Whether you’re traveling this summer or staying put, reading books about travel is a great way to expand your worldview and stay occupied with a fun, immersive story. These adventurous travel reads—including historical fiction, magical realism, and modern-day fiction—will take you across the world from the comfort of your bed, carseat, or plane seat!
Children’s Books about Travel (1st-6th)
Here are some exciting stories for younger readers about fun journeys to faraway places! Elementary and middle schoolers will get excited about reading when the stories are this adventurous!
How to Go Anywhere (and Not Get Lost): A Guide to Navigation for Young Adventurers by Hans Aschim
We’re starting this selection of books about traveling with How to Go Anywhere, an excellent nonfiction read for elementary and middle school students who need some help with their sense of direction and navigation. (Especially for those who will be traveling this summer!) Knowing how to navigate the world around you is a task that requires years of practice. This book will help any kid understand how to get from point A to point B and avoid getting lost!
This is a staple in the wide range of books about travel for young readers. Not only is this thorough dive into navigation a great way to get kids engaged on a vacation, it also includes a ton of context on the history of travel and creative STEM activities, such as creating a DIY compass. Students who need some time out of the house will greatly benefit from this fun read!
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Children dreaming of a Parisian vacation (or anticipating one in the next few months) will fall in love with this famed city through Madeline. A classic in children’s literature, it follows little troublemaker Madeline’s daily life in a boarding school, highlighting her eccentric personality in this ancient city.
With beautiful illustrations, this book highlights many of the most beautiful scenes in and around Paris, from the Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower to the lovely bridges crossing the Seine river. The pleasing rhyme of the story makes this a popular read-aloud for the youngest readers in early elementary school—and they can continue to enjoy stories about Madeleine with the rest of the series, which has over six installments!
Asha & the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan
When Asha and her mother stop receiving the money regularly sent to them from her father in the city, they know something is wrong. Debt collectors suddenly appear in an attempt to take over their property, causing her mother to consider moving the two of them away from India. Asha’s everyday life comes to a halt as she realizes it’s up to her to protect her home, find her father, and discover the hidden secret on her land.
Together with her best friend Jeevan and a special bird she believes is her grandmother, Asha begins the perilous journey to the city—which means crossing the Himalayas. This fantasy journey takes readers through the magnificent landscape of India, and if you’re looking for children’s books about cultures around the world, fans especially love the way Bilan describes everyday rural village life in Asha & the Spirit Bird.
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar
A historical fiction novel about migration and resilience across 500 years, Across So Many Seas follows four girls across different generations of a Jewish family. In 1492, Benvenida’s family is banished from Spain and must travel across countries and seas to find a safe place to settle. In 1923, centuries later, Reina is disowned by her father and sent across the Atlantic to live in Cuba and marry an arranged groom at 15 years old. In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, flees to Miami on her own; finally, in 2003, her own daughter, Paloma, learns about her family’s history and takes a trip to Spain to learn about her heritage.
Centered around migration, unity, and the connections we have with our ancestors, Across So Many Seas is a delightful pick for middle school students looking to explore an epic travel story rooted in history.
Travel Fiction Books (7th-12th)
Are you a YA-reader looking for travel and adventure in your summer books? These books about travel follow characters undertaking exciting journeys to magnificent destinations—your next favorite summertime read may be among them!
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Marueen Johnson
This next feature among these books about travel is a fun duology about a rising high school senior’s trip across Europe, following mysterious blue envelopes left by her beloved aunt who had recently passed away. Since a solo trip through Europe as a teenager is not very feasible, live vicariously through Ginny as she sets on this global scavenger hunt!
Ginny encounters unique locals and sticky situations throughout the cities she encounters. If you daydream traveling the world on your own, this book will immerse you in Ginny’s quest! Spoiler warning: at the end of this book, the last of the envelopes is missing—and that’s where the sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope, picks up!
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Visiting the homeland of your family can be a daunting experience. Whether you’re expecting a trip to connect with your extended family or eager to learn about different cultures, pick up Darius the Great is Not Okay for a fun read this summer!
Follow fantasy-lover Darius Kellner on his first-ever trip to Iran, where he gets to meet his grandparents, see where his mom grew up, and meet Sohrab, who becomes his first true friend. While he struggles with depression and issues in his personal life, Sohrab takes Darius around the city of Yazd, showing him the beauty and meaning in everyday life. Readers love Khorram’s depictions of Persian food, descriptions of depression in teenagers’ lives, and the way he reveals just enough to get your imagination running.
Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney
If you’re interested in books about travel within the United States, a solid road trip is what you’re looking for! Shortly after she gets her driver’s license, teenager Brit is convinced by her grandmother to take her on a cross-state journey to pick up her old college roommates for their college’s 65th alumni reunion.
Brit’s new responsibility to care of these lovely older women starts as an anxiety-inducing task, but quickly becomes a fun journey listening to stories about decades of friendship. Readers find that they breeze through this fast-paced novel, filled with unique personality. They appreciate its lightheartedness and themes of friendship and aging, finding it a hilarious, heartwarming read that never gets too slow.
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Finally, we’re featuring one of the most famous books about travel. A classic adventure novel that has been beloved since its publication in 1872, Around the World in Eighty Days follows a wealthy man named Phileas Fogg who accepts a challenge to win £20,000 if he can travel across the globe within 80 days. With his valet Passepartout, he embarks on a cross-planet journey.
Starting and ending in London, Jules Verne takes the reader on a fantastic trip through Egypt, India, Hong Kong, Japan, the US, and back to England. The two men encounter unique cultures and magnificent sights in their goal to meet this never-before done feat within the deadline, via steamboat and train. In a time before airplanes, the tale of this trip enchanted audiences, and it still does: real-life adventurers have emulated the journey and set new records, from traveling the world in 78 days on a bike to completing Verne’s trip in reverse.
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Books about travel let you imagine the beautiful sights in our world, get immersed in the ambiance of another place, and learn about unique cultures from wherever you are. Wherever your summer travel plans take you, whether you’ll be across the world or in the comfort of your bedroom, a good book can help you occupy yourself while in transit and help you keep your mind sharp throughout the summer. Next semester will be here before you know it, so be sure to enjoy yourself while keeping on top of your academic skills.
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