Locations fascinate and inspire me. The grand hush of a museum is more memorable to me than the art inside. The eeriness of a cave is a bigger lure than the geology that formed it. My love of locations over, say, character and plot, extends into picture books.
Growing up, I pored over THE HOUSE ON EAST 88th ST, not because it was about an endearing crocodile named Lyle, but because it offered a view into an exotic world of NYC brownstone life, where kids went to the playground and lined up for something called “Italian ice.” Did imprinting this book on my young brain cause me to hunt down Italian ices when I finally made my first visit to NYC decades later? Definitely.
While there are many books that have beautiful illustrations, these five books are sensory, virtual field trips into their settings. With inviting art and storytelling that takes you on a tour, here are some of my favorite picture books to transport you. (Full disclosure—I wrote two of them!)
Five Picture Books That Will Transport Readers to New Places
WINDOWS (Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale)
“Walking his dog at dusk, one boy catches glimpses of the lives around him in this lovely ode to autumn evenings, exploring your neighborhood, and coming home.”
The year this book came out, I couldn’t escape the cover. With the twilight sky and the illuminated windows, I could feel myself step into the story, walking the dog alongside the main character. A meditative stroll, peeking into the lives of others. I later read that the illustrator used her Boston-area neighborhood, Somerville, for inspiration. She somehow nails the specificity of one location, while highlighting a universal feeling.
MY PAPI HAS A MOTORCYCLE (Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña)
“A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo.”
While I have white-knuckled a few trips on the back of mopeds, zipping around town on a motorcycle is much more fun when I’m experiencing it through the safety of my armchair. Set in the author’s childhood home of Corona, California, this perfect pairing of lyrical text and dynamic graphic novel-style art take you through the sights, smells, tastes and textures of the author’s life in a town of immigrants.
FROM PARK TO PLAYA: THE TRAILS THAT CONNECT US (Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Sophie Diao)
“A beautiful picture book about connecting to nature and with each other on a path across the city, from a park to the beach, from a dynamic author and illustrator team.”
People associate Los Angeles with beaches, but there are so many ways Angelenos come together to appreciate their outdoor bounty. Inspired by a real hiking trail that goes through urban Los Angeles, readers will enjoy hilltop views, park piñatas, fruit vendors, and a nighttime grunion run. I wrote this as a mirror for LA kids, and a window for others to peer into our California lifestyle. Inspired to find a trail close to you? Resources in the backmatter help.
BIG SISTER, LITTLE SISTER ( Charlotte Zolotow)
“A small girl runs away from her domineering older sister, only to discover how much she is needed and loved.”
I originally bought this to read to my two little girls, hoping to help foster their sisterly bond. It was a favorite for them, and an unexpected favorite for me. Not only does it function as a time-travel experience, back when girls wore Mary Janes and bobbie socks— but it also has an incredibly enigmatic section where Little Sister needs a break from Big Sister’s bossiness. She slips away and lies in a meadow with daisies and bumblebees, contemplating life as a little sister and enjoying the textures of nature. The writing here is so delicate, realistic, and heartwarming, but it is the description of the meadow that pulled me in. I could almost hear the bees hum and feel the scratchy grass from my city home. A shining example of mindfulness before it became an SEL buzzword. Warning: if you are bothered by children depicted without adult supervision, skip this one and the next.
DOWN UNDER THE PIER (Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Rachell Sumpter)
“There’s lots of fun to be had up on the beach pier, but it’s down underneath where the true—and totally free—magic happens.”
Are you feeling landlocked? Take a trip to the beach! First, you’ll eat cotton candy, go on amusement park rides, and play in the arcade. Oops, now you are out of money! But these kid tour guides know where the real (and free!) fun is—under the pier at low tide. Howl in the echoes, let your feet sink into the cool, wet sand, dig up sand crabs and chase sanderlings. All the fun of the beach without filling your car with sand.
Look at that—in one sitting, you’ve gone from the city to the beach, from motorcycle riding to contemplating daisies. Where will you go next?
About Nell Cross Beckerman
Nell Cross Beckerman’s lyrical nonfiction books, CAVES, VOLCANOES, and WHEN THE SKY GLOWS, have won an
NCTE Orbis Pictus
, been on the
Texas Bluebonnet Award List
two years in a row, received starred reviews, appeared on numerous state library lists, and have been named “Best Book of the Year” from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Bank Street. FROM PARK TO PLAYA: THE TRAILS THAT CONNECT US was selected by Jennifer Seibold Newsom as part of the
California State First Partner’s Book Club
. She loves speaking at conferences and traveling the country with her dynamic school visits. Coming Nov 4, 2025: FORESTS. Visit
NellCrossBeckerman.com
to learn more.
The post
Five Picture Books That Will Transport Readers to New Places
appeared first on
Imagination Soup
.
Leave a Reply