The 7 Best Children’s Books About Florida — Reviewed and Ranked

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: April 1, 2023
© iStock.com/Thomas De Wever

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If you live in Florida, you understand why tourists frequent your state. You may want to teach your child all about what makes you call this wonderful state home. If you don’t live in Florida and want to visit, children’s books about Florida are a great way to get your kiddos excited about your trip. They come in all shapes and sizes and have different approaches. Some are best for bedtime, others are for activities, and others are more focused on facts for older readers.

Many of these books are so interesting that it gets adults peering over their kids’ shoulders just to get a peek. Some books are best for classroom or homeschool settings and some are perfect for introducing the love of reading to your babies and toddlers. Bright colors and board book formats are best for the littlest ones. Older children can enjoy more complexity in the content and vocabulary. We include seven titles in the list below that appeal to a wide range of kiddos. Check them out!

  1. Florida: What's So Great About This State? (Arcadia Kids)
    • 32 pages.
    • Recommended for children ages 8 through 11.
    • Part of the Arcadia Kids series of books, with a focus on being fun and educational.
    Check Amazon
  2. The Grands Go - Oh No!: The Florida Panhandle
    • 31 pages.
    • Includes a trip journal page for its readers.
    • Part of The Grands Go series of three children's books.
    Check Amazon
  3. F Is for Florida
    • 20 pages.
    • Recommended for children ages 1 through 5.
    • A primer on the alphabet, inspired by Florida.
    Check Amazon
  4. Good Night Florida (Good Night Our World)
    • 20 pages.
    • Recommended by customers for children ages 1 through 3.
    • Part of the ongoing Good Night Our World book series, which comprises nearly 200 books and counting.
    Check Amazon
  5. My Color-Full Florida: A fun and interactive way to learn about Florida's history
    • 86 pages.
    • An interactive book that seeks to teach children about Florida and its history.
    • A collection of stories, with a black-and-white illustration for each.
    Check Amazon
  6. Let's Count Florida
    • 20 pages.
    • Recommended for children ages 1 through 6.
    • A primer on 1 through 10 that teaches colors as well.
    Check Amazon

Top Picks: The Best Children’s Books About Florida

#1 Best Overall: Florida: What’s So Great About This State? by Kate Boehm Jerome

The best overall children’s book about Florida is Florida: What’s So Great About This State? This book is available in paperback format and is suitable for children between eight and 11 years old. It contains bright cover art and vibrant, full-color images throughout. It highlights different landmarks and gets children acquainted with Florida’s geography.

This book is 32 pages long and is both educational and fun for kids. For instance, children learn what large herbivore lives in the rivers and shallow coastal areas of Florida. They also learn how the Florida Keys were formed.

Florida: What’s So Great About This State? is a good resource for basic information about Florida. Although the reading level is a little higher, customers have picked this book up for kids as young as four. One customer says his grandson used this book to prepare his state report in school.

However, another customer felt that the book’s organization was a little strange and too broad of a perspective for her liking.

Pros and Cons of Florida: What’s So Great About This State? by Kate Boehm Jerome

ProsCons
This book is available in paperback and is 32 pages long.One customer felt that the book’s organization was a little strange and too broad of a perspective.
It is suitable for children between eight and 11 years old.
The book is filled with full-color images.
It highlights different landmarks and gets children acquainted with Florida’s geography.
The book features basic information about Florida, like the state’s geography, different landmarks, how the Florida Keys were formed, and different animals in Florida.
Some customers read this book to children as young as four years old.
Best Overall
Florida: What's So Great About This State? (Arcadia Kids)
  • 32 pages.
  • Recommended for children ages 8 through 11.
  • Part of the Arcadia Kids series of books, with a focus on being fun and educational.
Check Amazon

2. Best Travel Guide: The Grands Go – Oh No!: The Florida Panhandle by A. N. Eason

The Grands Go – Oh No!: The Florida Panhandle is available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle formats. It’s a rhyming book that follows a family of pygmy goats who always enjoy a fun adventure. In the story, Grandnan and Grandbuck put together a trip to the Florida panhandle and take Billy and Lilly, their grandkids, along. Unfortunately, along the way, bad weather takes them off course. But, despite this, they enjoy their trip, allowing readers to discover the joy of unexpected yet delightful surprises that can arise from disrupted plans. The book also highlights the value of spending quality time together as a reason for embarking on trips.

