The Best Camping Books for Kids – Help Them LOVE the Outdoors

These are the best camping books for kids by age so you can prepare, engage, and teach kids about getting outside. From preschoolers to tweens, we’re recommending the camping books we love and use. Click through to find the perfect book for your child.

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Camping with Kids

Camping with kids can be scary – for the kids AND the adults. Kids are unsure of what to expect. Come to think of it, parents are, too!

We can take so much of that fear away by reading stories and setting up activities (like these camping story stones) which get the kids involved. Their anxiety decreases because they have an idea what to expect.

The Best Camping Books for Kids (All Ages)

Before my husband and I had children, we bought The Dangerous Book for Boys. It’s one of my all-time favorite books for kids because it has SO MUCH in it.

When we had our daughter, we bought The Daring Book for Girls. Read the reviews on these – even if you NEVER go camping, these are amazing for your child’s book collection.

Tip: get the hardcover version of these books.

The Daring Book for GirlsThe Dangerous Book for Boys

Best Camping Book for Preschoolers +

Another one we included as a recommendation for the best camping books for kids is S is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet. My daughter absolutely adored it for years! She was 3 when we started backyard camping with her and that was one of the first ones we brought out to read before bed.

We still have this book – it’s one of her favorites.

Best Camping Books for Early Readers

If you have an early reader who might be a little nervous about camping, Olivia Goes Camping is a familiar character in an unfamiliar setting. Get the paperback version for less than a cup of coffee – you’ll have fun reading it while camping.

Dog lovers can’t get enough of this pooch! Biscuit Goes Camping is fun and fantastic for kids. In our last book donation, she wouldn’t give either of these up!

OLIVIA Goes CampingBiscuit Goes Camping

Camping Books for Elementary Kids

Now that my daughter is older, I just ordered the paperback version of Camp Out!: The Ultimate Kid’s Guide. Honestly, I think my husband might be more excited about that one.

In the same Amazon order, I picked up the Ranger Rick Hiking Guide and Ranger Rick Camping Guide. A neighbor recommended the series so decided to order them. I’ll update this when they are in and we have had a chance to check them out.

 

Ranger Rick Kids’ Guide to Hiking

And One More for the Older Kids

I am very, very intrigued when 4 friends recommended this same book. After reading all the reviews, they might be onto something.

It’s geared towards ages 8 and up, both boys and girls. My friends couldn’t sing its praises enough.

RELATED READING: Make These Simple Camping Story Stones for Kids

A Book for Mom and Dad: Camping Cookbook

If you’re heading out into the wilderness, moms and dads can get just as anxious as the kids. It can be hard, hard, hard to know what to cook while camping. And if you have a picky eater? Well, let’s just say a girl can only take so many canned baked beans…

I just picked up this book that has 30 camping recipes that go far beyond hot dogs! Because we have a couple weeks until our first camp of the year, I made a breakfast recipe of hers in the kitchen and it was delicious! I’m excited to try these on the fire and camp stove this year.

A camping cookbook has to be considered one of the best camping books for kids!

Over to You – Family Camping…

Are you a camping pro, a first-timer, or somewhere in between? We have it down to a well-oiled machine in our house (after a few years of camping with kids), so if you have any questions, drop them below.

Know what else is below? Those share buttons! Please share this on Facebook or onto your favorite camping Pinterest board. Your shares are how we grow and we are thankful.