Goodbye, Hello: A Going Home Travel Adventure

PreS-Gr 1–This cheerful picture book shows the youngest readers what it’s like to travel long distances. The main character starts at Grandma and Grandpa’s house with Mom and baby, saying goodbye and getting in a taxi. At the airport, there are lots of people and many things to notice, like the airport scanners, the ticket agents, and the bag handlers. Once on the plane, there are different things to do like drawing, eating, and sleeping. Clearing customs is demonstrated with lots of sleepy passengers, and then it’s on to the next plane ride before finally meeting Mama at her military boat. The artwork is serenely and realistically rendered with details for children to point at and discuss. Many different kinds of families are shown throughout, and the family that is subsequently reunited has two moms. This is a great primer on facets of travel for children. The simple rhyming text and brightly colored illustrations comfortably introduce key vocabulary and jobs in transportation.