Storybook Travels: From Eloise's New York to Harry Potter's London, Visits to 30 of the Best-Loved Landmarks in Children's Literature

Thanks to authors Bates and Latempa for their delightful and intelligent approach to traveling with kids. We have used books such as Linnea in Monet's Garden, Eloise in Paris, and the Madeleine books in our travels to Paris, but what's impressive about this book is the way the authors have drawn on so many other children's classics as a backdrop for family travel. I write about family travel myself and highly recommend this book --it's a good read whether you are packing to go, or just happy as an armchair traveler.

This book is a great jumping-off point for family vacations in the US or abroad. It will inspire you to travel AND read with your family!

Thirty international locales from books aimed at 3- to 13-year olds are described. Each descriptive chapter includes a few sentences summarizing the overarching experience (with location and age information); a one to two page summary of the book; several pages relating an actual visit by an adult(s) and child(ren); and, one to several pages detailing the specific location(s) involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers and web sites. Also included are a list of twenty-five other literary travel possibilities, including Call of the Wild and Peter Pan, and an index to titles.The books and sites included are:The Adventures of Pinocchio, Tuscany, ItalyThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hannibal, Missouri and environsAnd Now Miguel, Taos, New MexicoAnne of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island, CanadaA Bear Called Paddington, London, EnglandThe Black Stallion, Belmont Park, Long Island, New YorkBrighty of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, ArizonaChild of the Owl, San Francisco, CaliforniaEloise, New York City, New YorkFrom the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New YorkHans Brinker or the Silver Skates, Haarlem Amsterdam and environsHarry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, London, Windsor and Durham, EnglandHeidi, Graubunden, SwitzerlandHill of Fire, Paracutin Volcano, Michoacan, MexicoIsland of the Blue Dolphins, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, CaliforniaKidnapped, Isle of Mull, ScotlandLinnea in Monet's Garden, Paris and Giverny, FranceLittle House on the Prairie, De Smet, South DakotaThe Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, New York CityLittle Women, Concord, MassachusettsMadeline, Paris, FranceMake Way for Ducklings, Boston, MassachusettsMaybelle the Cable Car, San Francisco, CaliforniaPaddle-to-the-Sea, Niagara Falls, Ontario, CanadaThe Pied Piper of Hamelin, Hamelin, GermanyRamona Quimby, Age 8, Portland, OregonSong of the Swallows, San Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaThe Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Lake District, EnglandThe Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963, Birmingham, AlabamaYolonda's Genius, Chicago, IllinoisYou can tell moms wrote this book. It's entertaining AND practical. The material is fascinating, well written, and tells you everything you could want to know (except maybe where the bathrooms are located). The contact information makes this an invaluable resource. I hope the authors will continue to write more of these wonderful family travel guides.Highest recommendation.

"Storybook Travels" is an easy read; so well written and interesting. Each chapter is devoted to a children's classic and related locale; easy reference when checking out books to read and travel destination possibilities. Every parent and grandparent should have this book for ready reference. Traveling ideas and tips for traveling with children are invaluable. And for many, the identified books will help them know what their children should be reading. Children's librarians and teachers should also have this book on their reference shelf. Children's storytime tellers could use this book to augment their presentation of these classics. Real world experiences help the young reader relate to the written word.Hopefully, these authors will continue their travels to acquaint us with today's locations of more children's books, young adult and adult books. Traveling can only be enhanced if one can match the real world with the literary world.

This was a great book if you ever wanted to visit all the great places you have read about. A visit to Harry Potters Castle will hopefully be the highlight of my visit to London. My first visit was to Eloise's Plaza and I LOVED seeing her picture and all the spots she talked about. This book gives 28 other wondeful places to go. It is a handy reference guide to those of you who LOVE to travel like our family does!!!