The book contains colorful illustrations and a delightful blend of rhythm and rhyme. Additionally, it comes with a handy Trip Journal Page and a Trip Planning Website to aid in planning future excursions. It’s relatable for kids and sharing this with grandparents makes it a wonderful memory. However, some customers reported that this book may not be as entertaining for adults, but their children really liked it.

Pros and Cons of The Grands Go – Oh No!: The Florida Panhandle by A. N. Eason

ProsCons
This book is available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle formats.Some customers reported that as adults, they did not really like the story. However, their children really liked it.
The book teaches children how unexpected disruptions can lead to fun memories.
It also focuses on the value of spending time together.
The story is filled with colorful illustrations and a nice blend of rhythm and rhyme.
It also comes with a handy Trip Journal Page and a Trip Planning Website.
Sharing this with grandparents and their grandchildren can make it a wonderful memory.
Best Travel Guide
The Grands Go - Oh No!: The Florida Panhandle
  • 31 pages.
  • Includes a trip journal page for its readers.
  • Part of The Grands Go series of three children's books.
Check Amazon

3. Best for Learning the Alphabet: F Is for Florida: A Sunshine State ABC Primer by Christin Farley and Stephanie Miles

If you’re looking for a book for children between one and five years old, F Is for Florida: A Sunshine State ABC Primer is a great board book that helps them learn the alphabet while highlighting facts about Florida. For instance, children learn that A is for an amusement park, B is for Biscayne National Park, and C is for Cape Canaveral. You can take your kiddo on an alphabetized trip through the gorgeous sunshine state. Together, you’ll discover all aspects of Florida ranging from its plants and animals to the foods and places that make it the state we all know and love.

This book has cute and catchy illustrations that can get your children excited while they learn more about Florida. It inspires kids and their parents to eventually visit the state and explore all the places the book highlights.

Pros and Cons of F Is for Florida: A Sunshine State ABC Primer by Christin Farley and Stephanie Miles

ProsCons
This is a great board book for children between one and five years old.
This book helps children learn the alphabet while highlighting facts about Florida.
Readers can discover plants, animals, foods, places, and other fun things about Florida through this book.
It has cute and catchy illustrations.
It inspires kids and their parents to eventually visit the state and explore all the places the book highlights.
Best for Learning the Alphabet
F Is for Florida
  • 20 pages.
  • Recommended for children ages 1 through 5.
  • A primer on the alphabet, inspired by Florida.
Check Amazon

4. Best Bedtime Story: Good Night Florida by Adam Gamble (Author), Mark Jasper (Author), and Joe Veno (Illustrator)

Good Night Florida is a cute bedtime story that is available in a board book or you can also download it in the Kindle format. On the cover, you see two children looking out on the water of Florida, complete with a large ship, moon, and palm trees. The story highlights different parts of Florida like the Kennedy Space Center, Sanibel Island, and the Florida Keys.

On each page, your child can enjoy illustrations of all these different parts of Florida. Through this lovely bedtime story, children can explore the best that Florida has to offer from the wonders of the Everglades and Kennedy Space Center to the adrenaline rush of the Daytona 500. Children will also learn a bit about sea turtles, dolphins, swimming, snorkeling, and even oranges and alligators. It’s perfect for babies and up to kids who are four years old.

The colored illustrations in this board book are adorable and bright, and the sentences are short enough that toddlers remain entertained. This book is also part of a larger series, so you can certainly pick up several other books that teach children about something new every night.

