Since it’s Family Road Trip month at Kids Travel Books, I thought it would be fun to pair up some road trip books for the whole family. Because the road trip is such a fun way to tell a story, there are options available at different age ranges below. This is part of my series: Livre Voyage – a family travel-themed book club. This month, on the road trip.
When I thought about the books I wanted to showcase this month, I thought of one of our biggest “Bookstore Love” contributors, Robin Barone. She’s also a children’s book author for the Where is Robin? series. One of her books I reviewed in the early days of this site and is inspiring this post.
Thinking about road trips, I thought the idea of a bird traveling around the United States would be the perfect thing for kids to read. While I think the book works for all ages, let me share a few road trip options with you for your travel-themed family book club read.
(Please note, these books are USA-road trip based)
Road trip read for babies and toddlers
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Trip
by Disney Book Group (Author), Disney Storybook Art Team (Illustrator)
What child doesn’t love a good Mickey Mouse board book? The absolute youngest in the family will appreciate their own book in the family book club and this one definitely fits the bill.
Road trip picture book
Where is Robin? USA
by Robin Barone (Author), Robyn Mitchell (Illustrator)
Robin, the bird, discovers America from above. I like to think this book is a good jumping off book for learning about specific sites across this country. (Where is Robin also goes to Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Philadelphia and will be visiting New York City and San Francisco in 2020.) However, as part of the family travel-themed book club, I think it’s a good way to get kids talking about the idea of seeing the country.
Early reader road trip options
I found this great post on road trips from Kid World Citizen. Lots of good books there, but two of her recommendations were so good for this age group that I wasn’t sure which to pick. So, I picked both.
Sisters
by Raina Telgemeier (Author)
I thought this would be a good pick for families with siblings. I’m an only child myself and my kids are a little young to read this one, but I get the feeling that siblings will appreciate this road trip book as part of a family book club read.
Travels with my Family
by David Homel (Author), Marie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)
This is my second option for families in roughly that age range. This book is especially good for families who like to go off the beaten track on their travels. Let it help your kids learn to appreciate the quirkiness in family travel. Or at least commiserate with the book.
Young Adult Road Trip Books
American Road Trip
by Patrick Flores-Scott (Author)
This book, for young adults, brings the family together again. This time the road trip is the backdrop for a trio of siblings who are helping their brother cope with post-Iraq war PTSD.
Novels about the American Road Trip
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America
by Bill Bryson
There are so many awesome books about the great American road trip. Classics like On the Road, one of my favorites in Into the Wild, and the craziness of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But, since this is a family book club selection, I thought it would be best to pick something funny and from a travel writer.
Reading these books this month – let’s talk about it.
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