No more I Spy, please!
Because we know a good journey can make all the difference to your holiday, Supernanny rounds up the best travel books to keep the kids busy in the car or on the plane this summer. Don’t leave home without them!
We All Go Travelling By, by Sheena Roberts, illustrated by Siobhan Bell, £6.99 (paperback and CD).
A book and CD package perfect for car journeys, that will have young children singing, beeping, vrooming and chuffing along in no time. Expert spotters can also find new vehicles of their own to add verses to the song. Age 0–4 (3 out of 5)
Over in the Meadow, by Jane Cabrera, £4.99 (paperback).
This counting rhyme is great to read aloud to babies and very young children, who will just love spotting the different animals, even before they learn to count. With gorgeous vibrant illustrations and an irresistibly rhythmic text, this is a real summery treat of a book. Age 0–3 (5 out of 5)
Sharing a Shell, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Lydia Monks, £4.99 (board book).
A seaside tale, set in a rock-pool, which will certainly get you in the mood for your holidays. The book literally sparkles, with glitter on every page of bright, collage illustrations, and a lively rhyming text to match from the author of The Gruffalo. Age 0+ (3 out of 5)
Ideal for traveling, this fantastic magnetic book has four different race scenes and a collection of magnetic pieces to place on them: there’s a chicken in a red racing car, two giraffes in a jeep and a family of crocs in a go-cart, amongst other wacky racers. You can either follow the story and complete the tasks, or invent new ones all of your own. Sensible, sturdy design, with magnet compartment, carry-handle and clip to keep it all in. Age 3+ (4 out of 5)
With bright funky illustrations, this notebook is packed full of activities that are both fun and educational – including crosswords, quizzes and games. From planning your trip through to writing postcards and even deciding where to go next, this book should help your young explorers get the most out of their adventures abroad. Age 7+ (4 out of 5)
Hairy Viking Harri Bristlebeard embarks on a perilous journey to recover a stolen magical banner and restore good luck to his village. You, the reader, must help him by spotting clues, solving riddles and using all your powers of observation to outwit trolls, wolves and even a fire-breathing dragon! Age 5+ (3 out of 5)
Does just what it says on the packet! Each colourful card has a different creative activity, with illustrations and step-by-step instructions to show you exactly what to do. These sturdy cards are very handy to pack and carry, although many of the activities will require a pen and paper or other extra materials. Age 4+ (4 out of 5)
Jennie Maizel’s Things To Do Book, by Jennie Maizel, £11.99 (hardback)
It’s worth finding space in your luggage for this remarkable book. Each spread features a different location in which you’re likely to find yourself on holiday – in the car, at the beach, stuck inside on a rainy day, etc – and the amazingly detailed pictures illustrate various activities to tempt your children, complete with lots of tiny flaps which fold back to reveal yet more ideas. From family Olympics, to cloud-spotting or making green spaghetti, there are activities to suit everyone. Age 5+ (5 out of 5)
You don’t have to be a fan of the Judy Moody books to enjoy this fun-filled activity book, just grab a pencil and join in! What’s your favourite ice-cream flavour? Try these knock-knock jokes out on your friends… Design your own T-shirt and invent your own club. Full of quirky ideas and comic illustrations, this will be especially popular with girls aged 6-9. (4 out of 5)