How Wander Kid Books Was Born: From Globe-Trotting to Storytelling
Passport? Check. Snacks? Check. The perfect souvenir children’s book about Paris in English, acquired in Paris? Now that’s a lot harder to find than we expected.
As expat parents and travel lovers, we’ve spent plenty of time wandering through bookstores, souvenir shops, and museum gift shops across Europe, only to walk out with something the kids would break in a hot second. The books were either in French (beautiful, but unreadable for our kids), too generic (think: Eiffel Tower coloring book), or didn’t quite capture the spirit and wonder of actually traveling as a family.
So we asked ourselves...
What if there were beautiful, character-driven picture books, designed for English-speaking kids, about the places they’re visiting?
And just like that, the idea for Wander Kid Books was born.
The Problem We Saw
Traveling with kids is magical. It’s also messy, exhausting, and unforgettable. Kids remember moments: Chasing pigeons across a plaza, spotting a dog on a café terrace, riding a boat under a sparkling Eiffel Tower.
And yet, most of the children’s books you find abroad feel disconnected from these real experiences. They’re either:
- In the local language (beautiful, but not readable to most tourists)
- Generic and mass-produced
- Not rooted in the actual culture or geography of the place
There was a clear gap in the market for books that were:
- Written in English
- Beautifully illustrated
- Culturally accurate
- Set in real places kids can visit and recognize
Who We Are
We're Kelley and Lizzy, co-founders, co-authors, former corporate colleagues, and long-time friends.
Between the two of us, we’ve lived in five countries and navigated everything from jet lag with toddlers to dog travel paperwork in foreign airports (honestly, the kids were easier!). We’re juggling full-time careers, family life, and big creative dreams. We're doing our best to make the world feel a little smaller (and more wonder-filled) for the next generation.
Kelley lives in France with her husband, two kids, a spotted pup, and a growing bucket list of travel destinations. With a background in business, accounting, and brand strategy, she brings structure, insight, and momentum to Wander Kid Books, while raising two little explorers who happily field-test every story.
Lizzy lives in the Netherlands and is the proud dog mom to Dakota (aka Koda IRL), the floppy-eared muse behind our books. With experience in creative direction, brand development, and global storytelling, she brings vision, character, and design intuition to the team, plus a seriously cute, furry muse in a hat.
Wander Kid Books is the place where our experiences, passions, and ideas converge.
The “What If?” That Sparked It All
Our “what if” moment was one of those late-night idea sparks that just wouldn't go away.
- What if we created a picture book set in Paris, but told from the perspective of an exploring dog?
- What if it could teach kids real facts and places without feeling like a textbook?
- What if we made it so beautiful that it could be both a keepsake and a story kids would want to read again and again?
- What if it became a collector series that traveled the globe?
So we got to work. We swapped countless voice notes. We researched for over a year. And we started dreaming big, about a whole world of stories yet to be told.
What Makes Wander Kid Books Different
There are plenty of children’s books out there. And there are plenty of travel guides. We’re not trying to be either of those.
We’re creating something in between, a hybrid that brings the heart of a picture book together with the magic of travel.
Here’s what makes us different:
- Real Places, Real Culture: Every story is rooted in real geography, history, and architecture, just told through the lens of a curious dog.
- Art You’ll Want to Keep: Our books are beautifully illustrated and designed to be keepsakes, not just one-time reads.
- Educational Without Feeling Like It: Kids learn facts naturally through rhyme, visuals, and storytelling.
- A Dog’s-Eye View: Our star pup, Koda, offers a fun, non-human lens that makes any place more accessible and joyful.
- For English-Speaking Families Around the World: Whether you're traveling to Paris or just dreaming about it from home, our books help kids connect with global destinations in a fun, meaningful way.
Our Mission
At the heart of it, Wander Kid Books exists to inspire kids to see the world, and to help families turn travel into stories they'll carry forever.
Whether you’re raising a little expat, planning your first big family trip, or simply want to introduce your child to the wonders of other cultures, our books are made for you.
We're here to help kids:
- Get excited and informed before a trip
- Recognize landmarks while traveling
- Revisit the magic after they’re home
And it all starts with Wandering Paris, our very first title.
Want to see how it’s coming together?
Read our Behind-the-Scenes Look at Creating the First Book (link to next blog)
Follow the Journey
We’re just getting started. New cities. New adventures. New ways to wander.
Follow us on Instagram: @wanderkidbooks
Sign up for our newsletter [here] to get sneak peeks, freebies, and launch updates
Stay tuned for pre-order info for Wandering Paris coming soon!
Let the adventures begin!