Reading recommendations for curious young travellers
The ETG Book Club: Young Readers
Beato Goes to Indonesia
A children’s story about a curious cat who likes to explore different countries around the world. In Indonesia he comes across exotic animals, climbs volcanoes, goes scuba diving and learns to do yoga. A percentage of the profits from Beato will be donated to Bali Children’s Project, that helps children escape poverty through education.
The Jack Stalwart series combines pacy adventure, secret agent antics and exotic locations into a great package for 6-9 year-olds. When an archaeologist who guards the priceless treasures of the temple of Angkor Wat temple goes missing her daughter Kate calls on Jack to help bring her home.
Secret Agents Jack and Max Stalwart: Battle for the Emerald Buddha
The Jack Stalwart series combines pacy adventure, secret agent antics and exotic locations into a great package for 6-9 year olds. In this story Max and Jack must try to find the Emerald Buddha that has been stolen from the Grand Palace in Bangkok but as well as being full of page-turning action the book highlights illegal dealing in antiquities and the importance of these items to a country’s religious or cultural beliefs.
The Vietnam War
This non-fiction book from Usborne Young Reading tells the story of the war from Vietnam’s struggle for independence from the French to the protracted peace process which brought the conflict with the USA to an end. Suitable for children 9+
Prince Siddhartha
Jonathan Landaw
This beautifully illustrated book brings to life the story of Prince Siddhartha and his journey towards enlightenment as the Buddha. Written in a clear, engaging style for younger readers aged 7 and up, it introduces key moments and ideas from the Buddha’s life through accessible storytelling and evocative artwork, making it an inviting and thoughtful introduction to Buddhist teachings and values.
In Hindu Mythology, The Ramayana tells the story of a young prince, Rama, who is unjustly exiled into the forest by his stepmother. His lovely wife, Sita, and his loyal brother go with him and the three encounter strange and dangerous creatures. Sita is abducted by a ten-headed demon and Rama makes an alliance with magical monkeys to fight a war and win her back. Reading the stories from Indian epics such as this one will help children recognise many of the character and stories depicted in Hindu temple carvings across Asia.
Moon Bear
A moving story for 9+ about a boy and a bear in captivity in Laos. When twelve-year-old Tam is sent to work at a bear farm in the city, he has never felt so alone. He hates seeing the cruel way the bears are treated, but speaking up will mean losing his job. And if he can’t send money home, how will his family survive?
Simon Chapman, winner of the Blue Peter Book Award, brings geography to life, and his Expedition Diaries are a great way to introduce the world’s biomes and habitats to children, direct from someone who’s actually been in them. In this edition Simon is planning a trip to Borneo – he’ll travel by boat and plane, and trek through one of the world’s oldest rainforests to find orangutans in their natural equatorial habitat. He’ll be sketching some of the island’s 1,000s of species of tree, mammal and bird along the way…
Dindy and the Elephant
Elizabeth Laird
Set in the 1940s, as India stands on the brink of independence, Dindy and the Elephant is a sensitively told story of a young English girl confronting the upheaval of leaving the only home she has ever known. Through richly observed detail and emotional depth, Elizabeth Laird explores themes of belonging, change and cultural transition, capturing both the warmth and uncertainty of a world on the cusp of transformation.
Asha and the Spirit Bird
This is an award-winning debut novel (2019) for readers aged 8+ that weaves ancient Hindu beliefs into a fast-paced quest across modern-day India, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the bustle of the big city. Asha lives on the family farm with her mother in rural India. Her father is away working in the city, and when the money he sends stops suddenly, a wicked debt collector arrives. She’s determined to seize the property – and the treasure rumoured to be hidden on the land. Guided by a majestic bird which Asha believes to be the spirit of her grandmother, she and her best friend Jeevan embark on a journey to the city, across the Himalayas, to find her father and save her home …
Satisfyingly classic in feel, Bilan’s story also highlights contemporary issues such as child labour and the perils of factory fires.
Running Wild
Michael Morpurgo was inspired to write this novel after reading a news article about an 8-year-old girl whose life was saved by an elephant. Running Wild (subsequently adapted for the stage too) actually stars a schoolboy named Will, who visits Indonesia and is riding an elephant when a tsunami hits. He then goes on to escape deep into the rainforest where he learns to survive with his new animal companions.
Running on the Roof of the World
Jess Butterworth
In this fast-paced and emotionally rich adventure, 12-year-old Tash and her best friend Sam embark on a perilous journey across the Himalayan landscapes of Tibet and India in a desperate attempt to save Tash’s parents. Blending survival, friendship and hope, Jess Butterworth’s vivid storytelling captures the courage and resilience of a young girl facing extraordinary odds, making this a compelling and inspiring read for children aged 10 and up.
The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
Sri Lankan-raised author Nizrana Farook introduces us here to a feisty and loveable heroine in her debut novel. On the run from the royal palace, jewel thief and rebel Chaya leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant on a noisy, fraught, joyous adventure into the jungle. Children aged 8-12 (and probably their parents too) will love getting caught up in this exciting journey, which is wonderfully saturated with the colours of Sri Lanka.
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