Atlases, maps and mapping books for children and teens
Atlases and maps in the classroom and at home are crucial to help foster mapping skills in British primary and secondary school students. In today’s digitally driven world where GPS systems can dominate, understanding traditional maps and atlases is essential for developing spatial literacy and awareness of the surrounding topography. The books recommended below are gateways to exploring the diverse geography, history, cultures, and environments of our interconnected world. Additionally, proficiency in map reading enhances problem-solving, visual comprehension, and a sense of direction – all vital skills in a globalised society.
This list contains 50 titles, to read and inspire interest in maps, mapping, geopolitics and the world we live in. There’s a range of activity books, puzzles, atlases and skills resources to use at home, in the classroom and as reference books for both primary and secondary school libraries. This list features books by Vivian French, Collins Maps, Emily Hawkins, Thiago de Moraes, Lonely Planet, Joshua Foer, Tim Marshall and Dorling Kindersley.
Atlases and maps for children and teens – our recommendations
Maps and atlases for primary school aged children
Maps by Vivian French. 
Collins Children’s Picture Atlas by Collins Maps. 
Martha Maps It Out by Leigh Hodgkinson. 
Maps Activities by Kate Nolan and Sam Smith. 
Collins First Atlas by Collins Kids. 
London Children’s Map by Guy Fox. 
Children’s Picture Atlas of the Stars by Tom Kerss and Steve Evans. 
The Big Book of the UK by Imogen Russell Williams. 
Collins Primary Atlas by Collins Maps. 
Children’s Illustrated World Atlas by Kathleen Baker. 
Atlas of Adventures by Lucy Letherland. 
Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures by Emily Hawkins. 
The Ordnance Survey Kids’ Adventure Book by Ordnance Survey and Gareth Moore. 
An Amazing Illustrated Atlas of Scotland by David MacPhail and Anders Frang. 
Maps Activity Book by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinska. 
Discovery Atlas HB by Thiago de Moraes. 
The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid by Dylan Thuras and Rosemary Mosco. 
Maps of the United Kingdom by Rachel Dixon and Livi Gosling. 
How To Draw Illustrated Maps by Mark Bergin. 
Atlas of Adventures: World Wonders by Ben Handicott. 
National Geographic Kids World Atlas, 5th Edition by National Geographic Kids. 
Myth Atlas by Thiago De Moraes. 
Lonely Planet Kids Travel Atlas Book by Lonely Planet. 
Brilliant Maps by Ian Wright. 
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski. 
Atlas of Animal Adventures by Rachel Williams. 
The Flag Book by Moira Butterfield. 
Atlas of Ocean Adventures by Emily Hawkins. 
Collins Junior Atlas by Stephen Scoffham and Collins Maps. 
Philip’s RGS Children’s School Atlas by David Wright and Jill Wright. 
What’s Where on Earth? Atlas by Dorling Kindersley. 
The Animal Atlas by Kenneth Lilly . 
Minecraft Maps by Mojang. Maps and atlases for KS3 and KS4 students
Collins School Atlas by Collins. 
An Atlas of Afterlives by Emily Hawkins. 
The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book by Gareth Moore. 
A Map of the World by Antonis Antoniou, Robert Klanten and Lincoln Dexter. 
Doctor Who Atlas by Rachel Talalay. 
Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer, Ella Morton and Dylan Thuras. 
Map: Assembling the World in An Image by Phaidon. 
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall. 
Random Maps by Simon Kuestenmacher. 
Great City Maps by DK. 
Living Maps by Adam Dant. 
The Phantom Atlas by Edward Brooke-Hitching. 
Great Maps by Jerry Brotton. 
A History of the World in Twelve Maps by Jerry Brotton. 
How to Draw a Map by Malcolm Swanston and Alex Swanston. 
Maps of London and Beyond by Adam Dant. 
Transit Maps of the World by Mark Ovenden. 
The World Wall Map by Collins. Click the button below to buy all the books in this Atlases, maps and mapping book list, or class sets of any of these books and many more from Bookshop.org UK.
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Atlases, maps and mapping resources for teachers
- The Geographical Association offers a vast collection of resources for primary and secondary teachers covering grid references, downloadable maps, aerial views and more.
- Ordnance Survey features a collection of free resources for teachers that include the OS compass app, election mapping and testing map knowledge. For primary-aged children, there’s also the interactive Mapzone site.
- The Royal Geographical Society has produced a set of downloadable complete lesson plans for year 1, year 2, year 3, year 4, year 5 and year 6, covering all aspects of map skills in KS1 and KS2.
- The Geographical Association has published useful guides for teachers explaining how to teach with maps and how to develop spatial skills and graphicacy.
- National Geographic’s Map Maker tool allows young learners to create their own maps using base maps, data layers and annotation.
- BBC Bitesize offers mapping tips, quizzes and interactive activities for KS1 and KS2.
- BBC Teach has an animated ‘class clip’ for KS1 and KS2 to explain maps and mapping in under three minutes.
