Josh Gad may be best known for lending his voice to the delightfully cheerful snowman Olaf in Disney’s Frozen, but off-screen, he plays an even more enthusiastic role: that of a passionate travel guide and book-loving dad. At home, Gad swaps his animated snowballs and warm hugs for a jam-packed itinerary and a Kindle overflowing with literary classics and historical nonfiction.

Recently, the actor and father of two daughters partnered with Kindle Kids to promote the joys of summer reading — a cause that’s not only close to his heart, but also a small parenting victory in his own home. In a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY, Gad opened up about his parenting style, his love for history, and how his family’s recent trip to Malta became an unforgettable educational experience.

This isn’t your average summer vacation story — it’s a glimpse into how one father’s mission to raise curious, globally-minded readers is paying off in the most unexpected and heartwarming ways.

For Josh Gad, travel isn’t about relaxing poolside with a cocktail in hand — it’s about soaking up culture, walking through history, and dragging his family along for the ride, whether they like it or not.

“We just got back from Malta,” he said, sounding both proud and slightly sheepish. “I’m the worst person to travel with when it comes to my family because I push, push – we get up at like 6 a.m., and we don’t stop going until like 10 p.m. It’s always like, ‘Gotta go see history!’”

His passion for history isn’t just a quirky personality trait — it’s part of his parenting blueprint. Gad believes in immersive learning, giving his daughters real-world experiences that connect them with art, culture, and the stories of civilizations past. In Malta, that meant exploring Neolithic temples, ancient walled cities, and the legendary Hypogeum — a 6,000-year-old underground burial site older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza.

“It was really cool to engage with them in a methodology of learning where you’re actually walking in the footsteps of ancient cultures,” he said. “Seeing their eyes light up… that’s the magic.”

Gad’s passion for historical adventures is deeply intertwined with another goal: getting his kids to read — and actually enjoy it. It’s a challenge that many modern parents face, especially in a digital age dominated by streaming, apps, and TikTok.

“When we travel, it’s a very difficult thing to pack a bunch of heavy books,” he explained. “So when this [Kindle Kids] technology presented itself, it was a no-brainer.”

The Kindle Kids platform offers more than just convenience. It comes with a built-in program called the “Book Crew,” which encourages kids to read by fostering a sense of community and discovery. For Gad, it was the kind of tech he could finally get behind.

“You engage with reading, you know, the Book Crew… It’s just a really fun opportunity for younger kids to be part of something that gives them a sense of community,” he said.

But the real magic moment came during their Malta trip, after a long day of sightseeing. “There was one day in particular when we got back to the room, and I gave my daughters free time,” Gad recalled. “They could have easily turned on their iPads to watch something — and instead, they started reading books.”

He and his wife looked at each other in disbelief. “This is a miracle,” they whispered. “The fact that our kids are voluntarily choosing to do this is like everything you could hope for as a parent.”

Planning family vacations can be daunting for any parent. Add in an overzealous dad with an obsession for history and you get… the Gad family itinerary. “I’m the guy who makes a schedule that looks like it was designed for Navy SEALs,” Gad joked.

His vacation style may be a little intense, but it comes from a place of love and intention. “We always try to make it a really fun experience while, in the process, giving them the ability to learn something new,” he explained.

While Malta marked a new destination for the family, they have a special connection to Italy, where his wife’s family roots lie. “Italy is the favorite out of ours — my wife is Italian and that’s where we go more often than not,” Gad shared.

Still, he’s not one to repeat himself too often. For their upcoming summer travels, the family is eyeing a few new European adventures. “We’re thinking about Croatia, Switzerland, maybe Austria or Germany,” he said. “I always like to go places I’ve never been.”

No matter the destination, one thing is guaranteed: the Gad family will be hitting historical sites from dawn to dusk — and loving (almost) every minute of it.

Gad is the first to admit that getting kids to voluntarily put down screens isn’t easy. Like many parents, he’s watched as tablets and phones become ever-present distractions — but he’s also found that with the right encouragement, curiosity wins.

That’s where his partnership with Kindle Kids shines. “My wife and I, in general, are people who want [our kids], if they’re going to use technology, for it to be technology we can get behind,” he said.

By introducing his daughters to Kindle, Gad is merging their love for gadgets with his love for books — and it’s working. Their decision to read during downtime on vacation didn’t just surprise him; it reaffirmed his belief that kids will rise to the occasion when given the right tools and freedom.

“It was one of those moments as a parent where you’re like: OK, maybe we’re doing something right,” Gad said.

Of course, not every moment on vacation is spent in ancient ruins or quiet reading. When asked about his travel splurges, Gad laughed. “Food,” he admitted immediately. “I’m a foodie. I like to eat like the locals do — and that sometimes means we plan our sightseeing around the meals.”

And as for travel pet peeves? It turns out the ever-enthusiastic dad has one major gripe: people who are unprepared. “If you’re traveling and you don’t do your homework — whether it’s not knowing the cultural customs, or just being disrespectful in general — that really frustrates me,” he said.

He also confesses to being a bit of a control freak when it comes to travel logistics. “I can’t help but over-plan,” he said. “I want to squeeze every drop out of every day, and sometimes that means I forget to just slow down.”

For Gad, instilling a love of reading in his daughters goes beyond Kindle or summer campaigns — it’s about creating habits that last a lifetime. His own Kindle is currently loaded with historical nonfiction and literary classics, proof that he practices what he preaches.

“I want my kids to see reading not as a chore, but as an adventure,” he said. “Just like travel, books can take you to places you’ve never been. They open your eyes to new perspectives, new cultures, new ways of thinking.”

And that, perhaps more than any landmark or museum visit, is the legacy he hopes to pass down to his children.

It’s easy to picture Josh Gad as the goofy, charming voice behind Olaf — the guy who sings about summer and hugs. But behind the animated persona is a deeply committed father, determined to raise thoughtful, curious, and well-rounded daughters.

Whether he’s walking them through Neolithic temples or cheering them on as they choose books over screens, Gad is fully invested in the journey of parenthood. It’s not always easy — and sometimes it means waking up before sunrise on vacation — but for him, the payoff is worth it.

As he reflects on the Malta trip and the reading miracles that followed, Gad can’t help but feel a sense of pride. “In a world that’s moving so fast, filled with noise and distractions,” he said, “those quiet moments — watching your child get lost in a book or marvel at ancient history — those are the ones that stay with you.”

And for the Gad family, it seems there are many more chapters — and countries — yet to come.

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