Homeschooling BooksGeography
Home >> Homeschooling Books >> Geography Books
When you are homeschooling, books are a great way to inform and educate in a natural way. This page lists my favourite books for introducing geography.
Somehow, reading about a new land and the people that live there, can really bring a place to life. It gives you a real feeling of the lives, culture and food of an area.
I have listed books that have characters that go 'around the world' first, then listed geography books by country.
I have found it quite difficult to find books that aren't historical. If you have an other ideas for geography books, then do get in touch - I would love to hear them.
Travel around the World
Around the World in 80 Days by Julie Verne
- Probably the most comprehensive book in this list is Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Read my book review here or see my resources and activities page for further ideas.
Around the World with Phineas Frog
- By Paul Adshead, this is a fantastic rhyming geographical puzzle story book. We enjoyed this very much. Phineas goes around the world with his daughter - and you have to guess which country he is in.
The pair get into quite a few scrapes (although the daughter is more interested in shopping!). There is a page of puzzles at the back of the book, and a map for you to plan out the route that Phineas followed.
Although a picture book, this would actually suit older children. It is quite difficult to guess Phineas's location and the rhyming seems to make it less childish.
"Knees knocking, they travel a treacherous track, on top on an ox-cart pulled by a yak. Over the high Himalayas they go, heading towards the Tibetan Plateau."
This is one of our favourite homeschool books!
- by Marjorie Priceman.
This is a short picture book about travelling around the globe to buy ingredients to make an apple pie (the market was closed!). The illustrations are lovely. But the wonderful thing about this book is how much discussion it can spark.
There is a map at the back of the book to help with the geography. And there is so much science! After reading this book we began to try to make an apple pie like the character. Not by going around the world(!) but by evaporating salt from sea-water, grinding flour (we went to a mill) and churning milk to make butter. There is even an apple pie recipe in the book!
With imagination, this little homeschooling book can be a starting point for a lot fun learning - and I thoroughly recommend it.
Books By Country
Africa
- A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer
- The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo
- Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton
Canada/US
- Paddle to the Sea by Holling Clancy Holling
- Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
Europe
- Madeline by Ludwig Behelmans
- Madeline in London by Ludwig Behelmans
India
- Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
- Shiva's Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Return from Geography Homeschooling Books to Homeschooling-ideas Home
Return to Homeschool Books
Lovely messages sent from visitors like you:
Oh my goodness! I am a home schooling mum of 4 and I have NEVER found a better site! Thank you so much.
Blessings, Jenny (New Zealand)
I wanted to say THANK YOU for your fabulous website. I found your website, and finally I have the confidence to take the plunge and take my daughter out of school and educate her at home, thank you, thank you.
Marina (UK)
I cannot get over how much great information and super ideas you have here. Fantastic!
Ruralmama (USA)
This is simply fabulous!! I just now found this site and I'm so excited!! The opportunities and suggestions as well as the need to inspire are exactly what I have been searching to fulfill!! I'm so thrilled to get started and even more excited to continue to explore all of the fabulous suggestions and creative ideas you have offered here!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jennifer (USA)
