Travel

Toot and Puddle, two pigs, are best friends with different interests. When Toot sets off to see the world, Puddle prefers to stay home. Through the postcards Toot sends from Egypt, Spain, Antarctica, and other faraway places, Puddle learns about his friend’s travels. But Puddle has his own fun at home — ice skating, making maple syrup, and swimming in the pond. When Toot decides to return home, the friends celebrate being together again.

Ibn Battuta, a young Moroccan, was like other Muslims of the 14th century. He was a scholar who could recite the Koran, and he dreamed of a pilgrimage, or “hajj,” to Mecca. But unlike other Muslims and many other men, he made a 75,000-mile journey from Tangiers to China. During 29 years of traveling, Ibn Battuta saw amazing sights and learned a lot about the world. His travel sayings reflect more than places on a map. Ibn Battuta believed, “Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

Vendela is fascinated by Venice, a “fairy tale city” where streets are canals, and cars are boats. On her trip there with her father, she wants to see everything, especially the gilded horses at St. Mark’s Church. Readers will learn about the arts, crafts, food, history, and culture of this fascinating city. Illustrated with paintings and photographs, Vendela in Venice is a young girl’s story, a history book, and a travel guide!