Great Books for Summer Travel

Summer travel and great books go together like sun and surf. Whether you have a plane to catch, a long car ride ahead, or a trip to Grandma's, these reads for kids and tweens should help make it a fun journey. Some offer a taste of foreign lands, others a summer crush, and some get into family dynamics. No matter what genre you're looking for, you can find something here your kids will love. We have lots of interesting books to choose from -- and to pack along with the sunscreen. Be sure to check out these lists, too: Travel Movies, Travel TV, Adventure Books, and Books About Families.

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Are We There Yet? Poster Image
BOOK

Are We There Yet?

age 3+

Car trip turns to time travel in highly imaginative story.

By: Dan Santat (2016)
Camp Rex Poster Image
BOOK

Camp Rex

age 3+

Funny tale of kids and dinosaurs on a camping trip.

By: Molly Idle (2014)
The Day the Crayons Came Home Poster Image
BOOK

The Day the Crayons Came Home

age 3+

Crayons send postcards, beg to return in hilarious sequel.

By: Drew Daywalt (2015)
Goldfish Ghost Poster Image
BOOK

Goldfish Ghost

age 3+

Lonely ghost fish finds a friend in charming seaside tale.

By: Lemony Snicket (2017)
The Airport Book Poster Image
BOOK

The Airport Book

age 4+

Fun account of family's travel day tells all about airports.

By: Lisa Brown (2016)
All the Way to Havana Poster Image
BOOK

All the Way to Havana

age 4+

Celebration of Cuban family and ingenuity has gorgeous art.

By: Margarita Engle (2017)
Hot Dog book cover shows red dachshund with wind blowing his fur at top of stairs leading down to a beach and blue ocean
BOOK

Hot Dog

age 4+

Hot and tired pooch finds relief in cute summertime story.

By: Doug Salati (2022)
Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on a World Tour Poster Image
BOOK

Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on a World Tour

age 4+

Stuffed bunny writes home about world adventures.

By: Annette Langen (1994)
Locomotive Poster Image
BOOK

Locomotive

age 4+

Gorgeous story of train journey is exciting, fact-packed.

By: Brian Floca (2013)
Lost and Found: Adèle & Simon in China Poster Image
BOOK

Lost and Found: Adèle & Simon in China

age 4+

Lots of fun in exquisitely illustrated China travelogue.

By: Barbara McClintock (2016)
Our Great Big Backyard Poster Image
BOOK

Our Great Big Backyard

age 4+

National Parks help open girl to nature in cute family tale.

Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast Around the World Poster Image
BOOK

Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast Around the World

age 4+

Lively, info-packed tour of breakfast in 12 countries.

By: Alice B. McGinty (2019)
Vampirina at the Beach Poster Image
BOOK

Vampirina at the Beach

age 4+

Vampire girl frolics at night in fun, zany beach romp.

By: Anne Marie Pace (2017)
Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog: Paris-Chien, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog: Paris-Chien, Book 1

age 4+

Terrier adapts to new Paris home in charming dog tale.

The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation Poster Image
BOOK

The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation

age 5+

Princess tries to get a break in fun, action-packed volume.

By: Shannon Hale , Dean Hale (2016)
Linnea in Monet's Garden Poster Image
BOOK

Linnea in Monet's Garden

age 6+

Wonderful intro to art and Monet through a kid's eyes.

Road Trip with Max and His Mom Poster Image
BOOK

Road Trip with Max and His Mom

age 6+

Fun road trip sequel explores emotional effects of divorce.

By: Linda Urban (2018)
The Story of Diva and Flea Poster Image
BOOK

The Story of Diva and Flea

age 6+

Beautiful art befits charming friendship story set in Paris.

By: Mo Willems (2015)
The Year of the Fortune Cookie: Anna Wang, Book 3 Poster Image
BOOK

The Year of the Fortune Cookie: Anna Wang, Book 3

age 6+

Thought-provoking story of tween girl's trip to China.

By: Andrea Cheng (2014)
Bad Kitty Goes on Vacation Poster Image
BOOK

Bad Kitty Goes on Vacation

age 7+

Funny, satirical theme park adventure on colorful pages.

By: Nick Bruel (2020)