Austria... the land of "The Sound of Music" and Mozart. Besides watching "The Sound of Music" film and listening to lots of Mozart and other classical music, there are many books for kids as well to prepare for your trip to Austria.
Do you know of any other children’s books featuring Austria? Please feel free to note it in a comment below!
Children's Books about Austria
Children's Books about Vienna, Salzburg, and Austria
[Mama Traveler Recommended!] Sofia's Wonderworld: Discovering the miracles of Kirchberg+Kitzbühel in the Austrian Alps - 10 Tales:
Far in the Austrian mountains, the Kitzbühler Alps in Tirol, there are two small villages, Kirchberg and Kitzbühel. The majestic beauty of these places sets the scene for ten regional stories that Kurt Gassner collected throughout his life journey. Infused with breathtaking adventures, head-turning views, and a dose of magic, these stories aim to travel you into a whole new world where everything is possible.
[Mama Traveler Recommended!] Hold On to Your Music: The Inspiring True Story of the Children of Willesden Lane: In pre-World War II Vienna, Lisa Jura was a musical prodigy who dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. But when enemy forces threatened the city—particularly the Jewish people that lived there—Lisa's parents were forced to make a difficult decision. They chose to send Lisa to London for safety through the Kindertransport—a rescue effort that relocated Jewish children. As Lisa yearned to be reunited with her family while living in a home for refugee children on Willesden Lane, her music became a beacon of hope for those around her.
Fritz and the Beautiful Horses: Set in Salzburg, Austria, Fritz, a pony excluded from the group of beautiful horses within the walled city, becomes a hero when he rescues the children of the city.
[Mama Traveler Recommended!] Ludwig Bemelmans Favorite Stories: Hansi, Rosebud and The Castle No. 9: Lavish illustrations, enchanting settings, and winsome storytelling abound in these three tales by Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of the classic Madeline books. Long out of print, these stories are now available in a single-volume treasury that promises to delight young readers. The Castle No. Nine offers a humorous portrayal of a faithful servant and his madcap master. In the little Austrian town of Melk, a meticulous manservant ― with a cat, a silver candlestick, and a different wig and suit of livery for every day of the week ― is hired by a nobleman who has some peculiar ideas about language. Hansi recounts a winter holiday in the Alps, in which a city boy travels by horse-drawn carriage to Uncle Herman's house. Hansi helps feed deer in the deep forest, attempts to teach a dachshund to ski, and celebrates Christmas at a candlelight service. Rosebud, based on an African folk tale, depicts a triumph of brain over brawn. A crafty rabbit sets out to prove that he's smarter than the intellectuals of the animal kingdom, the whale and the elephant.
: A children's book about the life of the Trapp Family from Salzburg. Based on the famous film: The Sound of Music. An insightful and beautifully illustrated Story of Salzburg. The appendix includes photographs and useful information about historical points of interest in Salzburg.
Once an Austrian Went Yodeling (Song Stories by NFM): Come enjoy an adventure through the Austrian Alps with a local yodeler who is continually being interrupted along his journey. Each page turn will leave readers wondering what he will encounter next. The clever illustrations will have you giggling while the melody will compel you to sing along. This revived version of the classic folk song, Once an Austrian Went Yodeling, is sure to be a part of family traditions for generations to come.
Exploring Art with Gustav Klimt: A fun and colorful read-aloud book on Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Exploring Art with Gustav Klimt travels through the decorative motifs and figures in Gustav Klimt's paintings, and the inspirations he took from Italian mosaics and ancient art forms.
Meet Gustav Klimt (Meet the Artist): In Meet Gustav Klimt, you will meet an extraordinary modern artist. What can he tell you about his famous glittery gold paintings and unique use of mosaics? Admire his gorgeous art as he explains it. Then, experiment with gilding and create your own mosaics!
Hedy Lamarr (Little People, BIG DREAMS): Born in Vienna, Austria, young Hedy Lamarr was fascinated with machines. She love to sit with her father and hear all about scientific theories. A gifted musician and actress, she soon found fame on the stage, but her scientific curiosity never stopped. Electronics, chemistry, engineering – whatever Hedy put her mind to, she came up with ingenious inventions, blazing a trail for women in science and making great strides towards science. As well as a glittering film career, Hedy developed technology that formed the basis of Wifi and Bluetooth used in our world day. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of Hedy’s astonishing life.
A Girl from Vienna: A young girl named Ruthie, learns about life and love as she faces many challenges and joys living in Europe during the 1930's. She shares her story with young readers to appreciate the challenges that we must eventually face to find hope and dreams in our lives. It is with a sense of purpose we become who we are.
