Whether you want to cultivate a love of world travel or just keep kids content in the backseat, here’s a list of holiday gifts that will bring a lot of joy to the little people on your list without breaking the bank. Some are even stocking-sized, which is always good for travel!

1. World Facts and Landmarks Flashcards, ages 5 and up, $3.95

Kids can learn about 44 world landmarks, from the Taj Mahal to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, while brushing up on their geography skills.

2. National Geographic Kids Almanac 2011, ages 8-12, $13.99

This reference book makes geography, history and science fun by including more than 500 full-color photographs in addition to games, puzzles, projects and experiments. You may want to pick up one copy for each kid on your list – it’s that good. It’s written for middle school kids, but younger readers will enjoy it too.

3. Subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine, ages 3-14, $15

Give the kids on your list a full year of learning about the world. Choose from National Geographic Little Kids (ages 3-6) and National Geographic Kids (ages 6-14). We have two kids and one subscription, and it’s all they can do to share it.

4. Randy McNally Kids’ Road Atlas, ages 5-10, $3.95

Kids can learn how to read a road map with this fun atlas. When that gets old, they can move on to travel games and puzzles. This gift is perfect for elementary school-aged children, though littler kids can also enjoy it with help.

5. Melissa and Doug USA License Plate Game, ages 5-10, $19.99

This is a game that’s meant to be stashed in the car until you find all 50. As long as kids don’t expect to conquer it in a single drive to grandma’s house, they’ll thoroughly enjoy this addictive, easily reusable game. As an added bonus, they probably won’t even notice they’re learning!