Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Ariana Svenson
Books are a truly wonderful way to teach children about the world, and here we have our favorite Peruvian children’s books to share with you.
Since I became a mother, I have also been keen to teach my children about Peru, especially as my eldest daughter was born in this fascinating country. We have personally purchased many of these Peru books for kids and got others out from the local library. I believe that these are some of the very best children’s books set in South America – yes, I’ve been researching!
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Why Create a Collection of Peruvian Children’s Books?
We have been asked a few times, “What are the best Peruvian children’s books to prepare my kids for a trip to Peru?” and so here are our answers!
For us, one of the best ways to prepare our children for a trip is by reading books about the country and its culture! We find that knowing a little about culture also helps children adapt more quickly to what they are seeing.
If you are planning a family trip to Peru, take a look at our extremely comprehensive guide to visiting Peru with kids and how to plan a Peru family holiday (UK and Aus) / Peru family Vacation (US).
Peruvian Children’s Literature
Peruvian children’s literature includes some of my all-time favorite kids’ books. These stories gently introduce children to Peru’s social and cultural world, helping them understand more about the country before they even set foot there.
What I especially love is how many of these books are bilingual, written in both Spanish and English. They’re a wonderful way to introduce kids to another language while sparking their curiosity about life in Peru.
Many world-famous Peruvian writers have also turned their hand to children’s literature. If you have a favorite Peruvian author, make sure you do a quick search to see if they’ve written any kids’ books. You can read about our top recommended books about Peru for adults here.
Even if a country is not on your immediate travel plans, reading about places is a fantastic way to educate your children about the wonders of the world. We love reading children’s books set in different countries. We are very interested in the idea of #worldschooling and learning about kids in other countries.
17 Incredible Peruvian Children’s Books for All Ages
Looking for the best Peruvian children’s books to inspire young readers? This handpicked list includes beautiful picture books, bilingual stories, and classic tales that bring Peru’s landscapes, legends, and people to life. You’ll find wonderful reads here for every age, from toddlers to teens. For ease, we’ve grouped books by age.
Best Children’s Books about Peru (3-6) – Picture Books and Short Stories
These Peruvian books are for younger children – approximately 3 to 6 years old. They include several of the best rainforest books for children and preschoolers.
1. María had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita by Angela Dominguez
A twist on the popular children’s rhyme ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ is about Maria and her little llama. With text in Spanish and English, this book gives a fresh, multicultural perspective to a popular children’s story, with some really cute illustrations.
The familiar rhyming elements make this book appealing to children, and the bilingual nature of the book is not only unique but educational. This is one of the best Peruvian books for children.
Get your copy of Maria Had A Little Llama here.
2. Up and Down The Andes By Laurie Krebs And Aurelia Fronty
This is a simple but strong short story of children who travel from all parts of Peru to participate in the festival of the Sun God that takes place in the city of Cusco.
Told in short sentences that rhyme, this book is great for children as young as 3 years old! Readers will gobble up the beautiful illustrations that stay true to the Andean region. This is a Peruvian book we have read many times to our children. Up And Down The Andes is a must-read Peru book for kids.
Get your copy of Up And Down The Andes here
3. The Llama’s Secret: A Peruvian Legend By Argentina Palacios Ziegler
The Llama’s Secret tells of a Peruvian legend that is similar to that of Noah’s ark. A llama warns of a great flood and encourages its owner and many animals to go to a high mountain for safety. This is a beautiful children’s story about Peru, as well as one with a moral theme.
Get your copy of The Llama’s Secret here
4. Kusikiy a Child From Taquile, Peru By Author And Illustrator Mercedes Cecilia
This Peruvian children’s story is a charming and sweet tale about a young boy who wishes to help his community when they are faced with a problem. With beautiful illustrations, we learn about the culture and traditions of Peru. Every page of text has a full page of illustrations to really help draw younger readers in.