Penelope Sees Vienna: Penelope's teacher took the class on a field trip to see the city of Vienna. The students were so excited to spend the day outside of the classroom!
Sabier, The Brown Bavarian Bear: It was 1885 when Greta's Great Uncle Josiah came to visit her. That Christmas Eve night, as the snow fell down hard upon the roof tops of Victorian London, he told her a fascinating bedtime tale about a poor girl, Freda, who once lived in his home town of Liebenstadt, high up in the Austrian Alps. Freda's mother had regrettably passed away and her father was a no good drunk. The only friend she could turn to in her hours of need was a wonderful toy bear who sat in the forefront of the 'Kinder Palace' toyshop window. To try to earn enough money to survive on, Freda took a job scrubbing down the doorsteps of the well-to-do families in Liebenstadt's main square. There she was constantly belittled and set upon by the Bergermeister's spiteful daughter Carlotta. Carlotta was hell bent on getting rid of Freda, especially when her own father took pity on the girl. So this evil child's jealousy began to take hold and when a pile of stolen gold got into the wrong hands, Freda's future happiness and life fell into great danger.
: A children's book about Austrian Christmas traditions.
Children's Books inspired by "The Sound of Music" Film
Broadway Baby: The Sound of Music, Do Re Mi: Based on the Song by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Board Book): Soar into musicals with The Sound of Music's classic song Do Re Mi. Each page is filled with lovely illustrations and lyrics to sing along with!
Broadway Baby: The Sound of Music, My Favorite Things: Based on the song by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Board Book): Broadway Baby: The Sound of Music, My Favorite Things pairs the famous lyrics with beautiful, colorful illustrations to share with your baby or toddler to bring the classic song to life. Young children will find it easy to read and sing along to this classic hit. Perfect for the family that loves musicals, this title is a great addition to any budding virtuoso's library of children's books.
The Sound of Music: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up: Watch the hills literally come alive in this magnificent pop-up adventure drawn from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic, The Sound of Music. With paper engineering as unforgettable as each timeless melody, The Sound of Music transports readers to the lush green hills of the Von Trapps’ Austria in this heartwarming tale of familial love and growth. This book, which is based on the beloved musical, includes recognizable songs, such as "My Favorite Things" and "Edelweiss." This visually stunning work is sure to become a favorite in your family’s library
Children's Books about Austrian Classical Music
[Mama Traveler Recommended!] I Am Mozart, Too: The Lost Genius of Maria Anna Mozart: To everyone who has heard of my famous younger brother but has never heard of me. I Am Mozart, Too is a picture book biography about Wolfgang's older sister, Maria Anna Mozart, who was a child prodigy and a secret composer, perfect for Women's History Month. Nannerl and Wolfie love playing the harpsichord together. They are so talented, the Mozart siblings perform all over Europe for packed audiences in beautiful concert halls. Even Empress Maria Theresa requests that they stop in Vienna to play especially for her. But then Nannerl does something naughty: She starts writing music of her own. Papa fumes. Girls are not allowed to compose! Girls belong behind the curtain. While Wolfie’s solo career takes flight, Nannerl must settle for a life offstage. But it doesn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams in secret. With vivid, sweeping art by Adelina Lirius, author Audrey Ades tells the powerful true story of a talented, ambitious girl who has been hidden from history―a girl who was and always will be a genius, too.
: Demi, popular children's author and illustrator of biographies of many famous people in history, presents a lavishly illustrated new work on perhaps the greatest composer ever, Mozart. She tells the whole story of his amazing life for children so they can learn about his upbringing and family life, and all the way to his great fame as a composer of widely beloved works of music. It underscores how his Catholic faith was an integral part of Mozart's character and life.
Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?: Born in Austria in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his first piece of music, a minuet, when he was just five years old! Soon after, he was performing for kings and emperors. Although he died at the young age of thirty-five, Mozart left a legacy of more than 600 works. This fascinating biography charts the musician's extraordinary career and personal life while painting a vivid cultural history of eighteenth-century Europe. Black-and-white illustrations on every spread explore such topics as the history of opera and the evolution of musical instruments. There is also a timeline and a bibliography.
