Lego 31108: Family Caravan + kids books

Caravan Fran, by Cheryl Orsini

The delightfully sweet picture book is great for the littlies. Cheryl Orsini’s illustrations are soft, kind, and enjoyable. The story follows three friends who set off on a road trip with their compact, but well-stocked, caravan. A picture book for 3-7-year-olds, this is just delicious.

An Amazing Australian Road Trip, by Jackie Hosking and Lesley Vamos

Taking off on an adventure around Australia to celebrate Aunty’s 60th birthday. Their car is jam-packed with an esky on the roof (they probably need a caravan) as they depart Melbourne for their first stop, The Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. In their anti-clockwise lap of Oz, they hit icon places such as Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre), Coober Pedy, Kakadu, Ularu, and the Great Barrier Reef. They walk through the Daintree, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and around the ruins at Port Arthur. The illustrations bring life to the settings with vibrant colours and lots of action.

At each stop the families’ story is told through rhyming verse. Plus, readers get a generous amount of non-fiction text about the history or significance of the location.

One cute detail is that in every place they go, one particular family member always has their nose in a book.

Are We There Yet?, by Dan Santat

A boy and his parents are on a road trip across country to grandma’s house. And like with most road trips, the anticipation and potential for excitement outweigh the reality of what it is actually like. Luckily the boy has a vivid imagination and is able to turn the images outside the car into a much more exciting panorama.

I adore Dan Santat’s illustrations, and to me this is a masterpiece of colour, action, and humour. I agree with my review from a few years ago, this deserves to be read several times so all the details can be appreciated. Ideal for 4-9-year-olds, this picture book is light on words but big on story.

Are We There Yet?, by Alison Lester

Many families (not mine…yet) take the plunge and go on a lap of Australia. Perhaps they’re less keen and do a half lap, straight up the guts and around one side. Others go on smaller road trips, staying within their state. Others read this book. Alison Lester’s Are We There Yet will help children have the proxy experience of travel by viewing one family’s fictional, through realistic, trip around Oz.

I really like that it takes readers briefly through from the planning stage to hitting the road. This is a long picture book with more text than many children will expect, but it’s all so well done that they will be begging to get to the end of the Grace’s family holiday. There are maps throughout the book which help kids visualise where the family is and where in Australia the places they visit are. Readers will get to see many iconic Australian landmarks such as the Great Australian Bight, Ularu, Katherine Gorge, Kakadu and Bondi Beach, as the family visits friends, go snorkeling, fishing, play monopoly in their caravan and learn all about our wonderful country.

If you’re going on a big lap with primary schoolers, this is a big must. It will help them picture what the trip will actually be like and get them giddy with excitement.

Danny the Champion of the World, by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

The reason I include this book in this list is that Danny and his dad are quite poor and reside in an old gypsy caravan. There is something about small, cosy spaces and making thriving within restrictive conditions that grabs kids’ attention. Many kids have had the chance to go camping or caravanning, but not many could contemplate living in the conditions Danny lives in. Danny might have to share bunk beds with his dad and use a paraffin stove, but he is one of the happiest characters in literature.