I live in sunny Southern California, and I love sharing its beaches, mountains, deserts and redwood forests with young readers. Whether you live here or are planning a family trip, these picture books are a great way to explore the Golden State.
1. Capy in California: Little Moments in a Big World
written and illustrated by Helen H. Wu; CapyFun, coming 2027
Join Capy on a road trip from San Diego to Big Sur, Yosemite and the redwoods. A full-color capybara gift book coming in 2027.
2. My Papi Has a Motorcycle
by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña; Kokila, 2019
Daisy rides on the back of her papi’s motorcycle through their hometown of Corona, California, past taquerias, citrus groves and friendly neighbors. It is a joyful love letter to a dad, to a Latino community and to a city that is changing.
3. Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist
by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki; Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019
Young Tyrus Wong comes through Angel Island under a false name, grows up in Los Angeles and becomes the artist whose paintings shaped Disney’s Bambi. This beautifully illustrated biography is a great way to talk about immigration, perseverance and California history.
4. Redwoods
by Jason Chin; Roaring Brook Press, 2009
A boy opens a book about redwoods on a New York subway and suddenly finds himself in a towering California forest. Facts about the world’s tallest trees come wrapped in an imaginative adventure that curious kids will want to read again and again.
5. Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation
by Duncan Tonatiuh; Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2014
Sylvia Mendez is turned away from a whites-only school in Orange County, and her family takes the fight to court and wins, years before Brown v. Board of Education. The bold, folk-art-style pictures make this important chapter of California civil rights history easy for kids to follow.
6. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Yuyi Morales; Harcourt, 2003
After his family loses their Arizona farm, young Cesar Chavez works in California’s fields and grows up to lead a peaceful march for farmworkers’ rights. Yuyi Morales’s glowing paintings help children understand courage, fairness and nonviolent change.
7. The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks
by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein; Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir slip away to camp in the wilds of Yosemite, and their talks around the fire help inspire America’s national parks. This lively true story is a perfect read before a family trip to the Sierra.
8. This Is San Francisco: A Children’s Classic
by Miroslav Sasek; Universe (Rizzoli), 1962
Retro, witty illustrations take readers on a tour of San Francisco’s cable cars, Chinatown, Golden Gate Bridge and hilly streets. This mid-century classic, now back in print, makes a charming keepsake for little travelers and Bay Area families.
Planning a trip? Bring one of these books along and look for the places you read about.
More picture book lists
- 16 Best Children’s Books About Nature
- Capybara Books for Kids and Grown-Ups: The CapyFun Reading List
- 14 Best Children’s Books About Cultures Around the World
- Capybara Books for Kids: Stories and Fun Facts
Browse all of Helen’s picture book lists, or see all of Helen’s books.
