Mongolia - Children's Books

Horses and yurts, the Gobi desert, Naadam Games, and the inspiration for Mongolian barbecue... an amazing place in the world to be with family.

Do you know of another children's travel book about Mongolia? Please feel free to note it in a comment below!  

Children's A to Z Books about Mongolia

M is for Mongolia (Alphabetical World): Welcome to Mongolia with its yaks, camels, and rippling sweeps of grassland with horsemen galloping by. A hunter with his falcon passes over desert sands that conceal the bones of dinosaurs, children herd reindeer through thick, green forests, and fermented mare’s milk hangs in a bag, waiting to be shared with friends

Children's Books about Stories in Mongolia

The Khan’s Daughter: A Mongolian Folktale: Hearing it foretold that he will marry the Khan's daughter someday, poor shepherd boy Mongke journeys to the Khan's court to prove himself worthy but is taught a lesson by the strong-minded princess that neither of them will forget.

Where the Winds Meet: Mongolia (Global Kids Storybooks): This is the story of a wind that wanders over Mongolia, a country that is well known for its deserts and grasslands. Travel with the wind and discover traditional Mongolian life.

Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia: Describes the Mongolian terrain, people, culture, and day-to-day activities while focusing on Naadam, the annual summer festival.

Story of the Mongolian Tent House: Based on an original tale by award-winning Mongolian author, Dashdondog Jamba, and retold by distinguished international author, Anne Pellowski, find out how With stunning illustrations of Mongolian culture by renowned artist, Beatriz Vidal, young readers can experience first-hand the wide-open steppes of this vast and wild land bordering on Russia to the north and China to the south.

My Little Round House: In this delightful picture book, baby Jilu recounts his first year of life in a nomadic Mongolian community. He remembers being cradled by his singing mother, the delicious smells from the cooking pot, his first meeting with his grandparents, and the family’s wandering life with a camel caravan. They celebrate Tsagaan Sar, the new year, and later revel in the warmth and freedom of summer. Richly illustrated by a young Mongolian author/illustrator, My Little Round House reveals a world very different, and yet surprisingly similar, to that of young readers and their parents.

Mongolia and Beyond (Beyond Bedtime Series): In this book, an Asian boy in Mongolia is too energetic to sleep, so his Edge (mom) tells a story to settle him down. By weaving foreign words for 'mom' and 'dad' into the story, Edge wisely begins teaching her child new languages; in turn, her child cleverly question Edge! Peek into 9 homes around the world as parents prepare their children for bed. 

Cowboy on the Steppes: In 1968, as part of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, thousands of teenagers were “relocated.” The artist’s brother was sent to a place that could not have been more different from his crowded, noisy Beijing home. He was sent to the steppes to live with Mongolian herdsmen.  The studious, gentle, city boy had much to learn: he had to memorize the faces of his cattle; he had to learn to ride with the greatest horsemen in the world; he had to adjust to food, clothing, and scenery wildly different from anything he had ever known.  Despite the hard life, he grew to love Mongolia. His respect for the people who befriended him and his admiration for them were recorded in his diaries.  Song Nan Zhang’s gorgeous paintings are the perfect complement to an unforgettable true story.

Dash to the Rescue: Dash loves living at home with her family. Many children she knows live at a boarding school far, far away. But Dash's teacher comes to their yurt three times a week for home school.  Today, her teacher reads Dash's favorite book. But a big snowstorm is on its way and she must leave quickly to get home before it hits. Father and Grandfather worry the animals will freeze out in the bitter cold.  But Dash has an idea that just might help her family save their animals.  A story of imagination and survival of a Mongolian nomadic family.

Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia (Scientists in the Field Series): With a dazzling as-it-happens narrative and spectacular photographs, readers, young and old, will be fascinated as they discover why these mysterious cats are called ghosts of the mountain. Readers will also be stunned by how much perseverance it takes to research and protect this endangered, little-understood species.

