Children’s books set in Iceland

Welcome to the children’s books set in Iceland section of Kids Travel Books! We’re so glad you’re here. Iceland holds a special place in my heart. It’s a place I always wished to visit. During Spring Break 2019, we were finally able to. I credit some of these books and other resources for helping my kids appreciate Iceland just as much as I did. In reality, though, I know that they loved it because it’s an amazing place to visit.

Whether you’re here to learn more about the country, or prepare for a trip to Iceland – Welcome.

Fast Facts about Iceland for Kids

Whether you’re looking for Iceland books because you’re planning to travel there or just want to learn about Iceland – these facts are good foundations to know.

Iceland is an island on the North Atlantic Ocean.
The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik.
The currency in Iceland is called the Icelandic króna.
Icelandic is the national and official language in Iceland.
Children learning about Iceland will also want to learn about volcanoes and vikings.

Iceland’s Book Tradition

Reykjavik: UNESCO City of Literature

Iceland has an amazing book tradition that should appeal to all families. Their capital, Reykjavik, was the first non-English city to become a UNESCO City of Literature. In addition to that cool distinction, it also means that there are a lot of book-related activities and sites in the city. You can check out their official UNESCO City of Literature website before planning your trip to see if there’s anything fun to do during your trip or to get bookstore addresses.

Jolabokaflod: Book gift-giving in Iceland

Jolabokaflod roughly translates to Yule book flood. It’s when books come flooding in on Christmas Eve and is an Icelandic tradition. Since World War II Icelandic families began the tradition of exchanging books on Christmas Eve and reading them together. I love everything about this. You can read more about the history and how to bring the tradition home here.

Traveling to Iceland with kids?

Before you go, make sure everyone signs the Icelandic Pledge. Here are three places our family really loved:

Children’s books about Iceland

Here are some children’s books that haven’t been added to the official directory and sorted, but I want to go ahead and share them. There are some great options to not just learn about Iceland, but there are Iceland-specific travel journals, and even books to help parents plan a trip. Take a look.