Pros and Cons of Good Night Florida by Adam Gamble (Author), Mark Jasper (Author), and Joe Veno (Illustrator)

ProsCons
You can purchase this book as a board book or as a download for your Kindle.
The story highlights many places and icons of Florida.
It’s a great book for children aged four years and younger.
The adorable illustrations are colorful and bright.
The sentences are short enough to keep toddlers entertained.
This book is also part of a larger series, so you can pick up several other books that teach children about something new every night.
Best Bedtime Story
Good Night Florida (Good Night Our World)
  • 20 pages.
  • Recommended by customers for children ages 1 through 3.
  • Part of the ongoing Good Night Our World book series, which comprises nearly 200 books and counting.
Check Amazon

5. Best Interactive: My Color-Full Florida: A fun and interactive way to learn about Florida’s history by Linda Schilling Mitchell

My Color-Full Florida is an interactive book that offers kids a wonderful resource for learning all about Florida‘s incredible history. Each of the stories included in this book is conversational and interactive. In fact, you may find some interest in this book along with your young reader. With each story comes a black-and-white illustration. This is super fun for youngsters because they get a chance to color in those images and really make this book their own.

You can read this along with your kiddos or leave them to it! Whether your kids have a fascination with Florida, you’re planning a trip to Florida, or you’ve been a longtime resident, this book teaches them everything they need to know. It’s designed to be both educational and entertaining. It’s perfect for kids who sometimes get distracted during reading or who need some extra activities interspersed with reading to keep their focus.

This book is an interesting read not just for kids but for adults as well and really gives you a good look into what makes Florida so unique. It incorporates places of interest and has those wonderful line drawings with each entry. However, one or two customers felt that the images were not as high-quality as they would have liked.

Pros and Cons of My Color-Full Florida: A fun and interactive way to learn about Florida’s history by Linda Schilling Mitchell

ProsCons
This is an interactive book about Florida and its history.One or two customers felt that the images were not as high-quality as they would have liked.
Each of the stories included in this book is conversational and interactive.
Each story also has a black-and-white illustration for your child to color and make their own.
The book’s design is both educational and entertaining.
It’s perfect for kids who sometimes get distracted during reading or who need some extra activities interspersed with reading to keep their focus.
This book is an interesting read for both children and adults.
Best Interactive
My Color-Full Florida: A fun and interactive way to learn about Florida's history
  • 86 pages.
  • An interactive book that seeks to teach children about Florida and its history.
  • A collection of stories, with a black-and-white illustration for each.
Check Amazon

6. Best for Coloring: Florida: Kids Florida Vacation Theme Coloring Book by Busy Bee Coloring

Florida: Kids Florida Vacation Theme Coloring Book incorporates over 30 illustrations for your children to color and enjoy. Each of them is printed on an 8.5-inch by 11-inch single-sided page. The front cover of this book is really colorful with vibrant purples and blues and yellows. The book is also quite inexpensive and makes a great gift.

The pictures included in this coloring book are simple in their design yet still informative and fun for kids. For example, there is one of a toucan, one of a car packed with tourists, and one of a little boy lounging on a beach chair enjoying the warm Florida weather. It’s ideal for children in preschool and elementary school. It’s not gender-specific so anyone can enjoy this coloring book. The book is 68 pages in total.

Pros and Cons of Florida: Kids Florida Vacation Theme Coloring Book by Busy Bee Coloring

ProsCons
There are over 30 illustrations in this book for your children to color and enjoy.
Each illustration is printed on an 8.5-inch by 11-inch single-sided page.
The book is also quite inexpensive and makes a great gift.
The pictures included in this coloring book are simple in their design yet still informative and fun for kids.
This book is ideal for children in preschool and elementary school.
It’s not gender-specific so anyone can enjoy this coloring book.
This book has 68 pages in total.

7. Best for Learning Numbers: Let’s Count Florida by Stephanie Miles and Christin Farley

With Let’s Count Florida, your kids don’t just learn about Florida, they also get a chance to learn and practice their numbers. It’s always great when you can combine two lessons in one book! This title is available in board book format and offers kids a super colorful and dynamic read. They learn to count from one to 10 and also learn a couple of new colors along the way. This book takes your child on an adventure to discover all the different places, animals, and other aspects that make Florida so special.