Mongolia (Vanishing Cultures): It is a special day for cousins Dawa and Olana. Dawa's father is going to find them two small horses in the family's herd. Like other young Mongolian boys, Dawa and Olana are learning to be skilled horsemen.  Living as nomads on the grassy plains, Mongolians rely on horses to support their traditional way of life. Horses help with the daily work of rounding up the goats and cows that provide meat and milk for food, as well as skins for clothing and shelter. Dawa and Olana hope that with their new horses, they will learn to be great horsemen.

Mongolian Folktales: From the descendants of the Huns and the mighty warrior, Chinggis Khan (or, as he is known to Westerners, Genghis Khan), and the land of the steppes and the Gobi Desert, come tales of passion, strife, magic, and laughter. This collection of traditional Mongolian folktales, the only one of its kind currently available in English, features more than 60 fascinating stories, ranging from The Legend of the Magic Bone and Seven Brown Mice to The Dreaming Boy and A Fiery Red Khan. The tales are organized in chapters that cover legends, myths, animal tales, magical tales, stories of life conditions, and humor. In addition, the authors provide an introduction to Mongolia, games, recipes, color photos, and notes on the stories. 

Children's Books about History of and Travel to Mongolia

Where is Mongolia? Geography Book Grade 6: In this geography book, your child will be learning more than just the location of Mongolia. He/she will also be learning about its people, its culture and its traditions. Open your child's eyes to world diversity. Open this book today!

Mongolia (Exploring Countries): Although notorious for its founder, Genghis Khan, the modern Mongolia has become a favorite spot for adventurous travelers. Snow-tipped mountains, river deltas that never freeze, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic peoples with large birds for pets are all part of the wondrous, high-country culture of Mongolia. Come along for the journey in this childrens book filled to the brim with adventure and knowledge.

Mongolian Empire: History for Kids: Most people believe the Mongolian Empire was a small tribe known for looting, robbing, and pillaging. The Mongols used to be little more than nomads prowling the harsh and often barren steppes of Mongolia, but this all changed when a great leader, Genghis Khan, took control.  The Mongols were innovative and creative in everything they did beyond just warfare. They owed their successes to their military tactics and impressive art of war, which relied heavily on incredible horsemanship, archery, and other fighting skills. But they also created an immersive world full of ideas, inventions, and art.  The Mongolian Empire was a state built by folks who knew how to keep up with the times. The Mongols put to use many ideas and technologies of the day and were very much capable of making these things work for them.

Scout and Jet: Into the Gobi Desert: Wrapped in adventure, this book teaches elementary school children history and science.

Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart: Prepare to fall in love with the heartwarming and true story of Gobi and Dion. Gobi, a scrappy little stray dog, latches onto a man named Dion and keeps pace alongside him for 77 miles of a long 155-mile race across China. Through cold nights and raging rivers, with little food and water, and through a long, hard journey, these two create a bond unlike any other.

What's Up in the Gobi Desert: Explore the Gobi Desert with the second book in this nonfiction geography series, packed with full-color photographs and a fold-out map! Gobi means "waterless place" - the perfect name for a desert! The Gobi covers parts of northern China and southern Mongolia. But contrary to the typical desert image, only 5% of the Gobi has sand dunes! It is also very cold, with an average temperature of only 37 degrees Fahrenheit for the entire year. Explore the expanse of the Gobi Desert with this fascinating addition to the What's Up series, and discover the wild plants, animals, and people that call this habitat home.

Life in the Gobi Desert: Welcome to the Gobi Desert, where you can find camels, scorpions, and even snow leopards! Explore this huge habitat and meet the many creatures that call it home. But keep an eye out for the ones that are no longer alive, too--the Gobi may have more dinosaur fossils than any other place on Earth! Learn more about this amazing place as well as how you can help protect and preserve it for future generations.

