A pain familiar to every parent: What to occupy your child on the road? Long car rides and air travel are always very stressful. “Turn on the cartoons” is the easiest, but at the same time forbidden trick. The decision to pack books with you is something that will suit both adult and child. But there is already a lot of luggage, and books are almost always voluminous. The solution – children’s e-books, which in any quantity “will fit” in your tablet, phone or reader.
Of course, a children’s book is, by definition, a paper book. Dense paper or cardboard, the magic of rustling pages, the ritual of spending time together… But why give up reading altogether if the library is at home, and you’re not? Electronic children’s books are a great way out. In most cases, they are sold with full quality. If a book has a lot of vivid illustrations, those will usually come to your gadget in PDF format. If you’re traveling in a Jeep, this might come in handy: red lightning bolt on dash.
Now for the most important thing. Which of the great many books on sale in stores is truly fresh and interesting? Which ones are the best children’s books? We recommend some fascinating books for children that will brighten up your leisure time in situations where reading a paper book is not available.
- The Ickabog. Joan Kathleen Rowling
The Ickabog is not a new Harry Potter book, it has nothing at all to do with the universe where Hogwarts is and mages and muggles live. Joan Rowling wrote a children’s tale about a kingdom called Cornicopia. Once upon a time, Cornicopia was a glorious and pleasant place: here they cooked such delicious things that those who tasted them cried with happiness. The people lived well and happily, and the jolly king flaunted a handsome moustache. But from dark Smurland, in the north of Cornicopia, there were ominous rumors about a monster called Ickabog. Children who would not go to sleep were frightened by it, but one day it turned out that the terrible tale was ready to come true. The creature threatens to defeat the king and end the well-being of the kingdom – will Cornicopia be able to escape this fate? The dangerous adventure begins today!
Interesting fact: the book of Ickabog is illustrated differently in each of the countries. That’s because anyone could be an artist. Rowling published the story chapter by chapter in the spring of 2020 and invited children to draw pictures for the future book. The contest was unprecedented, with the publisher selecting the best entries.
- Waffle Heart. Mary Parr
If your child is already reading on their own and desperately needs a touching story that will emphasize the importance of basic things (love, friendship, kinship) to them, you can’t do better than Maria Parr’s Waffle Heart. The book isn’t that new, but it doesn’t lose its relevance. After all, the things it spells out are not subject to aging. Trille and Lena live in Scratchy Matilda Bay, and the name alone already sets the mood. They have a lot of family and tons of ways to get them excited. When Trille and Lena say, “I won’t anymore,” they are always led to believe, “Of course you won’t! You and Lena never do anything twice. You’re always coming up with new outrages!” But, all kidding aside, there are situations where children are smarter than even the wisest adults. At the end of the book, you’re sure to have a pinched nose and a warm feeling in your heart.
- The Big Book of Panda Choo Stories. Neil Gaiman
Panda Choo is fiction writer Neil Gaiman’s first entirely children’s character, very vivid and memorable. Choo knows how to sneeze more powerfully than anyone else in the world, and the consequences of his super sneeze are unpredictable every time. In short, it’s better to see it once than hear it a hundred times. And there’s a lot to see: Adam Rex’s detailed illustrations make the Choo stories look like a very expensive and very funny cartoon. You’ll find a lot of useful information for yourself here.
We know that a good book embellishes any journey, helping to fill the pauses or brighten the wait. Kids like to learn something interesting on the road, too. So we’re sure that not only your child, but you, too, will be delighted with each of these books.
