Hungary - Children's Books

Budapest is a stunning city filled with history, gorgeous architecture, and baths! Several of the baths in Budapest do allow young children although they recommend for children to be over 14-years-old. The concerns are mainly around the waters being too hot for the skin of young children, the baths being too deep for young children, and that young children should always be watched by a parent.

• Széchenyi Thermal Bath, the most famous bath, recommends the baths for children over 14-years-old, however, does allow young children that are potty trained. 
• Palatinus Strand Baths is a family-oriented complex that even includes a water slide along with 11 pools that range from 22 to 32 degrees based on the natural warm spring waters. 
• Dagály Spa, Beach Bath and Swimming Pool, nearby and similar to Palatinus Strand Baths and popular with locals, seems to even have a pool for little kids/babies. 
• Gellért Thermal Bath, also famous with stunning architecture, offers child tickets, and has a 26 degree indoor pool that is 0.8 m on one side, 2 m on the other as well as an outdoor wave pool.

Besides reading books, a fun comedy film for parents and older children is The Grand Budapest Hotel. While it doesn't officially take place in Hungary, it's certainly somewhere in Eastern Europe, and is a really enjoyable film to watch.

Do you know of any other children’s books featuring Hungary? Please feel free to note it in a comment below!

Children's Books about Tales and Stories from Hungary

Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary: Elizabeth loves to hear her grandmother's stories, and none is more dear to her than the story of her namesake: St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Together the two recall the holiness and charity of this great saint while preparing to celebrate her feast day. Dessi Jackson's lively storytelling voice draws listeners into another time and place, while Lydia Grace's beautiful watercolor illustrations provide a richly detailed delight for the eyes. This charming tale is wonderful to read aloud for the young and young at heart.

The Valiant Red Rooster: A Story from Hungary: When a greedy sultan steals a diamond button from a rooster, the brave rooster, determined to retrieve the button, uses his amazing gizzard and his amazing ingenuity to outsmart the sultan. By the author of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.

Children's Books about Travel to Hungary

Tom The Adverb Bird: A Book About Grammar and Grace In Hungary: Are you seeking a special book about grammar and English parts of speech that’s engaging, heartfelt, and cultural? Do you want to learn more about Eastern European culture at the same time? Well, spread your wings and interact with adverbs as you soar with a new feather friend named Tom. He and Maci the Dog will gleefully guide you through Budapest, Hungary in this endearing adventure.  What’s more, this brave bird doesn’t allow a broken, aching, and hurt wing to stop his happy flights in life. Instead, he’ll take readers on a rhyming and visual quest to gain knowledge about the Queen of the Danube, life lessons about coping and positivity, while spotting and defining adverbs along the way.

My Country Hungary: Take a trip around the world to the beautiful country of Hungary. Come explore the beauty of the Hungarian people and the ancient traditions, culture, music, art, and world-famous landmarks.  Learn all about Hungarian culture, Hungary's heritage and what makes this country of bell peppers exceptional. Engage in the culture while learning facts about Hungarian customs, money and even the features that make them unique!

If You Were Me and Lived in... Hungary: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World: Welcome to Hungary! Join Carole P. Roman and learn about this beautiful country in Central Europe. Packed with colorful illustrations, children will learn about the sights, currency, food, and even a few Hungarian words.  This critically acclaimed series has been embraced by children, parents, and educators. Deceptively simple, it is jam packed with a vast array of information to ignite any child's interest in the world around them.

Children's Books about Famous People in Hungary

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.

Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines: Meet Hungarian American biochemist Katalin "Kati" Kariko.  She became fascinated by science as a child and grew up determined to find a way to use messenger RNA―a copy of a part of DNA that provides cells with instructions to make proteins―to help fight illness. An mRNA vaccine had never been made before, and she faced frequent criticism and was told by other scientists she would never succeed. Kariko refused to give up her research, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she played a critical role in developing the successful Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine faster than any other vaccine in history.

