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<< back to Parenting/Family Issues Books toTake Along When Traveling with Kids Families travel from January to December. No longer are two weeks in the summer the yearly family vacation. Is it realistic to expect materials that will pack easily into a carry-on bag to not only be fun for children, but to give “bang for your buck” in terms of weight vs. value? Can we occupy toddlers as well as preschoolers? Can we eliminate the one usage book for one that literally is worn out from repeated usages? Are there materials that parents will like as well? The answer is—yes, to all! What would I add to your carry-on bag? I am excluding any general fiction titles, as you know what beloved story is best before bedtime. I am referring to high use, thinking, identification, informative titles. I want these titles to be useful for a week or more, to be used over and over yet still have new ideas, hidden facts, or items that continue to interest not only your child but you. I have always loved picture puzzles. Is there anyone who has not loved Highlights Magazine’s Hidden Pictures? My second most favorite picture puzzles is Scholastic’s I Spy series. There are board book formats for babies, early readers in paperback formats for toddlers, and the original full-size format that includes a dozen or so titles. The gamut of picture puzzle books available is quite exciting. Larger, simple pictures or compositions equal quick success—necessary for young children. Conversely, multiple small items on less clear, dark backgrounds are more challenging. Start with easy puzzles that are age appropriate and work up to the more difficult. Visual discrimination is the thinking skill used in solving picture puzzles. It is a learned mental and visual activity and a very useful one for reading readiness. For older children, picture puzzles might be a complicated story, like Garland’s Mystery Mansion, when users must rely on memory, visual discrimination, and advanced thinking skills. Walter Wick is the king of picture puzzle books. He is the creator of the Can You See What I See? books, as well as the Seymour stories, which are excellent for toddlers. Scholastic has published some of the titles in a paperback “I Can Read” format. In any of the picture puzzle titles, do not hesitate to change or add your own challenges, such as “find two….” or “find a green….” Take turns with your children. I promise they will challenge you as easily as you challenge them! Look-Alikes and Look-Alikes, Jr. by Joan Steiner seem simple enough at first glance. But, look again, because every item is composed of many other small, everyday things. The space ship begins with a badminton cock and ends with batteries. I defy you to identify every item in the general store, although the author has graciously listed every item used on each spread at the back of the book. Where’s Waldo is the definitive example of picture puzzle visual discrimination and, right now, seems to be having a resurgence of popularity. Also, for children as young as one year, look at Each Peach, Pear, Plum by Ahlberg. If you point to the hidden fairy tale or Mother Goose character several times, your toddler will soon find them on her own. There are several picture puzzle books based on collections of famous paintings. Micklethwait’s I Spy An Alphabet in Art is one example and there are also some very challenging titles that are mysteries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Can You Find It? is notable. Check out the jokes, riddles, and knock-knock titles at the library or bookstore. Joanna Cole has fabulous and unending directions for a variety of card games. Travel with a Xerox copy of the ones that are appropriate and don’t forget the cards! Leonard Wise is the author of The Way Cool License Plate Book. Roxie Munro creates the best maze books going. When choosing what to pack, remember to add at least one non-fiction title on a subject that your kids love. The Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness books come in several formats, including smaller paperback editions, and they cover numerous subjects. The illustrations will delight, as the short, informative text enlightens. A few, well-chosen titles that include picture puzzles and other ideas will keep your young travelers thinking and happy for hours. Please do not be the people I sometimes meet on planes who travel with nothing in their bags for their children to help them pass the time! Check out the library or the bookstore. There is more out there than you think. Do not leave home without them! SUGGESTED TITLES B. J. Kass is a children’s literature consultant who has worked at Greeley School and The Book Stall at Chestnut Court. This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Early Childhood. |
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