Books On the Go: How Reading Fits into Travel

Scholastic Kid Reporter Asher Freije interviews Dr. Karsten Brensing while on one of his exhibitions.

As summer break approaches, many kids may find themselves stuck in the car or on a plane for a few hours. To pass the time, some may scroll on their iPads and phones, take a nap or play a game. For many, however, the best way to pass the time is by opening a good book.  

Travel Time is Reading Time

For kids on the move, reading is a great way to make a long trip feel shorter. Books can offer an alternative to boredom or screens. Not only do books help pass the time, but reading has many benefits including helping people learn more about themselves and the world around them.

Reading builds knowledge and sparks curiosity. The knowledge and information gained through reading benefits kids in all aspects of their lives. A commitment to literacy “positively impacts students’ future academic success as well as their long-term economic and social growth … reading makes us healthier–physically and mentally,” (Scholastic Reading for Life). 

Learning through Books – Anywhere, Anytime!

Many educators and students agree that reading is a powerful way to learn. Some readers even discover that books connect them to people from the past in surprising ways.  “I love reading older books and classics; they can be surprising. You would be surprised how much we relate with people [from] 100 years ago,” Ms. Sarah Bledsoe, a former public high school reading specialist with a master’s in education, said.

Students also notice how books help them grow their knowledge. Emery, age 14, said, “I think I should read more because you can learn a lot from books.” Emery loves building and engineering. Reading provides her an opportunity to learn more about the projects she loves.

Reading is not limited to classrooms, libraries or even the land. Dr. Karsten Brensing is an author and marine biologist, located in a very remote area of the world. For the last several years, he has lived full time on a catamaran (watercraft), currently located in the San Blas Islands of Panama. He is able to access online resources for reading and research even from the middle of the ocean!

When Dr. Brensing travels, he uses the opportunity to research and study for his lectures. “So much information is written, and if you do not read, you miss out on a lot of important information,” Dr. Brensing said. 

Scholastic Kid Reporter Asher Freije reports on why reading is one of the best travel pastimes.

Listening Counts 

Audiobooks and podcasts are a great source of information when you are on the road. Harper, age 17, said, “I listen to technology, biology, and history podcasts when I travel.” Dr. Greg Bledsoe, an international emergency medicine physician, says he uses audiobooks while traveling for work to learn about the history of the places he is traveling to. Many people enjoy the accessibility of listening to a book when they are on the go and might not be able to carry a print book.

While books are a great companion for your travels, you do not have to leave your surroundings to appreciate how reading can transport you somewhere else. From being in the shoes of someone living on the other side of the world to fighting off aliens in another galaxy, books can take you anywhere.