Who of us is lucky enough to turn our life's travels into our living? Traveling, for most people, is what we do to get away from work.

Gretchen Schomer Wendel of Encinitas has managed to turn her passion for worldwide travel into a series of children's books titled "Becka and the Big Bubble" (Waterside Press, $11.99), written with her brother, Adam Anthony Schomer of Los Angeles.

Both have traveled extensively, "to every continent except Antarctica," and their experiences have provided all the fodder for the books, targeted for ages 2-8. In each book, Becka, a redhead in red booties, blows a magic bubble and floats on it to a different city or country. She explores the landmarks and customs, and ultimately learns a lesson, or several, returning safely home on the bubble to her parents.

"We always try to have a message and moral for the children, in addition to learning about new cultures and countries," said Wendel. Education through fun is their goal.

In "Becka Goes to India," she flies by the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean, exposing children to the geography. Becka also sees the Taj Mahal, eats with her hands, and goes to a traditional Indian wedding. In a fun, rhymed format, children learn that there are other ways of living, and many things to explore in the world outside of their own little "bubble."

"Becka is a very progressive girl," said Wendel.

Schomer has his own special relationship with Becka. When he rereads the first book, "All Around Town," he sees new levels unfold. "It's infused with much larger ideals than I even realized at first, and the children rise to it," he said. He views Becka as a role model, and as he learns from her, "it's like I was writing for myself."

The reason Wendel wrote the books is very simple, she said: "I loved the notion of flying when I was younger." The fantasy of flying catches and holds youngsters' attention almost universally.

Wendel also threw in some silliness, just for the fun of it. She and Schomer created words and phrases such as "Flippity-Free," "Yippidi-Yoo," and "Pippity-Pop," which, they say, makes their listeners giggle when they do readings in bookstores.

The first book was conceived and written 10 years ago on paper, when a creative urge struck Wendel on an airplane. "I kept it in my wallet for years, just folded up," she said. She'd read the early versions to her nieces, nephews and other children, with rave reviews. Then, when her own children were born, "I felt that I needed to get it done, for them," said Wendel, mother to Clayton, 4, and Megan, 2.

Wendel and her brother had continued to discuss the stories and revise them over the years. She found San Diego illustrator Damon Renthrope online through Craig's List. But getting published proved to be a harder task than expected, so they decided to self-publish. "My husband said it was my birthday, Christmas, and Valentine's Day present all in one," said Wendel, who had previously been a matchmaker and TV reporter in San Francisco before moving to San Diego.

She self-published in November 2006, printing only 150 copies. "I didn't want 100 sitting in my garage, because I honestly didn't think they would sell," said Wendel. But sell they did, and Wendel had to increase their print jobs to 500 to keep up. Not that it was happening by itself -- Wendel and Schomer were doing readings and constantly visiting craft fairs and stores.

Then came a break. Wendel's friend and previous business partner from San Francisco, Pari Livermore, put her in touch with a Cardiff publisher, who couldn't believe she had sold so many books on her own.

After that, "everything happened so fast!" said Wendel. Thousands were printed for orders from Barnes & Noble, Borders, Wal-Mart, Target, and other specialty stores like Mables and Geppetto's.

The first two books, "All Around Town" and "Becka Goes to the North Pole" will be published in hardcover in September, and two more will be printed in October. She hopes the next two will be published in 2008: "Becka Goes to India" and "Becka Goes to San Francisco."

Becka will visit San Diego next year, then Chicago, Egypt, Paris, Mexico and Michigan, Wendel's home state, where she attended Michigan State University.

If Becka stays as popular as she's been, she could become a doll or star of her own TV show, with "magic" bubbles for children to blow. Wendel and Schomer like to give away bubbles at their readings, making the experience interactive. Wendel's son is even picking up on the buzz around the house. "Oh, they're in hardcover now!" he exclaimed one afternoon to his mom.

The "Becka" books were recently accepted into the San Diego public library system, and Wendel and Schomer are booked there for readings, which typically involve about 40 children. A book launch party is scheduled for Nov. 8 at the La Costa Resort & Spa with Barnes & Noble.

Wendel also spends about four hours per day working on the books. It's a labor of love through which, Wendel says, she "hopes to instill confidence in children to learn, explore, travel, and imagine outside of their world. Becka expands horizons, that's our hope."

Anna Chimowicz is a freelance writer.