Disclosure: This round-up contains advertisement features (books 1–4), an independent Editor’s Choice selection and affiliate links
Top children’s books for taking on holiday in 2026
Summer holidays are just around the corner, bringing a welcome chance to pack up, head away and enjoy some uninterrupted time together as a family. Whether you are catching a flight, heading to the coast or settling into a quiet camping spot, selecting a few well-chosen children’s books for your luggage can completely transform those downtime moments on the road.
Packing the right books for children to read on holiday does far more than just quieten down a long journey or pass the time in an airport. A great holiday read can enhance what children are seeing around them – like exploring rock pools at the seaside and being prepared for queues at the airport – or simply offer a familiar, grounding bedtime routine when staying somewhere new.
Many people love the chance to get completely absorbed in a fantasy adventure while on holiday, and the slower pace of the day provides the perfect chance. Having a funny graphic novel or a fast-paced chapter book on hand is also one of the easiest ways to keep children reading for pleasure while school is out.
From high-octane space adventures to inspiring graphic novels that make waiting in long queues a lot easier, a good story can turn potential travel friction into a highlight of the trip. Sharing books together away from home gives children a chance to relax, laugh and stay hooked on reading all summer long.
If you are looking for even more ideas to build your travel reading list, we have dedicated booklists for Summer Reading and Travel & Transport. In this blog post, we are sharing featured children’s books – plus an exciting Editor’s Choice – that make brilliant additions to any holiday suitcase for children. .
These varied, travel-friendly titles will keep young readers entertained on the go, get them asking questions about the places you visit and bring some reading excitement to your summer packing list.
5 Children’s Books for Holiday Packing
1. Galaxy Runners: Jello Breaks the Universe by James Lancett
A funny and action-packed chapter-book-graphic-novel-hybrid about a space delivery team
Animator James Lancett brings a brilliant, cinematic energy to Galaxy Runners, delivering a high-octane space adventure that hits all the right notes for a lighthearted holiday read aimed at ages 7 and up.
The premise of the story is a space delivery service. When the team takes on a routine job, they inadvertently end up in charge of Jello, a gooey, shapeshifting alien who happens to be sought after by some of the galaxy’s supervillains.
The visual format is highly appealing, weaving graphic novel-style comic panels and generous illustrations into a chapter book structure.
Because the font is well-spaced and the chapters are short, Galaxy Runners offers an accessible experience for independent readers, keeping the momentum high and allowing children to fully absorb the story. Both reluctant and keen readers will feel welcomed and absorbed by the hybrid format, making the book an ideal choice to pack for a flight, a beach trip or for getting lost in the quieter moments of the holidays.
Readers will doubtless enjoy the creative cast of quirky characters that keep the pages turning with bizarre details – from a creature that absorbs metal objects (keep your laptop well away) and poops fuel, to a character with lava flowing from her skin. The narrative never stands still, throwing the crew into the path of space pirates and choking space worms.
Galaxy Runners is a genuinely funny and imaginative adventure that makes for an engaging and effortless read. For anyone looking to keep a child reading while away this summer, this is a choice you won’t regret packing.
Purchase Galaxy Runners: Jello Breaks the Universe from Amazon or BookShop.
2. Raise the Bar by Fernanda Frick H.
A brand new graphic novel about a girl who enters the world of competitive weightlifting
Raise the Bar is a graphic novel by Chilean animation director and comic artist Fernanda Frick H. This full-colour graphic novel is a perfect summer holiday read suited to readers aged 10-14, and will be especially enjoyed by fans of Raina Telgemeier.
The story follows Sam, a (literally) strong female lead who enters the unfamiliar, high-stakes world of competitive weightlifting as she sets her sights on going for Olympic gold. It is a fantastic, fast-paced summer read that offers a really interesting glimpse into an elite sporting arena that most readers won’t know much about. The story highlights what it takes for girls to overcome stereotypes and participation barriers in competitive sport.
While ambition and following dreams is the theme that drives the story, success isn’t built on serendipity in Raise the Bar; instead, the narrative focuses on the determination, personal sacrifices and real grit required for Sam to succeed. The story doesn’t shy away from the realities of intense training, parental opposition, prejudice, self-doubt and burnout, but it remains a thoroughly empowering and immersive page-turner. At its heart, the story is about determination and ambition as we follow Sam’s journey in navigating every hurdle to achieve her goals in the sport she loves.
This inclusive book is a great holiday choice for its readability and the portrayal of a diverse cast of characters forming deep friendships despite being contenders on the platform. The backstory is just as inspiring: dropped by Netflix after two years of development as a sports anime, Frick channelled Sam’s grit to turn it into a young teen graphic novel, complete with bonus content.
Raise the Bar is a highly recommended page-turner about perseverance and the perfect graphic novel to offer something new and interesting to a summer of sport.
Purchase Raise the Bar from Amazon or BookShop.