Between Two Worlds: The Art & Life of Amrita Sher-Gil (Amazing Women): Amrita Sher-Gil was always making art—as a little girl in Budapest, as a young woman in Northern India, and as an art student in Paris, she filled up notebooks with sketches and drawings—but what kind of artist would she grow up to be? Amrita was rebellious, brave, curious, and bold in her short life and in her paintings, and she became an important figure in the 20th century modern art movement.

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos: Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.

Harry Houdini (Little People, BIG DREAMS): In this book from the highly acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Harry Houdini, one of the most famous entertainers to have ever lived.  When he was four, little Ehrich emigrated with his family from Hungary to the USA. Although they had reached a world of great opportunity, the family lived in poverty and Ehrich had no choice but to go to work from a young age. When he was just nine, Ehrich worked as a trapeze artist, and this experience led him into a life of entertainment.  As he grew older, Ehrich continued to play to audiences with fascinating card tricks. But when working as a locksmith by day and honing his magic skills at night, Ehrich realised that he would need more than a deck of cards to really 'wow' people... and so, the great Harry Houdini came to be.  As Houdini, the escape artist who could free himself from handcuffs, chains and knots like no one else, he toured the world and became known for his incredible death-defying stunts. This book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the entertainer's life.

Children's Books about World War II and the Holocaust in Hungary

[Mama Traveler Recommended!] Hanna's Cold Winter: Hanna was a hippopotamus in the Budapest zoo. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs which flowed from the ground. One winter, however, it was so cold that the river froze. There was a war going on, and the people and animals were starving. But the people of Budapest made a plan to save their beloved hippos. This heartwarming story, based on a true incident that took place during World War II, is beautifully told by Trish Marx. Barb Knutson's charming illustrations magically evoke the faraway place and time.

The Story of Bodri: Hédi spends her days playing with her dog Bodri in the park, but her quiet world starts to crumble the day she hears Adolf Hitler on the radio. Germany’s leader hates her and her family, just because they are Jewish. And Hitler doesn’t even know them—it doesn’t make any sense. Soon Nazi Germany invades Hédi’s country, and her life changes forever.  Inspired by the author’s experiences, this book is a thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust for young readers. Strikingly honest prose and illustrations share an unforgettable story about a faithful dog, a family in danger, and the power of hope in unimaginable circumstances.

Hedy's Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust: It is 1941. Hedy and her family are Jewish, and the Nazi party is rising. Hedy's family is no longer safe in their home in Hungary. They decide to flee to America, but because of their circumstances, sixteen-year-old Hedy must make her way through Europe alone. Will luck be with her? Will she be brave? Join Hedy on her journey-where she encounters good fortune and misfortune, a kind helper and cruel soldiers, a reunion and a tragedy-and discover how Hedy is both lucky and brave. Hedy's Journey adds an important voice to the canon of Holocaust stories, and her courage will make a lasting impact on young readers.

Peter in Peril: Courage and Hope in World War Two: Peter is just an ordinary boy, who loves playing football with his friends and eating cake - until war comes to his city and the whole family have to go into hiding... This moving, true story of the Second World War, set in Budapest, Hungary, shows in vivid words and pictures how Peter, his cousin Eva and his mum and dad bravely struggle to survive in a city torn apart by warfare.

Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944: The classic true story of one child's experiences during the holocaust.  Nine-year-old Piri describes the bewilderment of being a Jewish child during the 1939-1944 German occupation of her hometown (then in Hungary and now in the Ukraine) and relates the ordeal of trying to survive in the ghetto.

Bonus! Coloring Book about Hungary

Hungarian Folk Art: Coloring Pages for Kids and Kids at Heart (Hands-On Art History): Hungary boasts a rich tradition of folk art and craft, displayed in embroidery and other textiles, pottery, carvings, and other works. These lush patterns convey the imagination and aesthetic sensibility of the Hungarian people over hundreds of years. This fun coloring book is based on designs drawn from authentic Hungarian folk art. Kids of all ages will love to decorate these 25 coloring pages with markers, crayons, or colored pencils.