10 Best Travel Books for Kids to Read Before Your Trip

You’ll ease travel anxiety and spark adventure excitement by choosing age-appropriate books before your family trip. Start with Byron Barton’s Airport for flight preparation, or try Gaby Goldsack’s interactive Busy Airport for curious toddlers. Ashley Evanson’s Hello, World! series showcases specific cities, while National Geographic’s Little Kids First Big Book of the World builds geographic understanding. Lonely Planet’s City Trails transforms destinations into treasure hunts, and the Jack Stalwart series adds mystery to global exploration. Continue below to discover how each book transforms nervous travelers into confident adventurers.

Airport by Byron Barton – Perfect First Flight Preparation

When your little one spots an airplane soaring overhead and asks endless questions about flying, Byron Barton’s “Airport” becomes the perfect preparation tool for their first flight experience. This 32-page picture book walks children through every step of air travel, from arriving at the terminal to watching the plane lift off the runway.

You’ll appreciate how Barton’s bright, bold illustrations show cutaway views of airplanes, revealing cargo holds, fuel tanks, and cockpits that satisfy curious minds. The simple, repetitive sentences make it ideal for 3-8 year olds, while introducing essential airport vocabulary like baggage check and control tower. The book covers scenes of baggage check, waiting areas, and boarding processes that children will encounter during their journey.

This practical guide transforms scary unknowns into exciting adventures, helping your child feel confident about boarding processes and takeoff sequences before their first flight.

Busy Airport by Gaby Goldsack – Interactive Lift-the-Flap Discovery

The lift-the-flap format in Gaby Goldsack’s “Busy Airport” transforms airport anxiety into hands-on discovery for your 3-5 year old. Each flap reveals the purpose behind airport elements, from check-in counters to security scanners, helping your child understand what to expect during their journey.

This interactive approach builds confidence by demystifying potentially overwhelming airport processes. Your little traveler will discover what happens behind the scenes during loading, security checks, and arrival procedures through labeled illustrations and hidden details. The bright, simple illustrations engage toddlers while making complex airport procedures more accessible and less intimidating.

The book’s compact, lightweight design makes it perfect for carry-on bags, providing entertainment during actual travel. By engaging your child with the bustling airport environment beforehand, you’re preparing them for a smoother, less stressful flying experience while fostering their curiosity about travel operations.

Hello, World! Series by Ashley Evanson – City Adventures for Toddlers

Ashley Evanson’s Hello, World! series turns major cities into colorful learning adventures that capture your toddler’s imagination while building foundational skills. Each board book focuses on specific concepts like colors in New York, numbers in San Francisco, and shapes in Paris, making destinations feel accessible and educational for young travelers.

You’ll love how these sturdy books combine iconic landmarks with basic learning. Your child can explore yellow taxis and green Statue of Liberty while mastering colors, or discover geometric shapes through Parisian architecture.

The series covers diverse destinations from Tokyo to Rio de Janeiro, offering global perspectives that spark curiosity about different cultures. Created by self-taught illustrator Ashley Evanson, who holds a Journalism degree from Brigham Young University, these books showcase her dynamic visual style developed specifically for engaging young readers.

With Goodreads ratings consistently above 3.2 stars, parents appreciate the stylish illustrations and practical approach to early childhood education through travel themes.

Little Kids First Big Book of the World by National Geographic – Geographic Exploration Made Fun

Since your child craves answers to endless “where” and “why” questions about our planet, National Geographic’s Little Kids First Big Book of the World transforms curiosity into engaging learning adventures. This hardcover atlas introduces continents through stunning photographs, kid-friendly maps, and bite-sized facts that won’t overwhelm young minds.

You’ll discover continent-by-continent chapters covering countries, landmarks, animals, and cultures. Interactive elements include hands-on activities like creating mini-rainforests and learning songs. The durable design withstands toddler handling while bright infographics capture attention from non-readers to early independent readers.

Parents appreciate its educational value spanning developmental stages—from picture identification for babies to fact-gathering for kindergarteners. Author Elizabeth Carney brings award-winning expertise to children’s science writing, having received the 2005 AAAS Science Journalism Award for her contributions to the field. Though it excludes Oceania, this atlas successfully prepares curious explorers for understanding geography basics before family adventures begin.

City Trails by Lonely Planet – Illustrated Urban Adventures

While world maps spark wanderlust in young minds, city-specific adventures bring distant places into sharp focus through Lonely Planet’s City Trails series. These illustrated guides transform major cities into treasure hunts for readers ages 8 and up, revealing secrets travelers typically miss.

You’ll follow explorers Marco and Amelia through themed trails covering food, festivals, art, and hidden gems across New York, Paris, Tokyo, London, and other world cities. Each book uncovers quirky facts—like underground cows in Manhattan or chocolate baths in Tokyo—that’ll surprise even local residents.

The colorful maps and engaging trivia make pre-trip planning exciting while building geographic knowledge safely from home. Barcelona’s edition features fascinating local traditions including human pyramids, dancing eggs, and even witch school stories that bring the city’s culture to life. Whether you’re visiting or exploring from your armchair, these urban adventures offer fresh perspectives on familiar destinations.

