fun things to do with kids in germany - family travel   Travel for Kids
   
     
   

Germany

christmas germany

German culture is easily familiar to children – many best-loved fairy tales, food (hamburgers and hot dogs), and family traditions such as candles on a birthday cake and the Christmas tree come from Germany. People have lived in Germany since before Roman times, but for centuries it was a group of separate mini-kingdoms. Traveling through Germany with kids, enjoy the distinct character of each region.

  Berlin
    Frankfurt
Southeast
  Bavaria
 
Munich
 
Neuschwanstein Castle
Southwest
  Rhineland
 
Rhine Valley
Northwest
  Lower Saxony
 
Fairy Tale Road
Northeast
  Brandenburg and Saxony
    Rugen
kids books germany
     
The Elves and the Shoemaker germany kids fairy tales  
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Brothers Grimm, Jim LaMarche

Fresh, magical re-telling of the Grimm's classic, a poor shoemaker has only enough leather for one pair of shoes, but overnight, the shoes are beautifully made. Who are the mysterious cobblers – tiny elves. Such gorgeous illustrations, you'll want a pair of elf-made shoes. (Picture book)

 

     

Who Were The Brothers Grimm?
Avery Reed, John O'Brien

Delightful illustrated biography of those talented brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Trained as lawyers, they did what they loved best – collecting German fairy tales. (Chapter book)

 

 
who were the brothers grimm
     
what was the berlin wall  

Illustrated history of Berlin, from capital of Germany in World War II, to the Berlin blockade, city divided into East and West in 1961, historic escapes, city reunited Nov. 9, 1989, plus photos and timeline. Good for older kids. (Chapter book)

 

     
Wall
Tom Clohosy Cole

When the Berlin Wall goes up, a family is divided – father in the West, mother and children in East Berlin. The boy imagines how they could escape, and he starts to dig. (Picture book)

Also, chapter book Escape from West Berlin.

 

 
wall
     
a night divided  
A Night Divided
Jennifer A. Nielsen

Summer 1961. Gerta's family lives in East Berlin - overnight, when the wall goes up, her family is separated. Four years later, Gerta spots her brother and father on the other side of the wall in West Berlin, and begins a dangerous plan to escape. An exciting novel that brings to life a divided city. (Chapter book)

 

     
Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot
Margot Theis Raven, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

In 1948, West Berlin was blockaded for almost an entire year, and supplies to the city were flown in. This is the true story of a little girl, and the pilot who dropped something very special from the skies to the children of Berlin. (Picture book)

 

 
Merecedes and the Chocolate Pilot kids books world war ii berlin
     
becoming bach  
Becoming Bach
Tom Leonard

Sparkling story of Johan Sebastian Bach, musician and composer who came from a family of musicians. Bach sang and played multiple instruments, but he always saw shimmering patterns of music, that turned into glorious sounds. Magical illustrations!
(Picture book)

 

     
Johann Sebastian Bach
Mike Venezia

Biography of Johann Sebastian Bach a home-grown German composer. He wrote his music, had 20 children, and lived all his entire life in Germany. (Picture book)

 

 
johann sebastian bach
     
alexander von humboldt  
Alexander von Humboldt
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Sally Agar

As a kid growing up in 19th century Prussia, Alexander von Humboldt want to learn about nature – from stars in the sky to fireflies in his garden. He grew up to become world-famous scientist and explorer, traveling through jungles of the Amazon, climbing and studying volcanic peaks in the Andes. He was first scientist to describe how mountains, rivers, forests, animals, plants are connected in one ecosystem on earth. (Picture book)

Also, for older kids: The Incredible Yet True Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt

 

     

Neuschwanstein has the appearance of a "fairy tale" castle, but it was built by King Ludwig in the 19th century. Overview and illustrations of rooms in the castle – royal residence, towers, courtyards, throne room, singer's hall, rainbow cave. (Picture book)

 

 
king and his castle neuschwanstein
     
mishe mashi go to germany  
Mishi and Mashi Go to Germany
Mary George Lisa Sacchi

Take a trip around Germany with Mishi and Mashi – visit Berlin Wall, Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Cologne cathedral and Lindt chocolate factory, Frankfurt Zoo, Neuschwanstein Castle, and enjoy treats and snacks – gingerbread, pretzels, wurst, Black Forest cake and red berry pudding. (Picture book)

 

     
This is Munich
M. Sasek

Take a trip through Munich old and new, ancient city gates, St. Peter's Church, the oldest church in Munich, walk 10 miles to look at everything in the Deutsches Museum, Oktoberfest, art museums, pretzels and sausages, the English Garden, and more. Whimsical illustrations, fun facts, this is a classic. (Picture book)

 

 
This is Munich
     
germany a book of opposites  

This Barvarian village is near.
This Bavarian village is far.
These Black Forest pine trees are the same.
These Black forest pine trees are different.

Discover Germany – hikers at the top and bottom of the Alps, cuckoo clocks quiet and loud, Bavarian treats eaten and gone. (Board book)

 

travel for kids | germany
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