Maps. They help us to make sense not only of our world, but also the worlds to which novels have the ability to transport us. They show us fantastical lands, outer space, subterranean environments and the inside of castles, and influence the way in which we as readers visualise the imaginary world. Although nowadays we see maps springing up all over the place in books for children and teens, their use in this way can be seen as a relatively recent invention. In fact, it wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that we began to see maps being introduced into novels for children and young adults, one of the first of which was Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

A map of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island – doesn’t it make you want to join Jim Hawkins on his search for buried treasure? Photograph: Alamy

But why are maps so useful when employed in literature, and in particular in children’s books? Much like the novels themselves, maps too tell stories, and so writers increasingly employ them within their books as a way to go beyond the words themselves. Not only do they provide us with further supplementary information to complement the story, but maps also have the potential to provide gateways to the imaginary lands which may otherwise only exist within our imaginations. By showing us the shape of the land, beautiful forests and daunting mountain ranges, they build on our imagination, encouraging us to go beyond the words themselves and inviting us into these fictional lands presented right before our very eyes.

All books inevitably take place “somewhere”, and so maps can help us to place these fictional somewheres somewhere, and thus better understand the books setting, time and place. Without them, how could we possibly know the layout of Oz or Middle Earth, or how to travel between Winterfell and Mereen?

Did the map included in The Wizard of Oz help you find your way to the Emerald City? Photograph: Allstar/MGM

However, not only do maps help to shape the settings for some of our favourite novels, but they also have the potential to shape the actions of the characters and the narrative of the novel. Many a time, maps are even essential to the story itself. For instance, the map of Middle Earth found in the endpapers of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit makes an appearance in the novel itself as the map given by Gandalf to Bilbo at the beginning of the story in order to help him on his journey. Think too, of the famous Marauder’s Map in the Harry Potter series - where would our favourite characters be had they not been able to take advantage of this useful tool? In this way, although book maps are often there to help us as the reader, they can also be artfully used to aid the plot too.

The map given to Bilbo by Gandalf in JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit proved instrumental in helping Bilbo on his quest Photograph: Warner Bros/AFP/Getty Images

I have always loved finding maps within books, and without a doubt, one of my favourites is that of the Hundred Acre Wood, included in AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. Supposedly drawn by Christopher Robin himself, the map includes a number of spelling and grammatical errors - “Rabbits frends and raletions” being one notable example - all of which only serve to endear Christopher Robin and his woodland pals to us more. The Hundred Acre Wood is also an example of where authors use the world around them for inspiration, being based on the actual Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest, close to Milne’s Sussex home, showing the unique ability of maps to tie both the real and the imaginary together.

Nevertheless, many readers prefer to be able to craft these imaginary lands within their own heads. For instance, a notable mapless book is The Hunger Games, in which although we are told much about Panem, no map showing the location of the 12 Districts and the Capitol is provided. However, this has only served to spur on fans to create their own, with numerous fan-made interpretations of Panem to be found across the internet.



A fan-made interpretation of The Hunger Games’ Panem - does it look like how you’d imagined? Photograph: aimmyarrowshigh.livejournal.com

Maps in books are wonderful things - they take us to new worlds, illustrate exciting journeys, and help us join the characters wherever they may be. So next time you find a map in a book, I implore you not to skip straight to the first chapter, but take the time to explore whatever location is laid out before you. You never know what you might find.

What are some of your favourite book maps, and why? Which “mapless” books do you think could benefit from including maps? Send us your ideas by email at childrens.books@theguardian.com or on Twitter @GdnChildrensBks and we’ll add them to this blog!