Greetings From Somewhere by Harper Paris – Mystery-Solving Travel Adventures

When your young reader craves both mystery and travel, Harper Paris’s “Greetings From Somewhere” series delivers the perfect combination through eight-year-old twins Ethan and Ella’s globe-trotting adventures.

These middle-grade chapter books take kids on educational journeys to Venice, Paris, Beijing, Kenya, and beyond while solving engaging mysteries.

Your elementary-aged child will follow the twins as they hunt for stolen paintings at the Louvre, explore ancient maps in China’s Forbidden City, and track mysterious paw prints during African safaris.

Each adventure combines geographical learning with critical thinking skills through treasure hunts and artifact discoveries.

With ten books averaging 4+ star ratings on Goodreads, this series bridges early readers and longer novels perfectly. The short sentences and simple vocabulary make these books particularly accessible for beginning chapter book readers.

You’ll find individual books or convenient boxed sets that make excellent pre-trip reading for internationally traveling families.

I Fly by Anne Rockwell – Solo Flying Confidence Builder

Taking your preschooler on their first airplane journey can spark both excitement and anxiety, but Anne Rockwell’s “I Fly” transforms potential travel fears into confident anticipation. This 1997 picture book follows a child narrator describing their airplane trip to visit cousins, covering every step from takeoff through gate arrival.

You’ll appreciate how Rockwell addresses common flight concerns through a relatable child’s perspective. The story chronicles airport procedures and in-flight experiences, making unfamiliar situations feel normal and manageable. The book is particularly valuable for Third Culture Kids who may travel internationally more frequently than previous generations.

Annette Cable’s colorful illustrations complement the text perfectly, helping children visualize what they’ll experience.

Read this book together before your trip to build confidence and reduce anxiety. Your child will recognize familiar scenarios from the story, turning their first flight into an exciting adventure rather than a frightening unknown.

Littleland Around the World by Marion Billet – Cultural Discovery Journey

Marion Billet’s “Littleland Around the World” turns global exploration into an accessible adventure for your youngest travelers. This picture book follows ten beloved animal characters as they journey from London to New York’s Central Park, visiting fourteen countries along the way. Your preschooler will discover cultural landmarks in France, Kenya, and India while developing essential observation skills through visual identification tasks.

The narrative structure keeps children engaged as characters dance, play, and prepare for travel with cameras and necessities. Rather than disconnected destination profiles, this book creates a continuous voyage that builds geographic awareness naturally. Each country showcases distinctive cultural elements and recognizable attractions, making complex global concepts digestible for early readers.

The book features busy scenes designed to help young children learn new words through immersive travel themes and engaging visual storytelling. Published by Nosy Crow, it’s perfect for preparing young minds for international adventures.

The Jack Stalwart Secret Agent Series by Elizabeth Singer Hunt – Action-Packed Global Adventures

For young readers who crave more action than animal characters can provide, Elizabeth Singer Hunt’s Jack Stalwart series delivers globe-trotting espionage adventures that’ll captivate elementary-aged kids.

Your child will follow nine-year-old secret agent Jack, code name “COURAGE,” as he balances schoolwork with Global Protection Force missions across 14 international destinations.

Each book transports readers to real-world landmarks like the Louvre Museum, Great Barrier Reef, and Tower of London, seamlessly blending geography lessons with mystery-solving adventures.

Jack’s gadget-filled backpack and treasure-hunting missions teach problem-solving skills while showcasing global cultures and famous sites.

With 14 main books plus spinoffs, this series offers extensive preparation for various travel destinations. The series has been serialized by BBC Radio, bringing these exciting adventures to an even wider audience of young listeners.

The accessible storytelling and educational content make complex world geography digestible for young travelers enthusiastic to explore beyond their hometown.

Amazing World Atlas by Lonely Planet Kids – Comprehensive World Knowledge

When you’re ready to give your child a thorough foundation in world geography, the Amazing World Atlas by Lonely Planet Kids delivers unmatched global coverage that’ll prepare them for adventures anywhere on Earth. This extensive resource divides the world into six continent-based sections, each featuring detailed regional maps and vivid illustrations of countries’ people, animals, and architecture.

Unlike traditional atlases that focus only on major countries, this book covers every independent nation with essential details including capitals, populations, and cultural insights. Your child will explore Indigenous peoples and customs while discovering mind-blowing facts about each region’s environment and wildlife.

The interactive quiz reinforces learning, making this atlas perfect for homeschool geography lessons or pre-travel preparation that builds genuine global awareness. The atlas showcases over 40 historical cultures from ancient civilizations, helping children understand how different societies developed across continents throughout history.

The Sum Up

You’ll transform your next family trip by packing these travel books alongside your luggage. They’ll help your kids understand what to expect at airports, spark curiosity about new destinations, and build confidence for the journey ahead. Choose age-appropriate titles that match your travel plans, and don’t forget to bring them on the plane – they’re perfect entertainment that doubles as educational preparation. Your well-prepared kids will make traveling safer and more enjoyable for everyone.