Travel with Kids: England; Travel with Kids: London

Although traveling with kids offers challenges (which may include “...whining, crying, tantrums, complaining....being cold, hot, tired, hungry, thirsty, can't find favorite toy, mischievous behavior, and plotting against parents”), the family-oriented Travel with Kids series featuring the Roberts family (mom, dad, two boys) makes clear that even taking big trips with children can be rewarding and fun, especially with some advance planning, a bit of patience, and a sense of humor. Mixing in bite-size history lessons along the way, Travel with Kids: England finds the Roberts' visiting several kid-friendly attractions, including ancient castles, Stonehenge, the Roman baths in Bath (the algae rules out any tub time there), aquariums, the Beatrix Potter museum, and more. Travel with Kids: London switches gears from the rural countryside to the hustle and bustle of one of the world's major metropolises, with attractions including Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, the Tate Museum, and the London Eye. The Roberts family travels by plane, train, bus, boat, and the tube for their U.K. visit, and both programs include many travel-related tips (such as timing a transatlantic flight to ensure the kids arrive rested), while also reminding parents that a big part of traveling with kids involves allowing for a flexible schedule (some of the most memorable experiences come out of spontaneous detours). Sure to be appreciated by traveling families (both armchair and actual), these two titles are highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)