An excellent book to help elementary school-age children learn about climate change and how an idea just might help solve the problem. We really love this book. Kusiky A Child From Taquile, Peru is one of the best Peru books for children out there!
Get your copy of Kusiky, A Child From Taquile here
5. VÁMONOS: Lima By
This is a fantastic book from the VÁMONOS series that teaches your littles about Lima, Peru’s capital. Explore Lima with vibrant illustrations as well as English and Spanish sentences.
This is great if you are raising a bilingual child or just simply trying to introduce the Spanish language to them. The fantastic pictures in VÁMONOS: Lima will keep the little ones entertained.
The only criticism is that the book does not specifically stay on the topic of Lima. It also introduces them to other Peruvian children’s book topics like Machu Picchu and food in Peru. Overall, it is a fantastic Peru book for kids.
Get your copy of VÁMONOS: Lima here
6. Benita and the Night Creatures by Mariana Llanos
This story brings Peruvian folklore to life in the most delightful way. Benita and the Night Creatures follows a curious little girl who adores books so much so that when the creepy, whistling Tunche, the scary Supay, and other spooky creatures from Andean legends turn up at her window, she’s far too engrossed in her reading to be scared.
Calm, clever, and quietly courageous, Benita loves her books and welcomes these “monsters” into her world of stories, meeting their creatures’ disbelief with kindness and curiosity. Instead of fleeing, she proves that imagination can be far more powerful than fear.
Author Mariana Llanos, who grew up in Peru, introduces young readers to traditional folk figures in a way that’s playful rather than frightening. If your kids love slightly spooky stories, this is one for them.
Get your copy of Benita and the Night Creatures here
Best Peru Books for Kids – School-Aged
By school-aged children, we loosely mean from aged 5-10. This list includes several of the best rainforest books for children .
7. The Rainforest Grew All Around By Susan Mitchell And Connie McLellan
The Rainforest Grew All Around is a cumulative rhyme that is adapted from the song, “The Green Grass Grows All Around,” which describes the rainforest and its inhabitants, both wildlife and plants living in the canopy.
This is an excellent beginner’s science book and is recommended for young readers aged 5-9. It provides a great opportunity for children to learn about the rainforest, the animals that live there, and how plants and trees grow from seeds. Without a doubt, one of the best rainforest books for children.
The lyrical text makes this book an easy read and truly helps a child engage due to its repetitive manner. The illustrations are captivating and colorful. The main text is suitable for younger children, but the sidebar details can be used by adults for older kids or siblings who are reading along.
Get your copy of The Rainforest Grew All Around here
8. Molly Goes to Peru (the Magic Suitcase series)
Molly and her brother Michael are endlessly curious about the world, and through the Magic Suitcase series, they are deliciously transported to different places in the world.
Beautifully illustrated and well researched, I really liked the way the information about Peru was presented, and for someone who has spent 10 years in Peru, I found it accurate!
We loved the Peru Magic Suitcase book so much that we subsequently bought the Molly Goes to Thailand book to help put into context what our kids experienced while in Thailand.
Get your copy of Peru Magic Suitcase here
9. Lost City: Discovery of Machu Picchu By Ted Lewin
Informative, yet visually stunning, this picture book follows Hiram Bingham’s journey to rediscover Machu Picchu. It focuses only on this adventure, and not on the nearby cities that he discovered at the same time.
Lewin’s watercolor illustrations of Cusco, Urubamba, and Machu Picchu bring beauty and life to every page in a way that the whole family can enjoy. Although meant to help younger children in grades 1-3 learn more about the ruins and Hiram Bingham’s rediscovery, it’s also a great read for any family planning a trip to Peru.
Lost City is definitely recommended if you are taking your younger kids to Machu Picchu. Yes, we did it – take a look at our tips at Best Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu with Kids.
Get your copy of Lost City: Discovery of Machu Picchu here.
