If bedtime stories are part of your daily routine, consider any of the following twenty-five children’s books about Thailand. These favourites include children’s storybooks, travel guides especially for kids, as well as children’s Thai language books and colouring books about Thailand. Love elephants? Find a great variety of books for all ages. Enjoy!

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25 Children’s Books about Thailand

New children’s books

1. All Thirteen

All Thirteen

Free with Audible trial. This wonderful book has received five children’s literature awards including 2021 Newbery Honor Book and the 2021 Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature. Ideal for kids ages 10+ and available in paperback and Kindle as well as Audible.

Tip! You get a free book when you sign up for an Audible trial with Amazon. This book is just over 4 hours in audiobook format so it’s ideal for entertaining kids during travel.

2. Somporn and His Happy Paw Friends Series

Somporn and His Happy Paw Friends Series

Ideal for kids who love animals. A four-part book series follows Somporn and his pets as they introduce themselves (book 1), Explore Street Food (book 2), Go to the Beach (book 3) and Explore the Garden (book 4). The books range in length from 32-40 pages and are ideal for animal-loving kids in particular. They features beautiful illustrations and are available in paperback and for Kindle.

3. The Floating Field

The Floating Field

Do your kids love football/soccer? Don’t miss the true story of the kids on Koh Panyee (an island in the north of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket in the west and Krabi in the east). Ideal for ages 5-10, available in hardback and for Kindle.

4. The Fabulous Lost & Found

The Fabulous Lost & Found

Kids ages 2-7 will learn 50 Thai words (without realising they’re learning). From the writer of the TV series Tales of Peter Rabbit. Besides Thai, this series is available in over 50 languages including French, German and Spanish. Available in paperback and some languages in Kindle.

Popular and classic children’s books

5. Aya & Bobby Discover Thailand

Aya & Bobby Discover Thailand

Available in paperback and for Kindle. “On this adventure to Thailand, Aya and Bobby discover the bustling city of Bangkok travelling by Tuk Tuk and long-tail boat. They also spend time on one of the gorgeous beaches of Thailand and enjoy the activities and sites with ice cream, shark spotting and making new friends.”

6. All About Thailand

All About Thailand

Stories, songs, crafts and games for kids. A fun introduction to Thailand for kids. Part children’s encyclopedia, part activity book, this hardcover book is a wonderful and engaging way to introduce children to future Thailand travel. 2017 Creative Child Magazine Book of the Year Award Winner. Ages 8-12.

7. Thai Children’s Favorite Stories

Thai Children’s Favorite Stories

Thai Children’s Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales. “The nine charming stories in this book feature clever princesses, warring gods and goddesses, foolish kings, and wily tigers, against a backdrop of traditional Thai village life. They deal with the universal values that parents everywhere want to teach their children, such as good versus evil, right versus wrong, and wisdom versus foolishness.” Available in hardback and for Kindle. Ideal for grade levels: 1 – 5 or ages 6-10.

8. Mela and the Elephant

Mela and the Elephant

2019 Colorado Book Award Finalist and recognized in The 50 Best Multicultural Picture Books of 2018. Ideal for kids aged 3+.

9. B is for Bangkok

B is for Bangkok

A child’s day in Bangkok: Explore a typical day of a child living in Bangkok. Bilingual English/Thai book for children ages 5-8.

10. How Airports Work

How Airports Work

A sweet new release from Lonely Planet Kids, How Airports Work is ideal for children aged 2-8. The book takes children inside a maintenance hangar, through the terminal, inside an airplane and up to the control tower.

11. Travel for Kids: Thailand

Travel for Kids: Thailand

“Whether preparing for a vacation, or simply wanting to learn about Thai, this book gives you all you need to know, fun places to visit, tasty food to try, and fun, interactive pop quizzes throughout.” Available in paperback and for Kindle.

12. Toy is from Thailand

Toy is from Thailand

A delightful way to introduce children to Thai culture – as described by ‘Toy’, a young boy of their age. Ages 4-12. Available in paperback.

13. Thai Picture Dictionary

Thai Picture Dictionary

“A fun and helpful resource for anyone interested in learning some Thai—whether you’re 5 or 100!”

14. The Umbrella Queen

The Umbrella Queen

A sweet and inspiring story set in the hills of Thailand, with beautiful illustrations. Available in hardback. Suitable for Kindergarten through Grade 3 or 4 to 8 years.

15. Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Hush! A Thai Lullaby

A Caldecott Honor Book: A lullaby bedtime story for young children set in a sleepy Thai village. Available in paperback. Suitable for preschool through age 5.

16. A Kid’s Guide to Thailand

A Kid’s Guide to Thailand

“An easy-to-read book jam-packed with colourful photographs, fun facts, charts and maps”. Ages 9-12.

17. Mystery of the Golden Temple: Thailand

Mystery of the Golden Temple: Thailand

Free with Audible trial. Winner of 2017’s Literary Classics Gold (Best Series – Young Reader) and a 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Winner (Best Chapter Book Series). If your child has an inner Nancy Drew, they’ll love this Thailand-based adventure. Ages 6-9. Available in Kindle and paperback.

18. Elephants of Thailand

Elephants of Thailand

“A true elephant rescue story, written especially for kids! A touching true story of Chang, a baby elephant and his adventures as he is rescued from captivity.” Age Level: 3 – 8.

19. Kids’ Travel Guide – Thailand

Kids’ Travel Guide – Thailand

The fun way to discover Thailand – especially for kids. “No matter where you visit in Thailand – kids enjoy fascinating facts, fun activities, useful tips, quizzes and Leonardo (your child’s tour guide)!” Available in Kindle and paperback.

20. The Girl Who Wore Too Much: A Folktale

The Girl Who Wore Too Much: A Folktale from Thailand

A folktale from Thailand. “This legend from Thailand will teach readers the importance of caring, respect and responsibility.” Ages 5 – 8 years

21. Elephants of the Tsunami

Elephants of the Tsunami

“A fictional account based on a true story involving eight working elephants of Thailand, who, during the 2004 South Asian tsunami, rescued fifty or more people”. Ages 5-6.

22. First Sticker Book Airport

First Sticker Book Airport

An ideal sticker activity book to enjoy during travel. Ages 2-8.

23. Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek

Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek

“A delightful companion to ‘Hush! A Thai Lullaby'” (see above). Ages preschool through grade 2.

24. Am I Small?

Am I Small?

English-Thai bilingual children’s picture book. Am I small? Chan taw lek hrux? by Philipp Winterberg, available in Kindle and paperback. Ideal for Grade Levels: 1 – 2.

Thailand colouring book

25. Thailand Escape

Thailand Escape

A detailed colouring book featuring thirty illustrations with five fold-out posters. “[Discover] all the hidden attractions Thailand has to offer. With unique attractions such as cheeky monkeys, religious relics and awe-inspiring flowers, you’ll want to colour this book from front to back.”

Children’s Books about Thailand

Whether you’re planning a family trip to Thailand or want to online-window-shop for some wonderful books and kids’ games, you’ll find my favourites right here:

• Hotels: Where to Stay on Koh Samui with Kids?
• My favourites: Kids’ stuff for Thailand
• Books: The Best Novels about Thailand

P.S. You can find every tip for Thailand family travel in the archive, or subscribe by email and get all the details straight to your inbox. Enjoy!

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• • Thailand 101

25 Favourite Children’s Books about Thailand

• Alex Hammond
• May 19, 2022