Books to keep 3-5yos engaged on long journey

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Going on a very travel-heavy holiday with DC who are 3 and 5. Have to travel light so any books we take have to really earn their keep on some long journeys (flights and trains).

Looking for some longer books that will keep them engaged, or that stand up to lots repeat reading or are visually detailed to prompt discussion/I-spy games etc.

We’ve got You Choose and Where’s Wally which tick the last box, but would like something new. Recently read ’The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me’ which was a good longer story that the 5yo loved and the 3yo managed to mostly stay engaged with - probably that was at the upper limit of words-vs-pictures he can handle. I like the Little Red Train series for the rich illustrations which are good for elaborating on the stories.

New suggestions really welcome - anything to stop us relying on hours of iPad time!

We use a lot of sticker/ activity books for long journeys. Also (depending on how you're travelling) we do lots of first person to see 10 red cars, sheep cows etc etc won't work if you're going on a plane

My friend wraps little presents up and presents them as and when each child gets bored.
I also got this for long journeys LCD Digital 12'' Drawing Tablet

www.groupon.co.uk/deals/gg-cm-lcd-digital-drawing-tablet-12-inch?utm_source=&utm_campaign=UserReferral_ma

My son loves it

Will definitely take some sticker books etc and other toys (I’ve bought a bag of secondhand Lego, play dough, wikki sticks etc). We’ve got 30-40 hours of travel to contend with though and they’re both big on books.

Has anyone used a kindle for picture books?

There is a little company called My Busy Bots and they make great little travel bags which we use a lot for long haul flying.
I also buy 5-in-1 stories. There are some good Paddington sets.
I also pack a little bit of playdough and a few animal creatures.
Water painting sets. Crayola also makes mess free painting sets.
Magnatiles are also good for travel.
I always have loads of sticker books and wipe clean books.
I pack some small cars and emergency vehicles in a zip lock.
In another one I pack some of cutting fruit toys you get.

Both of mine are big on books but we need to rotate as well.
The Harry and the Dinosaurs also have a set of several books in one.
Peppa Pig sets are always a favourite though they are quite dire.
There are two American series my kids like (we lived in the US when they were v small)- Frog and Toad and Charlie and Mouse and they have multiple little chapters with illustrations.
Have you seen the Famous Five short stories? My 3 year old loves those.

Maze book www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=978528
Fingerprint book www.waterstones.com/book/fingerprint-activities-under-the-sea/fiona-watt/candice-whatmore/9781474953597
What Do People Do All Day? www.waterstones.com/book/what-do-people-do-all-day/richard-scarry/9780007353699
Mixed Up Fairy Tales by Hilary Robinson
Would You Rather? by John Burningham
What's in the Witch's Kitchen? by Nick Sharratt

Just the kind of suggestions I was looking for ricekrispie - thank you! We’ve got a few Richard Scarry books and they’re great for the kind of detailed pictures that have lots to talk about - was already thinking of adding to our collection, we don’t have that one. The maze and fingerprint books look really interesting.