10. If You Were Me and Lived In…Peru: A Child’s Introduction To Cultures Around the World by Carole P. Roman
This is another installment in Carole P. Roman’s travel series, which aims to educate children about different cultures and places around the world in a fun and interesting way. Think of Lonely Planet for children with more of a focus on cultural diversity and the ties that bind us all together as humans. Definitely a great series for getting children interested in other cultures.
If You Were Me And Lived In..Peru does a fantastic job of getting kids interested in learning about the culture, customs, and language of Peru. It is a great read in general, but especially before traveling to Peru.
Get your copy of If You Were Me And Lived In..Peru here
11. Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello by Monica Brown
This bilingual picture book biography is a fantastic introduction to one of Peru’s most famous historical figures. The story is told in lyrics and follows a curious boy from the Andean highlands who grows into a top researcher who finds clues from carvings, textiles, and ancient burial sites to help share the story of some of Peru’s earliest inhabitants.
The pages are full of beautiful images of the discoveries at Chavín de Huántar and the Paracas textiles.
Get your copy of Peruvian Archaeologist here
Best Books on Peru, South America for Older Children (8-12)
For competent readers, these books are a good introduction to Peru, in a fictional way. Targeted for children aged 8-12.
12. Secret of the Andes By Ann Nolan Clark
Simply put, The Secret Of The Andes is an excellent choice for young readers who are traveling to Peru. It is very informative and can help them prepare for a trip through its descriptions of the culture.
This book is incredibly well written, very descriptive, and you find yourself walking along with the young Incan boy on his adventures to find a family and also the secrets of his Inca ancestors.
Get your copy of Secret of the Andes here
13. The Ugly One By Leanne Statland Ellis
This is a teen coming-of-age book set in Peru and talks about village life in Inca times. It is the tale of Micay, a young Incan girl whose face is badly scarred. A boy in her village calls her Millay, The Ugly One, and she feels embarrassed by her face. After she becomes the student of her village’s shaman, her self-confidence begins to improve, and she finds her voice and discovers who she really is.
Get your copy of The Ugly One here
14. Where is Machu Picchu? By Megan Stine
Part of the Where Is? series, this is an introductory non-fiction book about Machu Picchu, Peru, and its people, and its re-discoverer (Hiram Bingham). This is a great younger readers on Machu Picchu and provides enough information to give context without overwhelming the child.
There are good illustrations that support the text and make it an easy-to-digest introduction to Machu Picchu. This is the best Machu Picchu book for older kids.
Get your copy of Where Is Machu Picchu here.
15. Peruvian Children’s Tales: Stories from the Andes by Angella De La Vega
This beautiful collection of poetic short stories will take kids’ imagination to the Peruvian Andes, where they can learn about local life and legends. With each tale, they’ll learn about the different landscapes, Peru’s indigenous cultures, and the stunning mountain villages where some children grow up.
What makes this book extra special is how it shares the voices of the Andes in a way that children can easily connect with. It celebrates family, community, and respect for nature, while also introducing them to folklore and moral lessons.
Get your copy of Peruvian Children’s Tales here
16. Horrible Histories: The Incredible Incas By Terry Deary
This is a funny and interesting book series called Horrible Histories. It details the history and achievements of many different cultures while also highlighting the weird, gross, or quirky customs and happenings of each particular culture. Horrible Histories: The Incredible Incas is an interesting way to get children engaged and interested in the Inca culture.
These books really make history fun to learn while pointing out “interesting” facts and their backstories, like the fact that llamas got to drink beer and wear earrings.
Get your copy of The Incredible Incas here
17. Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
This deeply moving novel follows a Peruvian-American teen named Verónica who has hip dysplasia as she juggles family expectations, sense of belonging, and her desire for freedom. She dreams of joining a mermaid show at a Florida theme park, but her conservative childhood and medical struggles hold her back. The story really captures the struggles of growing up between cultures.
