Our Favorite Kids Books About the World

A really excellent kids world book has to check a lot of boxes. It must be factually accurate, beautifully illustrated, and engaging for young readers. Here are our top 10 kids books about the world!

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We love virtual travel to a variety of different places, and it’s always fun to read books about specific places. We also love to have books on hand to reference and learn about a variety of places. The best world travel books for kids take readers on a journey and help us see how different places intersect geographically and culturally.

(Here’s a list of some of our favorite nonfiction kids travel books based on specific countries!)

Our favorite kids world books don’t just spout off facts, but instead draw young readers into the worlds they are exploring. They help make virtual travel a true journey instead of just a school lesson. We love ones that are vibrantly illustrated and share stories and inspire engaging discussion.

These kids books about the world for kids are perfect for learning about diverse geographies, cultures, foods, and more. Each is an excellent general kids world book and is worth having in a home library for curious learners. We hope you love them as much as we do!

This post about our favorite kids world book contains affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% my own. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, but doesn’t change your price.

Our 10 Favorite Kids Books About the World

Everything & Everywhere: A Fact-Filled Adventure for Curious Globe-Trotters

This gorgeously illustrated book takes readers on a journey across the globe. I love that it beautifully shows the unique qualities of each place. For sure one of our favorite kids books about the world.

(This would be a perfect starting point for doing some exploring from home with these virtual travel activities for kids!)

The Lonely Planet Kids Travel Book: A journey through every country in the world

A newer addition to our collection of children’s books about the world, this one is worth its space on the shelf. Each country gets its own page, and the book provides a wonderful overview and highlight reel for young learners. One of the best kids books about the world.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World

All of the Nat Geo kids books are terrific, and this is of those wonderful reference books that has a place in every home library. With beautiful photos, it takes younger readers on an journey to some of the most awe-inspiring places in the world. It also includes simple maps and activities!

(For kids who love Nat Geo and the outdoors, here’s a wonderful guide to National Parks virtual tours with kids!)

Timelines of Everything

This kids world book is perfect for slightly older children who are curious not just about places around the world, but how they connect to one another through the course of history. Even younger children will appreciate the color illustrations, and parents and teachers can use the facts for streamlined teaching.

Hidden Wonders

This is a recent addition to our collection, and it’s been a giant hit with my 9 & 7 year olds. They’re constantly telling us about interesting places from countries we’ve visited, or from ones they would now like to see. If you have a kid who loves being in the know or finding secret passages, they’re sure to love this book. With beautiful illustrations and engaging text, it reveals some of the most mysterious and unknown treasures from around the globe.

This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World

I love travel books for kids that don’t just lay out a bunch of facts and figures, and this book handles that beautifully. It takes readers on a journey not just to different places but through a day with 7 kids from around the globe. You learn about their schooling, food, families, and more. Such a fun and engaging format.

The companion activity book This Is How I Do It is perfect for kids to document how they spend their days. Perfect for a really comprehensive kids travel book experience.

(PS – Here are 20 other FANTASTIC educational activity books for kids.)

Atlas of Adventures

Wide Eyed Editions makes all kinds of terrific and beautiful books, and this one is a special favorite. It takes readers on exciting adventures across all the continents, from surfing in Hawaii, to a camel caravan in the Sahara, to steering a gondola in Venice. It’s perfect kiddos who are more interested in doing than just seeing.

There are a number of companion books, and I truly want to own them all.

Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World
Atlas of Ocean Adventures
Atlas of Animal Adventures
Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures

The Kids Book of World Religions

Travel is so much more than just geography and history, and a kids world book often has a tendency to skip over religion. So I love having this in our kids books about the world section to dive more into what motivates so many political and familial decisions around the globe.

(This would be a really useful book if you’re taking a virtual tour of India or China!)

Maps

This highly detailed book features a number of maps showing natural and political borders, wildlife, climates, and more. Not only does it give readers insight into geography, but it provides an overview of what happens within those geographies, as well.

Where on Earth? Atlas: The World As You’ve Never Seen It Before

So much more than your average set of maps, this atlas overlays all kinds of fascinating info such as dark skies, animal migration, climates, monuments, and more. The 3D maps bring each continent to life and help kids get an overall sense for what is happening where on earth. A wonderful addition to our collection of kids books about the world.

Another truly excellent and more standard atlas is the National Geographic Kids World Atlas. National Geographic Kids materials are all so well laid out, colorful, and interesting, and this world atlas is no difference. It’s a perfect reference for kids who are curious about animals, geography, and peoples.