Who Needs to Travel?

I have recently finished studies in travel writing and my first goal is to write about the fantastic attractions we have here in Tasmania for young people. And I wondered if there were any travel guides just for kids - well there are.

Lonely Planet who, as you would know, recently voted Tasmania as one of the 10 best places to visit in the world, has a publication called The Travel Book. It is part of their ‘Not for Parents' series ‘for budding travel lovers 8 and up.’ And instead of recommendations about the best hotels, restaurants and coffee shops, this book tells kids where they can see Platform 9 3/4 in real life; why New York Taxis are painted yellow and even whether the ancient Romans wore underpants. 101 Cities for Kids is another terrific book, full of activities and sights for kids in family friendly cities around the world.

So what about Australian children’s books that feature adventures in unique and interesting locations around the world?

In Australia we have Alison Lester’s Are We There Yet?; Roland Harvey’s To the Top End: Our Trip Across Australia and Katrina Nannestad's Red Dirt Diary. There are of course many, many more.

Overseas we have the wonderful Mr Chicken books by Leigh Hobbs set in Paris and London; Ruth Starke's Captain Congo series set in Abyssinia/Ethiopia, India and Canada; Geoffrey McSkimming's Cairo Jim series set in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Pompeii and Cambodia (to name a few); Justin D'Ath's Extreme Adventures series set in India, Borneo and North America (and other places) and Richard Newsome's Billionaire series set in Britain, India, France, Rome, Greece and the USA.

 

Who needs to travel, to experience exotic locations? Just pick up a children's book and immerse yourself in exciting cultures and breathtaking scenery around the world. Better still, read it with a child!

Penny Garnsworthy