The Gobi Desert (Deserts Around the World): This intriguing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China. Temperatures can get very cold and frost and snow are not unusual. Readers will learn about the variety of habitats in this vast desert system that support many different kinds of plants and animals such as camels, snow leopards, and bears. The Gobi Desert is also where the first dinosaur egg fossils were found. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as copper and gold, and the unique problems facing this region such as the desert's alarming rate of desertification.

The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears: Acclaimed science author Sandra Markle offers a fascinating look at Gobi bears―the rarest bears on the planet. These adorable animals face threats ranging from illegal gold miners to climate change. Find out more about these bears, which are considered a national treasure in Mongolia, and learn what scientists are doing to help this critically endangered species.

Mongolia Coloring Book For Kids: With Interesting Facts: This coloring book is designed for children who want to learn about the wonderful country that is Mongolia! This unique coloring book includes over 30 high-quality illustrations designed to entertain and engage, providing hours of coloring fun. Each page contains an interesting fact about Mongolia which will help your child learn about the country, culture, food, language and people.

Children's Books about Famous Mongolians

Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun: An empowering and informative picture book biography about Khutulun, the great-great granddaughter of Genghis Khan, and how she defied the expectations of her time to become commander of the Khan’s army.  Just like the fourteen brothers that came before her, Khutulun, princess of her tribe, learned from an early age how to ride horseback, shoot arrows at full gallop and, most importantly, to wrestle. But as she grew older, her people wondered why their beloved princess had not yet married. So Khutulun vowed to marry any man that could defeat her at wrestling. Though she remained undefeated, Khutulun felt duty bound to throw a match to end the rumors and restore honor to her family. But when the day arrives, Khutulun's heart is torn. In the heat of battle, would she–could she–make the decision to become a wife and not a warrior?

Sorghaghtani of Mongolia (The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Real Princesses): On the wind-swept steppes of Mongolia in the thirteenth century, a princess was given the chance to rule. She took lands that had been ruined by war and made them wealthy again, brought mutual respect and cooperation to a downtrodden and distrustful people, and in a battle of wits that was like a giant chess game, won for her sons the imperial throne. This is the story of Sorghaghtani, a real and remarkable princess who handed her sons the largest empire in the world.

Who Was Genghis Khan?: Named Temujin at birth by his nomadic family in early Mongolia, the great Genghis Khan used his skill and cunning to create the Mongol Empire and conquer almost the entire continent of Asia. As ruler of the largest empire in human history, he was as respected as he was feared. Learn more about the man and the legend in Who Was Genghis Khan?

Genghis Khan: 13th-Century Mongolian Tyrant (A Wicked History): Explore the life and accomplishments of the Mongol conqueror who established the largest empire in history. The wicked ways of some of the most ruthless rulers to walk the earth are revealed in these thrilling biographies (A Wicked History) about men and women so monstrous, they make Frankenstein look like a sweetheart.

Daughter of Xanadu: Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

Children's Books about Mongolia in Spanish

Lolota viaja a Mongolia: Lolota viaja con sus hermanas y su papá hacia el este, a... ¡Mongolia! Es un país genial, vecino de China y Rusia, y su capital se llama Ulán Bator. ¿Sabías que en Mongolia hay más caballos que personas?  Allí visitan la estatua de Gengis Khan, el héroe nacional, van al teatro, el papá de Lolota toca el piano en un bar delante de mucha gente, ¡qué vergüenza pasaron sus hijas!, llegan hasta el desierto de Gobi y conviven con nómadas, e incluso comen (bueno, prueban) lengua de buey y beben leche de caballo. ¿Tú te atreverías?  Lolota en los Balcanes es la decimoquinta entrega de las peripecias de una niña aventurera a la que le encanta recorrer el mundo... y contárnoslo.

El monstruo de Mongolia: En este relato tradicional de Mongolia, el joven Gonan persigue al temible monstruo Mongas hasta la estepa para vengar la destrucción de su aldea. Allí, deciden batirse en un duelo que consiste en tres pruebas.