Whether it’s Fodor’s or Eat, Pray, Love there are plenty of books to inspire the practical side of travel or a bit of wanderlust for Mom or Dad. But what’s on the bookshelf that can inspire the little ones and teens for the family vacation? Plenty!
Harry Potter makes magic for all, of course, especially when it comes to Britain. But did you know that J.K. Rowling lived in Portugal for several years teaching English? The Lello Bookstore has been said to inspire the one described in Hogwarts, and it’s fun to spot the schoolchildren from Porto in their capes — part of the uniform.
It’s not just a cookie, although kids will probably be excited to eat some of those too thanks to Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans’ precocious character whose tales are often told entirely in rhyme. The Catholic schoolgirl’s stories take place in a Paris boarding school.
The This Is series by Miroslav Sasek brings kids to Venice, Paris, Rome and beyond. The author should know — Czech by birth, he spent much of his time in different European countries like West Germany and the author and artist’s delightful series of illustrations are colorful and playful enough to keep imaginations going for hours.
Lately Lily: The Adventures of a Traveling Girl shows this little heroine’s wonder at being on an airplane on the cover art, but it doesn’t stop there. Illustrator Micah Player’s world traveler gets around via wings, trains, boat and even camel, accompanied by her “best friend,” stuffed animal Zeborah.
The frenetic pace of Tokyo is captured in Maira Kalman’s Sayonara Mrs. Kackleman, where siblings Lulu and Alexander create poems for their Japanese guide, and haikus written by frogs are just as illustrative as colorful kimonos, fish markets and outdoor baths.
Ages 8-12 reach great heights with Barnaby Brocket, whose journeys as an outlier — a boy with the ability to float — bring him all over the world from New York to Brazil, Canada and Ireland. Parents will be jealous about not paying for an extra plane ticket.
Make Way for Ducklings has been used as a White House Christmas decorating theme and as an exchange for peace between Barbara Bush and Raisa Gorbachev, and its whimsy continues to delight readers of all ages. The official children’s book of Massachusetts, it’s a popular tome for most visitors to the state capital of Boston and serves as a sort of walking guide for the city’s most popular attractions — including the statue in the Public Garden park here of the mother duck and her eight ducklings, decorated seasonally with hats and mini sweaters.
The Roman Mysteries, a series of historical novels for children by Carline Lawrence, focus on fascinating stories from four children who try to solve riddles in ancient Rome, Greece and beyond.
Fans of Twilight can satisfy their thirst for mystery and magic with Karou of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, which takes the 17-year-old on evil errands across the globe, including Prague and Morocco.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations
Mar 27, 2024Outdoor Family Adventures on Offer with Four Seasons
Four Seasons Resorts offer outdoor experiences perfect for family travelers this spring. Check out some of what awaits your traveling brood:
Sponsored Content
Travel Tips to Help Protect Your Health and Your Trip
Five Tips to Help Minimize Potential Travel Problems
Destinations / North America
Mar 27, 20243 Family-Friendly Hotels in Baltimore
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is surrounded by activities and attractions to keep families busy for several days, and for those who travel to get there, a trio of nearby hotels welcome children with amenities such as swimming pools, kid-sized bathrobes and bunk beds.
Destinations / North America
Mar 26, 2024Spring Festivals in New Orleans
Spring has sprung in New Orleans, Louisiana, for family travelers! Bring your crew to the Big Easy this season for a variety of family-friendly festivals, events and attractions.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Destinations / North America
Mar 26, 2024Spring Adventures in New River Gorge
New River Gorge, America’s newest national park at less than 4 years old, was formed by one of America’s oldest rivers. New River surges through deep canyons, surrounded by a rugged landscape of forests and rock cliffs. Family travelers to this 70,000-acre park will find outdoor sports and adventures for the whole family.
ShareThis