The following books offer good general background information for your upcoming trip to Europe. Click on any linked book to purchase it.

The Clan of the Cave Bear. Auel, Jean. Bantam Books, 1984. ISBN 0-5532-5042-6, $7.99 Great background reading for visiting prehistoric caves in France, even though the book is based elsewhere.

Children's Books in Print RR Bowker, annual. Don't buy this one: Your public library should have it. Look up the countries you'll be visiting in the subject index. Then read as many books as you can with your kids before you go!

Cultural Misunderstandings: The French-American Experience. Carroll, Raymonde. Translated by Carol Volk. University of Chicago Press, 1990. ISBN 0-2260-9498-7, $11.95 A fascinating exploration of the differ? s in social interaction in France and the USA. For adults.

French or Foe? Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living & Working in France Platt, Polly. Cultural Crossing, 1998. ISBN 0-9646-6840-8, $16.95. www.pollyplatt.com. Covers many of the same issues as Carroll's book, above; equally fascinating to any Francophile.

History of Art for Young People.. Janson, H.W. and Anthony. Abrams, 1997. ISBN 0-8109-4150-3, $49.50 Expensive but good. Try your library before you go, and let your kids "shop" for masterpieces they'd like to see in Europe.

The New Spaniards Hooper, John. Penguin Books, 1995. ISBN 0-1401-3191-4, $13.95 Wonderful commentary on the vast changes in Spain since Franco. Highly recommended to anyone spending time in Spain. For adults.

Sarum : The Novel of England. Rutherfurd, Edward. Ballantine Books, 1997. ISBN 0-4490-0072-9, $14.95. Michener-esque historical saga based in Salisbury, England. Too long to read out loud in its entirety, but gives great background for English history.

Let's Go guidebooks. Harvard Student Agencies St. Martin's Press, annual. Series of excellent budget guidebooks includes: Britain & Ireland ; France; Germany; Greece; Ireland; Italy; Spain, Portugal & Morocco; Switzerland andAustria; and Europe. Sites geared to adults; trustworthy lodging recommendations are updated annually and include triple and quad information.

Rick Steves' Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler. Steves, Rick and Gene Openshaw. Avalon Travel Publishing, 2000 ISBN 1-5626-1535-1, $19.95 Unstuffy history helps kids (and parents!) better understand how different historic events relate to each other. Review this before you go—suddenly all that high school history will start to fit into place.

Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door. Steves, Rick. Avalon Travel Publishing. ISBN 1-5669-1228-8, $21.95 If any book is the adult version of Take Your Kids to Europe, this is it. Buy it—then get on Rick's mailing list for more good info: PO Box 2009, Edmonds, WA. 98020. 425-771-8303 x 259.

Eyewitness Travel Guides. Dorling Kindersley. A large selection of wonderfully illustrated European guidebooks, from $22.95 to $29.95.

The Family Travel Guide : An Inspiring Collection of Family-Friendly Vacations. Meyers, Carole Terwilliger , ed. Carousel Press, 1995. ISBN 0-9171-2014-0. First-hand family travel accounts from all over the world. Helps you picture your trip—and includes additional suggestions of places to go and things to see.

Mona Winks. Steves, Rick and Gene Openshaw. Avalon Travel Publishing. ISBN 1-5626-1421-5, $19.95 Guide to all major European art museums. Saves buying guides, helps you plan "treasure hunts" for your kids.

The Packing Book : Secrets of the Carry-on Traveler. Gilford, Judith Ten Speed Press, 1998. ISBN: 1-5800-8021-9, $8.95. Has sections devoted to traveling with babies, kids and teens plus lots of other useful information. Reader recommendation.