.
This beloved series will not only take you back in time to experience life over 100 years ago, but it will take you on an unforgettable journey across the United States with some of its early pioneers.
Click here to read more about the Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The National Park Mystery Series by Mary Morgan
The National Parks of the United States are areas of beautiful landscapes, untamed wilderness, stunning views, and intriguing animals. But how many parks have you had the opportunity to visit? Take a journey to visit the National Parks through the eyes of twins, Ben and Becca Cooper through this 9 book series (and counting!).
Each book takes you to a different National Park throughout the country. As you spend time with Ben and Becca, you’ll find that they’re always learning, always curious, always wanting to know more about the land within the park and the animals that call that park home. But it’s not just about the beauty of the park itself, although you do experience the parks through these books! You see, intrigue and mystery seem to follow Ben and Becca wherever they go. At each park they visit, the twins seem to find themselves in the middle of a mystery. And when a mystery just happens to take place all around you, you have no choice but to help solve it!
Travels with Gannon & Wyatt by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet
Whenever twins Gannon and Wyatt get ready to go anywhere, you know you’re up for an epic adventure! From the Okavango Delta in Botswana to the Great Bear Rainforest in Canada to the icy land of Greenland and the Emerald Isle of Ireland, each book is packed with knowledge, intrigue, culture, and experiences you’ll never forget.
And yet these books are not just any travel adventure series. In these books, you feel like you’re along on the journey, right there with Gannon and Wyatt as they discover new places, meet new people, encounter incredible animals, and experience opportunities that you’ve never thought to dream of. Part of the reason you feel so close to the action is because Gannon and Wyatt are the ones telling you about their adventures. You see, these books are written as a travel journal, making you feel like you’re sitting next to the boys as they pick up their pen and notebook every night to tell you about the excitement and challenges they faced that day.
Come along and experience these 6 epic adventures for yourself. You might be surprised at the amount of knowledge you pick up along the way – along with a bit of the language!
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
Come along on a journey to Prince Edward Island with Anne, a young girl with a very active imagination. Explore the delights and beauties of this island even as you’re taken along on Anne’s personal journey of growing and discovering how true friends make life so much more real and interesting.
Though it may seem like a small part of the country, Prince Edward Island has many natural beauties to share with you through Anne’s eyes. You can picture the shimmering lakes, graceful blooming flowers, trees alight with color, and soft, rolling meadows as you travel along on a journey that is part imagination and part everyday life.
Click here to read more about Anne in ‘Anne of Green Gables’ Imagination and Inspiration for Life.’
Adding It All Up
Now, while it may look like there are only 10 books on this list, you need to realize something: This is not a simple list of stand-alone books. In fact, there are only 2 books on this list that are not part of a series. When you start to add up all the books, you realize there are over 100 books represented on this list!
Books that will take you to every continent on the globe. Books that will allow you to travel to 38 different countries around the world! Books that will teach you new and interesting facts, take you along on journeys, and fill you with wonder and excitement as you are pulled in by the intrigue, and the connection you form with the characters.
Books truly are one of the best ways in the world to travel. So, my Friend, that only leaves one question: Where do you want to go first?
Additional Resources:
- Animal Adventures Around the World with Bindi’s Wildlife Adventures
- How To Do More Than Read The Little House Books
- Adventures and Mystery Await in the National Parks: The National Park Mystery Series
- Epic Travel Adventures for You to Enjoy: Travels with Gannon & Wyatt
- Anne of Green Gables’ Imagination and Inspiration for Life
Resources
Looking for some of the books or materials mentioned on this page? Click on the photo below to purchase your own copy today.
Elizabeth Tatham, founder of Inspiration in the Everyday, is a homeschooling momma of 5 who loves helping other homeschooling mommas create a unique homeschooling adventure your kids will love…without the overwhelm! Join in on the journey with 7 simple steps to make your homeschooling day go faster, easier, and with less tears here.