Get your copy of Breathe and Count Back from Ten here
Books About Peru for Parents
We’ve also written a guide to the best books about Peru for parents to enjoy. You can read our post here. If you are looking for the Best Machu Picchu or Peru travel books, then please refer to Best Books About Machu Picchu and Peru Travel.
The Verdict – Best Peru Books for Kids
Peru is a country that is near and dear to our hearts, and it has brought us great pleasure to create this list of Peruvian Children’s books. Peru with children is a great country to visit – so, if you are planning a Peru family vacation or just simply want to read children’s books set in other countries, we hope you find our recommendations useful.
Looking for Peru Family Travel Advice?
Peru is one of the world’s best countries to visit with kids. We’ve written many, many guides about visiting as a family.
Planning a trip to Machu Picchu? Here is our list of tried and tested tips for Visiting Machu Picchu with kids and Things to do in Lima with kids. Where should you stay in Machu Picchu? We have a fantastic list of Machu Picchu hotels, which we have stayed in ourselves. Take a look at the Best Family Hotels in Machu Picchu
Should you also wish to trek with toddlers, we can provide great advice having ‘been there and done that’ with Trekking with Toddlers in the Andes and The Short Inca Trail with Baby!
We always travel with insurance, and it has saved us numerous times. World Nomads has specially designed travel insurance for families!
Plan The Ultimate Peru Trip!
There are so many things to think about when planning a trip to Peru; it can feel overwhelming at first, but that’s where Apus Peru comes in. We specialize in unique, eco-friendly adventures with local guides across the Andean region. We design journeys that connect you with the REAL Peru – its people, its culture, and its hidden gems.
Yes – I am a part owner of Apus Peru, but this means that I have also used my unique experiences traveling to Peru with children to create the best itineraries possible.
Whether you want to visit remote communities (sustainably) and learn about the traditional way of life, visit Machu Picchu, or even stay with a local family, Apus Peru is a great go-to for a Peru family tour.
From a one-day tour, which would make a great add-on to your trip, to airport transfers, family-friendly treks, and even our comprehensive 12 day Peru tour designed for families (the best Peru tour for families out there), our team will make your planning easy.
Tours are designed for small groups of 2 to 12 people and generally suit families with children aged 8 and up. That said, we know every child is different. The team will work with you to find what is best for the whole family.
Contact Apus Peru today to get your trip planning off to an incredible start >>>
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Thank you for this! We’re heading to Peru next summer at the end of our ‘big trip’ and I’m always on the look out for great books for the kids! This list is fantastic!!
I’m so glad that it will be helpful! Keep your eye out for our Great Books for Parents list too… I’ve got it mostly written! And if you need anything to help with your trip to Peru, I’d be glad to help. I’ve still got a couple more posts to do, including Cusco for kids and Arequipa for kids.
I love this! Books for kids and visiting new places go hand in hand. I think its a wonderful way for kids to better understand and appreciate the place they are visiting.
Yes absolutely agree. And a great way to get the enthusiasm and learning going before the trip.
These are great selections. WE are planning a trip to Peru soon so this is perfect. My wife just finished reading “Turn Right at Machu Pichu” So the first book you mentioned would be a perfect version for out little ones.
Glad you liked the list… I have another one which is Peru for parents, but i haven’t got to publish it yet. It doesn’t include “Turn Right at Machu Picchu” though… which incidentally I loved (the trek he takes is my favourite route.) She may also enjoy The White Rock by Hugh Thompson, which is an excellent overview of the region. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need specifics prior to your trip!
I think books are a great way to get kids engaged with travel! I had no idea that there were so many kids books about Peru #fearessfamtrav
I guess when you live in a country you make sure you get every single book published about it!!!
This is a great idea. I hadn’t thought about reading books about forthcoming destinations to our son but think it’s such a good idea! I’m off to see what I can find about destinations we’re heading to later in the year! #fearlessfamtrav
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[…] One good idea is to bring books about the countries you are traveling to. For instance, if traveling to Peru, here are some great book ideas at Best Books About Peru For Children. […]