Incredible Journeys: 6 Books About How Kids Get to School

School Bus, by Donald Crews
The dedication page of this title reads, “For the buses, the riders, and the watchers.” Donald Crews definitely gets what’s important to kids, as he shows in this toddler bookshelf staple. Every school bus “watcher” in my family has gone through a lengthy phase of loving this ode to big yellow vehicles. A few words per page describe how a fleet of school buses set out in the morning through bustling traffic to gather students and head to school. (As suburbanites, my kids are always impressed with the looooong line of kids waiting to board the bus at just one city stop.) The process repeats in reverse at the end of the day, ending with a satisfying “Home again” for both kids and parked vehicles.

This Is the Way We Go to School, by Laine Falk
The selection of examples in title hits the sweet spot for my kids between familiar and surprising. Engaging photographs and a relatable tone show kids who walk, ride in cars, take the bus, and bike to school in various places around the world, as well those who use other modes of transport like the subway, boats, snowmobiles, donkeys, and even pedicabs. Our family’s copy of this title is worn from frequent poring over; we’ve had some great conversations about how location and weather—as well as less common factors like the availability of friendly donkeys—impact kids’ daily commutes.

This Is the Way We Go to School, by Edith Baer, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman
With its short lines of rhyming text, this book is great for younger kids, but there are ample details to appeal to elementary school age listeners, too. Some of the characters walk, run, or ride in a car or bus, of course, but others’ journeys are specific to their locations. Kids ride cable cars in San Francisco, take the Staten Island Ferry in New York, and even ride a gondola in Switzerland. Older children will love matching children’s journeys to locations on the map at the back of the book.

Running the Road to ABC, by Denize Lauture, illustrated by Reynold Ruffins
This story of a group of children’s eager journey by foot to school in Haiti is a treat to read aloud. Each rhythmic page invites pausing to imagine the vividly detailed scene, from the children’s hurried preparation to leave before dawn, to their running through the crowded streets of town, to their triumphant arrival at school. Each child with whom I’ve shared this story has reacted to particular details, from “They run faster than the jeeps?!” to “They see butterflies on the way to school?!” Stories that transport readers to another time and place are always a delight, and this one is no exception.

Adventures to School: Real-Life Journeys of Students Around the World, by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul, illustrated by Isabel Munoz
Long boat journeys, crossing the Canada-US border on a toboggan, treacherous mountain treks, dusty motorbike rides—the journeys to school described in this title are diverse and impressive. My kids enjoy reading and mulling over a section or two of this information-packed title at a time. The tone is relatable; it’s written with childlike attention to practical details, like having messy hair after a crowded rickshaw ride, and wanting to arrive early to have time to chat with friends. There are also enough realistic examples of challenges, like the threat of stomping elephants or leeches wiggling in wet shoes, to convey the extreme lengths to which some children go to obtain an education.

My School in The Rain Forest: How Children Attend School Around The World, by Margriet Ruurs
This book for upper elementary-aged children is a nice follow up to the other titles on this list. The author’s introduction explains how the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights outlines everyone’s right to an education; a weighty but important topic to discuss with school-aged kids. Along with information how children get to school, this title describes their school experiences and communities. In addition to other examples, it includes information on schools in areas of conflict, like Afghanistan, various homeschool and distance learning models, and international schools. Expect to learn a lot as an adult reader, too!