I love to think about the act of traveling.
Prepping for a trip. Packing suitcases. Enjoying the journey. Discovering new sites and sounds. Experiencing different things. Trying new food. Learning first hand. Finding the connection with the familiar back home, in an unfamiliar place. And saying goodbye.
Discover Thailand, the first book in a new series, does all of that. It prepares kids for a vacation to Thailand, by giving kids a realistic view of what their trip would look like – through the eyes of the main characters, Aya and Bobby.
A Recap of Discover Thailand
Aya and Bobby are siblings getting ready to visit Thailand for the first time. Before their trip, they learn more country to help prepare. We follow them as the pack their suitcases and sit through the long flight to Thailand.
Once in Thailand, through the magic of words and illustration, we make our first discovery in Thailand. It’s busy! Using the local transportation, a Tuk Tuk and a boat, Aya and Bobby start to explore Bangkok. They visit popular sites such as the Temple of Dawn, Royal Grand Palace, and more. The next set of adventures finds them on a Thai beach. Here they combine their activities with things they already love, swimming and ice cream, while still learning about things that are unique to Thailand. For example, they try new food, learn about the animals in the ocean, and even learn to fly a kite.
The publishers gave me a copy of the book for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.
Pin this image to your favorite book or family travel board.
Discover Thailand, a review
First, I want to mention how much I love the drawings in this book. I’m not an expert on illustration, but the style of drawing and coloring enhances the feel of Thailand. The busy Bangkok scenes feel busy, while there is a calmness when Aya and Bobby are at the beach.
I also appreciate how relatable Aya and Bobby are. My kids were excited to not only share the relative ages of Aya and Bobby, but they also have the same pajamas. In the same color.
As I mentioned early, Discover Thailand gives a realistic view of what a trip to Thailand looks like for kids. I like the combination of the many unfamiliar new sites, with the reminder of the familiar activities kids have even though they’re far from home. The stop at the beach and to eat ice cream adds a realness. This is what family vacation is all about. It’s about finding a way to make it enjoyable for all everyone. It’s not just an endless loop of learning and discovering. Don’t get me wrong, learning and exploring are vital aspects of traveling. However, it’s nice for kids to see that they can still do things, like eat ice cream or learn to fly a kite, while on vacation.
Still, the book succeeds at discovering Thailand, too. Kids will learn about the transportation, popular sites, animals, and activities that Thailand is known for. Use it as a jumping point for learning more about the country. I have some links below that work to gain further information about some of those things.
This must have for families traveling to Thailand. #kidsbooks Click To TweetWho should get this book?
This is a must have for anyone traveling to Thailand with their kids. It’s also perfect for anyone interested in teaching their kids more about the country.
You can buy your copy on Amazon.
More information
- Author: Christina Kristoffersson Ameln
- Illustrator: Seonaid MacKay
- Find out more about Aya and Bobby.
- Buddha and Buddhism for kids.
- This site of Bangkok for Kids includes some of the sites listed in the book. Check out the Royal Grand Palace.
- In the book, the kids try Pad Thai Shrimp, make some at home with this recipe.
