Camping Books for Kids

Every camping trip we take also involves books. There’s nothing quite like reading a book in the great outdoors. If you are doing a camping theme study or actually taking a camping trip, you’ll want to enjoy these camping books for kids.

We’ve also included two camp-themed reading projects to encourage children and families to read all summer long.

Children’s Books About Camping

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Some of the books in this post were sent as review copies. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann is the story of a little girl going on her first camping trip with her aunt and cousin. She’s excited while anticipating the trip but a little leary of swimming with fish, hiking up hills, and sleeping without her dad in the tent. But, with time and encouragement, she ends up enjoying herself and she can’t wait to tell her dad all about the adventure. This book is spot on with all the feelings of a new experience.

Travel north to the Boundary Waters on the Minnesota-Canada border inOne Summer Up North by John Owens. This wordless picture book plops you right in the canoe to explore the wildlife and beauty of nature with a family on a camping trip.

Most of us go hiking when we go on a camping trip. Hike by Pete Oswald is the story of a boy and his dad who go on a day hike together. This wordless book walks us through preparing for the trip all the way to reminiscing about the day when they get home.

When it’s dark and you venture outside the tent, things can be a little frightening. Explore all that is outside the tent with your flashlight in Flashlight by Lizi Boyd.

Leave the city and head into the mountains for a camping trip in Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal. This is a good one for working on positional words making it a great pick for the toddler and preschool crowd.

Mr. Magee gets a little more than he bargained for during his camping trip in Camping Spree With Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen.

If Scaredy Squirrel was in Camping Spree With Mr. Magee he definitely would have been afraid. But, he’s got his own worries in Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt.

Rangers often remind campers to not feed the animals. Well, in Don’t Feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty the bear and the ranger battle with signage to inform campers what they should really do. This funny romp will encourage kids to make their own signs. Plus, they will want to make s’mores too.

Do you remember searching for the hidden objects inside the Highlights magazine? Well, relive your childhood in Kit and Kaboodle Go Camping Puzzle Reader by Michelle Portice. Each illustration is actually a picture puzzle. This easy reader will delight new readers.

Do your kids enjoy graphic novels? Then check out Wombats! Go Camping by Maddie Frost. I could definitely relate to the character whose idea of camping is glamping.

The Infamous Ratsos: Camp Out by Kara LaReau is a beginning reader chapter book. Louie and Ralphie discover that it’s not easy to camp. They learn about working together and asking for help.

And, a great family summer classic read-aloud is Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary. Ralph is itching to get away and he ends up at summer camp. He’s in for a wild ride. In fact, turn the read aloud into a Family Dinner Book Club. We’ve got a themed menu, conversation starters and more.—>See the Runaway Ralph Family Dinner Book Club.

Camp Themed Reading Projects

Want to encourage reading all summer long? Try these two reading projects. Both are free printables that you can download below.

Reading Camp Bingo

Complete a row or column on the reading camp bingo sheet. Or do a full cover all!

Summer Reading

This fun sheet encourages children to color a part of the picture each time they read or listen to a read-aloud.