20+ Amazing Outdoor Books for Kids |

I have been meaning to write this post for a long time. These outdoor books are some our family’s favourite alongside some of the Born to be Adventurous’ reader suggestions.

In this post I have included storybooks, chapterbooks, outdoor “how to” books and some outdoor parenting books that help you get outside and explore with your kids!

As always, I really value your input and when you reach out to me to share your favourite books, products and tips!

Make sure to let me know of new or old books I should add to this post!

Looking for other gift and book ideas? Check out these posts!

20+ Books for Outdoor Kids

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to which I make a few cents off your purchase. Thank you for supporting my families pizza fund!

Storybooks for Outdoor Kids

The Hike: The Hike is about three young girls that go on an hike together. Through lyrical writing, the book covers the best as well as the challenges of hiking from deer sightings and picnics to puffing and panting and detours.

Purchase The Hike here.

The Traveling Child goes to Rio de Janeiro: A series based on two traveling sisters Jordyn and Kennedy, “The Traveling Child Goes” is introduces world travel to kids. Follow along as they enjoy different activities within the city they visit and the country they explore.

Pick up “The Traveling Child Goes to Rio de Janeiro” here.

Nuptse and Lhotse in the Land of the Midnight Sun: This is the 5th book created follow the adventures of Nuptse and Lhotse, two cats that are siblings (a brother and a sister). The books follow the cats as they go on various adventures which have included a trip up mount Everest, to the west coast, the rocky mountains and now up North to the Yukon in The Land of the Midnight Sun.

Pick up Land of the Midnight Sun here.

Dear Yeti: A fun outdoor story about two friends and bird going on an adventure to find a Yeti. They find themselves in some trouble and even though the Yeti is not prepared to come out of hiding, he does help them stay safe.

Purchase Dear Yeti here.

Adventure Day: Follow along as Armani goes on a hiking adventure with her mom and a few friends. This book will have kids excited to go exploring with their family out in nature.

Pick up Adventure Day here.

The Gruffalo: The story follows a mouse as he is passing other animals in the forest that are thinking about eating him. He uses his wit to outsmart each animal by making up an incredible creature the Gruffalo to scare them off. Then, at the end of the book, the mouse comes face to face again with the Gruffalo and manages to outsmart the big monster.

Buy The Gruffalo here.

Sheep Take a Hike : A comical story about sheep hiking together. There are more books in the series but Sheep Take a Hike was one of our favourites.

Purchase Sheep Take a Hike here.

Goodnight Mountains : A popular book in the ‘Good night Series’ that is mountain themed. It is the perfect book for those families that love exploring and adventuring together.

Purchase Good Night Mountains here.

Outdoor Skill Books for Kids

Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival was written by a veteran search and rescue volunteer. The guide provides practical and life saving tips for kids alongside 10 activities to help build those skills.

Pick up the Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival here.

My First Book of Knots: A easy to follow book that helps children and adults learn to tie knots. Just make sure you have a rope to start using because kids typically want to start learning to tie knots right away!

Buy My First Book of Knots here.

Chapter Books for Outdoor Kids

Eva’s Campfire Adventure : Eva, the Owl that stars in her own series and in book #12 goes on a camping trip with her classmates. This is a great first chapter book for newer readers or a wonderful series to read to younger children age three or four because of all the pictures. Our seven year old cruised through the books and loved the repetition throughout.

Order Eva’s Campfire Adventure here or start with the first book and order the first book in the series Eva’s Treetop Festival here.

Junko Tabei – Masters of the Mountains: A picture chapter book that follows the true story of Junko Tabei, a mountaineer that was the first woman to summit Mount Everest. The book is part of a collection of works written by the popular company Rebel Girls.

Pick up Junko Tabei – Masters The Mountains here.

Tuesday’s at the Castle: This is a more challenging read with no pictures but a wonderful series full of adventure as it follows Celie a princess as she discovers more about the moving and alive Castle that she has grown up in.

Since the book lacks pictures, for kids that read it is recommended for children age 9+. However, we are now on the final book in the series and have been reading it to our seven year old over the last year.

Pick up Tuesday’s at the Castle here.

The Little Prince: The Little Prince is a timeless story about the human relationships and growing up. With pictures throughout this is a great first chapter book. We read it to our kids when they were three years old. The book is a classic that is worth being on every bookshelf.

Purchase the Little Prince here.

Island of the Blue Dolphins: This novel is a thoughtful addition to an older kid’s book collection. The book follows a young girl in the 1800s that, according to history, lived on an island alone for 18 years. A Newbery Medal- winning classic, this book will stay with the reader as it tackles some heavy themes.

Pick up the Island of the Blue Dolphins here.

Books that Encourage Families to Get Outside Together

Hikes for Families: A Guide to the Canadian Rockies : Last year I came out with a Hiking Guide for Families with over 45 hikes near Banff, Canmore, Calgary, Kananaskis and Bragg Creek area. Their are stroller friendly hikes and ones that are wheelchair accessible. The book includes hiking games, hiking tips, animal and outdoor safety awareness and more help families hike with their families.

Purchase the paperback Hikes for Families: A Guide to the Canadian Rockies” here. Purchase the Ebook “Hikes for Families: A Guide to the Canadian Rockies” here.

There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk is a wonderful parenting book encouraging parents to get outside with their children. A must for new parents to help them and their children to be encouraged to enjoy both the physical and mental health benefits of the outdoors.

Pick up There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather here.

The Easy Camp Cookbook has over 100 recipes for your car camping and backcountry adventures. Written by Amelia Mayer, the book is sure to “spice up” both camping experience with delicious recipes.

Purchase the Easy Camp Cookbook here.

How to Raise a Wild Child: This book is a wonderful resource for parents looking for activities and support to help them explore with their kids.

Pick up How to Raise a Wild Child here.

Balanced and Barefoot: Another great parenting book that focuses on the need for children to have unstructured and outdoor play. The book offers ways for parents to engage with their children to enhance their cognitive development and outdoor growth.

Buy Balanced and Barefoot here.

More gift ideas and book recommendations!