7 Fascinating Kids’ Books About Philadelphia

Larry Gets Lost in Philadelphia, by John Skewes and Michael Mullin
Larry the dog is on vacation in Philly with Pete and his family and he wanders off in this strange, new city. What ensues is a vibrant, educational, and fun adventure as this intrepid pooch maneuvers his way through Philadelphia and works to find his way back to his owner. Kids will love trying to find Larry on each page as he is spotted around landmarks and popular city attractions. Parents will love the historical details and quick explanations of each attraction. This book is full of great spots all around Philly, making it a perfect pick for locals and visitors alike.

Philadelphia Phillies ABC: My First Alphabet Book, by Brad M. Epstein
Phillies fans will love giving this board book to their favorite little ones, who will soon be drooling over their favorite teams. From A to Z, with a V for Victory (who can forget that 2008 World Series win?!), the entire alphabet is covered with the Phillies and their littlest fans in mind. Football more your thing? No worries, there is an Eagles version available, too.

Journey Around Philadelphia from A to Z, by Martha Zschock and Heather Zschock
Older kids can expand their A to Z knowledge of Philly with this detailed book. Author and illustrator Zschock is an educator and expands on each letter of the alphabet with an important theme. A is not just for the Art Museum, but rather stands for, “Aphorisms and advice appear in the almanac.” Each page combines factoids and images, perfectly capturing not only historical landmarks, but places and ideas that go beyond the usual tourist traps.

Mrs. Millie Goes to Philly!, by Judy Cox and Joe Mathieu
Mrs. Millie takes her Kindergarten class to the city of Philly and the entire field trip is nothing but silly. She likes to substitute words, such as the Liberty Bull (instead of a Bell) and the illustrations play right along. Young readers with a knowledge of popular Philadelphia landmarks will appreciate this play on words and rather goofy take on the patriotic tour Mrs. Millie takes the reader on. Just don’t be surprised if your little one asks for a visit to see Betsy Ross, the mouse.

Recipe for Adventure: Philadelphia! #8, by Giada De Laurentiis, Brandi Dougherty, and Francesca Gambatesa
Giada DeLaurentiis brings her culinary talents to this fictional series of foodie books geared toward middle grade readers. In this installment, Zia and the Bertolizzi siblings are transported to the city of brotherly love. Not only is it the “birthplace of America,” it is also the birthplace of some amazing food finds. The trio find themselves traveling throughout the city to food favorite destinations such as Reading Terminal Market and 9th Street. Readers will be hungry after reading this, guaranteed. Philly cheesesteak not included with purchase!

Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know (Arcadia Kids Series), by Kate Boehm Jerome
Fact-loving kids will dig this book, which is chock full of knowledge and stats about Philadelphia. Do you know how much the Liberty Bell weighs? What year was there a big celebration that drew nine million visitors to the city? What important invention dedication happened in 1946? These facts, and many more, will keep conversations flowing and brains growing. Perfect before a trip to Philly, for locals, and for anyone interested in reading more about one of our nation’s most historic cities.

Good Night Philadelphia, by Adam Gamble and Cooper Kelly
Kids across the land love the Good Night Our World series. Now they can have a nighttime book dedicated to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. Locals, tourists, and kids with loved ones who live in Philly will enjoy saying goodnight to many famous landmarks and destinations; from the Philadelphia Zoo, to the United States Mint, to Reading Terminal. Simple illustrations and text, bound together in a board book, makes this a suitable pick for babies and up.