The text is simple and the colors are vibrant. For example, the number two has a full two-page spread that has “two gray manatees floating face-to-face”. Notice the alliteration here (“floating” and “face”). This type of writing is engaging and fun to read out loud. The picture incorporates an ocean scene with a coral reef, a sea turtle, a starfish, an octopus, a jellyfish, and some colorful fish. The number three is also a full two-page spread of three black zebra long wings floating over a pond with a clear blue sky in the background.

This book is a fantastic purchase for toddlers. It’s really attractive because of the bright colors and super fun illustrations. It’s also educational and entertaining. This book is great for kids between one and six years old. For younger kiddos, of course, you can read the book to them and they can follow along. As they get older, they get a chance to practice on their own. They’re sure to have a wonderful time reviewing all the things that make Florida wonderful. Plus, they get the added bonus of feeling proud of themselves for having learned their numbers!

Pros and Cons of Let’s Count Florida by Stephanie Miles and Christin Farley

ProsCons
This book allows your children the chance to practice their numbers while learning about Florida.
It comes in a board book format.
The book helps children learn to count from one to 10 and also learn a couple of new colors along the way.
This book takes your child on an adventure to discover all the different places, animals, and other aspects that make Florida so special.
The text is simple and has examples of alliteration for a fun rhythm.
The illustrations are super cute with lots of fun colors and dynamic art.
This book is great for kids between one and six years old.
Best for Learning Numbers
Let's Count Florida
  • 20 pages.
  • Recommended for children ages 1 through 6.
  • A primer on 1 through 10 that teaches colors as well.
Check Amazon

Criteria: What to Look for in Children’s Books About Florida

There is quite a fun variety of children’s books about Florida, so if you’re starting a collection, then this is good news! But if you’re just looking for a single title to gift the favorite kiddo in your life, then you’ll have to narrow down your options and consider some important factors, such as:

  • Reading level
  • Interest
  • Illustrations

Reading Level

The first and most important consideration when checking out children’s books is the suggested reading level. Now, you may have an advanced reader who can handle more complexity in a book. That’s wonderful, so be sure to pick up something that straddles the line between challenging and satisfying. However, if you have a young toddler, a board book with fun illustrations or something with clear and simple text would be best.

For younger readers, a book that perfectly complements their current school lessons is ideal. If your kiddo is learning about numbers or letters, and you want them to learn about Florida all at once, consider one of those options.

Interest

If your child is already interested in Florida, great! Any of the books on our list could be a great choice. However, if you’re looking to teach them more about the sunshine state, think about your child’s personality. Do they prefer photographs and non-fiction? Or do they learn best through storytelling? This could mean a book that incorporates a focused story about an aspect of Florida, or perhaps an interactive coloring book. Some books are just for coloring and since these are super affordable, it’s never a bad idea to serve it up as a dessert dish for the main Florida book you want to give.

Illustrations

Although the text is important, children learn a lot through visual perception, so illustrations are key. This is especially true for younger children who do not know how to read yet. You’ll want to choose books that have engaging pictures and/or are interactive.

About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

The 7 Best Children’s Books About Florida — Reviewed and Ranked FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Is Florida a good place to live?

There’s certainly a reason why Florida continues attracting new residents each day. Some of the reasons people choose this state are that there are no income taxes, the population is wonderfully diverse, and the weather is frequently sunny. There are tons of places to explore if you’re interested in trying new foods and thrilling attractions. Florida does experience adverse weather, however, so it’s important to consider that as well.

What is Florida famous for?

It’s called the Sunshine State for a reason! Florida is well known for its warm, humid weather. The beaches are breathtaking, and the water is enticingly warm. Florida is also known for housing Disney World, a large entertainment resort for both children and adults.

What is the best part of Florida to vacation in?

That all depends on what you’d like to do in Florida! However, some of the hot spots include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Key West. Miami is a fun place for nightlife and gorgeous beaches, while Fort Lauderdale is a hub for culture, events, and art. Key West is fantastic for watersports, historic sites, and non-stop beaches.

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