Children’s Books About the Great Outdoors!

In this darling picture book, Fatima Khazi is so excited to head to the local state park for their first camping trip. She sets up a tent with her father, builds a fire with her mother, and survives an eight-legged mutant spider (a daddy longlegs with an impressive shadow) with her sister. At the end of an adventurous day, the family snuggles inside one big tent, serenaded by the sounds of the forest.

In this sweet middle grade book, 12-year-old Madison “Madi” Lewis has been given an ultimatum by her parents: she is not allowed to bring home any more animals. After all, she’s saved hairless mice, two birds, a rabbit, and a stray tom cat that ended up destroying the front porch. Her parents tell her that if she brings home any more animals, she won’t be allowed to meet Jane Goodall at an upcoming gala event. But when Madi and her two best friends, Aaron and Jack, rescue beaver kits whose mother was killed, they find themselves at the center of a local conspiracy that’s putting the beavers and their habitats in danger.

I love this picture book, which begins in the quiet early light of morning when a father and child wake up and get ready to go on a hike. As they head to the mountains, they encounter the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive — and closer than ever — as they document their hike and take their place in family history.

This graphic novel is so funny and totally relatable, sure to be a fun read to any reader who has gone or wants to go to sleep away summer camp. In the first book in this series, Olive is sure she’ll have the best time at summer camp with her friend Willow. But Olive makes quick friends with the other campers while Willow struggles to form connections and only wants to hang out with Olive – just the two of them. Will the two be able to patch things up before the final lights out?

Jason Chin is a master of nonfiction, and Redwoods is no exception. An ordinary subway trip is transformed when a young boy happens upon a book about redwood forests and finds himself transported. He travels all the way to California to climb into the Redwood canopy. As with his other titles, Jason crams this book with interesting and accurate information about these great natural wonders.