3. The Selfish Crab by Anya Glazer
A beach-themed picturebook with gentle humour and plenty of facts, likely to inspire shell hunts and rock pool searches
If you are heading to the seaside with young children this summer, The Selfish Crab is a brilliant book to pack.
The story follows Claude, a boastful hermit crab who refuses to join in when it is time to exchange shells, causing a muddle for the beach community when the other crabs try to swap shells, which – we learn – they do by lining up in size order. Claude’s choice to keep his beautiful shell for himself provides an opportunity to talk about the community impact of selfish decisions, which is handled with gentle comedy and a pleasing resolution.
The illustrative style reflects a hybrid of nature scenes and comedy perfectly; shorelines, sunsets and beach scenes are painted in shell-like hues, with the crab bodies and expressive eyes popping comically out of the artwork. 
Using speech bubbles to add wit, the book creates a gentle bridge towards an early graphic novel feel while still maintaining a classic picture book format.
Entertaining and informative, The Selfish Crab is an ideal summer read to inspire shell hunts, rock pool observations, and a genuine appreciation for the busy shoreline ecosystem, while also covering themes of friendship and community, making it a story to return to again and again.
The back of the book is packed with extra information too, including sections about real-life hermit crabs, conservation and the Seashore Code. Some of these facts are genuinely surprising – who knew that hermit crabs are actually more closely related to lobsters than crabs, or that they really do arrange themselves in a line to swap shells in size order? Complete with beautiful shell-themed endpapers that might inspire shell collecting, The Selfish Crab is a wonderful holiday story that offers a glimpse into the natural world.
Purchase The Selfish Crab from Amazon or BookShop.
4. Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues by Maudie Smith and Anna Simeone
A charming picture book encouraging queue patience, told with humour and compassion
If you are going on holiday with young children this summer, chances are you’ll encounter a queue – whether at the airport, waiting for an ice cream or queuing for a turn on a ride. Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues addresses the common difficulty of patiently waiting in line. The story unfolds in a fun, warm way, offering a light-hearted approach to pre-empting what might otherwise become tiresome situations for both parent and child!
The cute bear cub at the centre of the queuing woes is endearing and embodies all the typical impulses little children might be learning to fight against – running off, chasing pigeons, causing a scene and moaning. Each time, these moments are addressed with compassion, gentle humour and counter-suggestions.
The illustrations in Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues capture the bear cub’s exuberant enjoyment through bright colours, restless movements and energetic expressions, matching the pleasingly inclusive artwork and playful text perfectly.
The story encourages the value of patience and suggests fun distraction activities for queue situations, including games and make-believe to distract from boredom. These playful ideas could easily become real-life strategies for families to use on their travels.
With an all-join-in repeated refrain that makes it a fun read-it-again choice, Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues is a thoroughly entertaining book to pop into your travel bag.
Purchase Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues from Amazon or BookShop.
Editor’s choice: Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller by Amelia Tait
A page-turning chapter book about accidental time traveller Lily Tripp as she bounces throughout history navigating friendship dramas, first love and family
This is an intriguing slant to the time travel genre with a protagonist who doesn’t travel by choice to correct a timeline or right a wrong. It is completely in diary format and follows the story of Lily Tripp – a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl who ends up being transported into different centuries at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve – which coincidentally happens to be her birthday.
Her tale starts in the modern age, with Lily introducing herself, her family and her friends at school, including eccentric BFF Poppy, Ollie (Lily’s crush) and cool Georgia – who looks down on them all. When she time travels, everyone she knows does so too. Although appearing in a completely different era, they remain within their home town of York: they have already been to the Victorian age and ancient Rome – resulting in Lily ‘missing’ two years of school.
However, no one else apart from Lily realises that they have time travelled. Life hits a new low when Lily reaches 1621 as Georgia’s servant, and has to just accept the awful treatment from that time, although being accused of witchcraft means her life could be in danger.
Whilst amusingly told in a young teen’s voice with clever throwaway lines, in each era Lily battles to catch up with recent events from her family and friends who have clearly already existed in that timeline. You feel genuinely sorry for her as she tries to navigate situations and behaviour between different centuries and not stick out as being ‘weird’; it is hard for her to live in the present.
The main characters are engaging and there is interesting historical information. I’ve seen Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller advertised as Lottie Brooks meets Back to the Future – that’s not far off the mark! It deserves to be a series. A perfectly gripping holiday read for children ages 8-12.
Purchase Lily Tripp from Amazon or Bookshop. An audiobook version is also available – perfect for long journeys!
More booklists you might like:
- Summer 2026 Recommended Children’s Books
- Books about the Seaside
- Best Graphic Novels for Children
- Best books for Preschoolers
Browse our Year Group booklists for more age-based recommendations to read together!
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Where next?
- Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
- Browse our Topic Booklists
- View our Year Group Recommended Read Booklists.
- See our Books of the Month.