Anything kids can use over and over again without getting bored is like gold when you’re traveling and space is at a premium. “Wipe Clean” activity books by Roger Piddy (published by MacMillan) have been a favorite among my kids from back when the tween was a tot. Intended for children age 3 and older, the 26 easy-to-clean pages are printed with colorful photographs, easy activities, and spaces and lines for early learners to practice their letters and numbers. A few swipes of a tissue and they’re ready for another round of connect-the-dots, tracing, drawing, or writing (a baby wipe removes older scribbles easily); they  come with their own dry-erase marker conveniently clipped into the handle, but the ones you swiped from the board room work just as well. Chose from books about animals, “things that go,” letters, numbers, and trivia; the board books are sturdy enough to withstand multiple kids and even get handed down to others when your kids have outgrown them.

$8.95 at Amazon.