Our Little Mushroom: A Story of Franz Schubert and His Friends: Franz Schubert was only eleven when he auditioned for the Emperor’s Choir School in Vienna, a place where everyone loved music. Franz barely spoke a word, but he sang like an angel, and his friends took to calling him “Little Mushroom” because he was small. As Franz continued to study and practice his music, his friends were amazed by his talent. The last thing Franz’s father wanted was for his son to be a musician—surely he would starve!—but Franz’s friends refused to let him quit. They vowed to help Franz devote himself to his music, and to make sure the world heard their talented friend. Franz Schubert would go on to write a thousand pieces of music. Discover the true story of a prolific composer and musician in this beautiful tale about the strength of friendship and the rewards of hard work in finding success.
Christmas in Austria: Fritzl's Friends (Christmas Around the World): A talented violinist and his dancing dog find themselves without food or shelter on Christmas Eve. The kindness of "Unser Franz" reminds Fritzl of Santa Claus as he is taken into the famous Schönbrunn Palace on Christmas Day.
Haydn's Farewell Symphony (Once Upon a Masterpiece): The blustering, bellowing prince entertained hundreds of guests at his rural retreat and demanded music for every occasion. As the months passed, Haydn was kept very busy writing and performing music for parties, balls, dinners, and even walks in the gardens. His orchestra members became homesick and missed their families. The anger, frustration, and longing of the musicians is expressed beautifully in the symphony born of the clever mind of Joseph Haydn who used it to convince Prince Nicholas that it was time to go home. Mama Traveler Note: The story begins in Eisenstadt, Austria and then takes place at the Esterháza Palace in the Hungarian countryside.
Children's Books about Beethoven when he lived in Vienna
The 39 Apartments of Ludwig Van Beethoven: How hard is it to move 5 legless pianos 39 times? Beethoven owned five legless pianos and composed great works on the floor. His first apartment was in the center of Vienna's theater district... but he forgot to pay rent, so he had to move. (And it's very hard to move a piano. Even harder to move five). Beethoven's next apartment was in a dangerous part of town... so he moved, and the pianos followed on a series of pulleys. Then came an apartment with a view of the Danube (but he made too much noise and the neighbors complained), followed by an attic apartment (where he made even MORE of a rukus), and so Beethoven moved again and again. Each time, pianos were bought, left behind, transported on pulleys, slides, and by movers, all so that gifted Beethoven could compose great works of music for the world.
Beethoven's Heroic Symphony (Once Upon a Masterpiece): Discover the little-known story of Beethoven's beloved masterwork. As the best pianist in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven had everything: talent, money, fame. But he also had a terrible secret. He was slowly going deaf. Though his hearing deserted him, the maestro never lost his music. Seeking inspiration for his compositions, Beethoven hit upon Napoleon Bonaparte, then considered a liberator and a folk hero. Soon after Beethoven completed the work, Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France; betrayed and enraged, Beethoven tore his copy of the score to pieces. But his friend Ferdinand rescued a copy, and in time, Beethoven renamed it Eroica: the Heroic Symphony, dedicated to hero in each and every one of us.
Children's Books about Marie AntoinetteMoi and Marie Antoinette: As a little girl in Austria, Marie Antoinette had nothing more stressful to think about than what to eat next. When she was just a little older she was taken to France to marry the future king, and life became a lot more serious! Relishing the details of courtly life and narrating the pressures of becoming one of the world's most famous - and infamous - queens, this delightful and beautiful book brings a real historical figure to life.
Mama Traveler Note: An adorable picture book told from the perspective of Marie's pug dog, Sebastian.
Who Was Marie Antoinette?: From the palaces of Austria to the mirrored halls of Versailles, Marie Antoinette led a charmed life. She was born into royalty in 1755 and married the future king of France at age 15. By 21 she ascended to the throne and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle of masquerade balls, sky-high wigs, and extravagant food. But her taste for excess ruffled many feathers. The poor people of France blamed Marie Antoinette for their poverty. Her spending helped incite the French Revolution. And after much public outcry, in 1793 she quite literally lost her head because of it. Whether she was blameless or guilty is debatable, but Marie Antoinette remains woven into the fabric of history and popular culture.
Marie Antoinette (Famous Lives): A Usborne Young Readers children's biography of Marie Antoinette with a sympathetic perspective.
Bonus! Souvenirs from Austria for Kids
The Amadeus Mozart teddy bear by Vosego is a high quality and thoughtful gift for a mom-to-be or newborn baby to start introducing them to classical music right away from birth. With seven tracks featuring Amadeus' most well-loved compositions, Amadeus plush bear brings 40 minutes of exquisitely beautiful classical music. Carefully selected tracks represent Amadeus' most recognized melodies making Amadeus a great introduction to the composer’s musical repertoire. Amadeus lets you and your baby enjoy the compositions made by one of the most influential classical music composers of all time.
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