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Are you looking for some good books for adventurous kids? Wondering what kinds of books can help encourage a spirit of adventure in children? Read on for Adventure-Seeking Mom’s picks for inspiring books for adventurous kids.
I chose these adventure books for kids not just because they teach kids about being brave. These inspiring kids’ books also stimulate curiosity about the world, help kids walk in someone else’s shoes and promote empathy and kindness.
Books for Adventurous Kids: Picture Books
Hello Lighthouse
Beloved by lighthouse lovers like me, Hello Lighthouse is a Caldecott Medal-winning picture book by Sophie Blackall that pays tribute to lighthouses and their devoted keepers.
The hopeful, inspiring story not only focuses on the heroic deeds of the keepers but also highlights how their wives were equally brave.
Beautiful writing and illustrations complement each other to transport the reader on an adventure into the lighthouse surrounded by the splendor of the ever-changing but ever-consistent sea.
Come With Me
I was thankful to discover this hopeful picture book when my daughter was a toddler. It delivers a powerful message that is a perfect, age-appropriate response for the fear-filled time we live in.
As news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, Come With Me take kids on an adventure around a city with a little girl, her parents and a new friend. The journey shows kids that together, one step at a time, they can make a difference by being brave, gentle, strong and kind.
Lily Luna The Magical Mermaid
A beautiful mermaid story about following your heart by a real Florida mermaid, Lily Luna The Magical Mermaid, is a sweet story for mermaid-loving kids. It follows Lily Luna on an adventure across the seven seas in search of magic. In the end, Lily Luna discovers that the real magic was inside her all along.
Music Is in Everything
A LyricPop picture-book adaptation of Ziggy Marley’s hit song, Music Is in Everything takes kids on a musical adventure to see how music is found in everything. From ocean waves to banging pots and pans in the kitchen, from a loved one’s laughter to the “river’s latest tune,” Marley reminds children everywhere that you don’t need an instrument to create a beautiful song.
Shiny Happy People
A heartwarming LyricPop picture book, Shiny Happy People’s story is told through the lyrics of R.E.M.’s joyful tune of the same name. This lyrical picture book follows the adventures of unlikely friends, a rabbit and a fox, as they teach others about the joy of inclusion and acceptance.
Lean on Me
The Bill Withers classic anthem to friendship lives on in this sweet Lean on Me picture book. This LyricPop picture book follows four close friends on adventures as the lean on each other through childhood and ride into adulthood together.
Harmony
Have you ever had a hard time seeing beauty right where you are because you were longing to be somewhere else? Harmony by Cristina Sicard has a wonderful message that adventure-seeking families will surely relate to. Harmony the llama lives in Ohio but misses his extended family in Peru.
In this llama-themed picture book, Harmony’s journey from sadness to joy reminds us of the power of perspective. Look for the beauty around you every day and let it bring harmony to your heart.
Books for Adventurous Kids: Beginning Readers
When my daughter was learning to read, we went through just about every early reader book that our local library offered. We quickly learned that she was drawn to adventure books and mysteries for young kids. Here are a few of the early reader adventure books that she enjoyed the most.
Stories of Bravery – American Girl Step Into Reading Collection
For kids who are ready to read on their own, this Stories of Bravery collection of five Step 3 readers features five inspiring American Girl books. A great introduction to historical fiction for young readers, these American Girl early readers share stories of girls who make brave choices during pivotal times in American history from the 1760s – 1960s.
These American Girl adventure stories include Freedom for Addy, Kaya Rides to the Rescue, Melody Lifts her Voice, Molly’s Christmas Surprise, and Samantha Helps a Friend. Millennial moms like me who grew up on American Girl books will love sharing these stories of brave girls we admired with our own kids.
Judy Moody and Friends: Judy Moody and the Missing Mood Ring
Part of a fun series for newly independent readers by Megan McDonald, Judy Moody and the Missing Mood Ring is a cute Nancy Drew-inspired mystery. Using brains, bravery and a bobby pin, Judy Moody is determined to brave a spooky old attic to solve the mystery of her missing mood ring.
WellieWishers Series by American Girl: A Fin-tastic Surprise
My daughter and I love mermaids so anytime we see a mermaid-themed book, we’re instantly drawn to it. The beginning chapter book A Fin-tastic Surprise from the WellieWishers by American Girl series takes kids on a fin-tastic underwater adventure with the imaginative group of friends.
As the mer-friends experience life under the sea and meet new sea creature friends, their adventure helps kids learn that to be a friend is to “swim” the path of kindness. All of the stories in the WellieWishers series teach lessons that encourage the skills of empathy, kindness and compassion.
Books for Adventurous Kids: Chapter Books
I Survived True Stories #4: Courageous Creatures
Written by the author of the New York Times-bestselling I Survived series, I Survived Courageous Creatures inspires kids with thrilling, true stories of animals who faced disaster and survived.
From the pigeon hero of World War I to captured dolphins, penguins saved from an oil spill, and a pair of orphaned cheetahs, animal-loving kids will be fascinated by these true stories.
These true tales of adventure and survival will also introduce kids to inspiring humans who show how we all can help protect wildlife.
The Boy Who Biked the World Trilogy
Thank you to @wildfloridawanderers for this adventure book series suggestion!
A perfect book series for curious kids who daydream about exploring, The Boy Who Biked the World Trilogy by Alastair Humphreys is inspired by the author’s real-life circumnavigation of the world on his bike.
In the first of the three middle grade adventure books, kids get to join determined explorer Tom as he pedals from England through Europe and all the way to the tip of South Africa. Along the way, he encounters a variety of interesting places and cultures.
Kids can continue the journey with Tom in The Boy Who Biked the World: Part 2: Riding the Americas and The Boy Who Biked the World: Part 3: Riding Home Through Asia.
The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean
An ocean adventure book follow-up to The Boy Who Biked the World trilogy, The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean follows daring Lucy on her quest to row 3,000 miles alone across the Atlantic.
This educational and inspiring middle grade adventure book by Alastair Humphreys will empower young readers to seek adventure. The journey also encourages kids to believe in their own strength and ability to make a difference in the world and for our oceans.
Harriet the Spy
A timeless classic middle grade adventure book, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh shows kids that every day can be an adventure if you look carefully enough. As they follow Harriet on her spy adventures, kids learn about the power of words and what it means to be a good friend.
Ella Enchanted
My favorite adventure book as a tween, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is a fun, inspiring and relatable retelling of Cinderella about finding the strength to be true to yourself.
Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy’s “gift” of obedience at her birth and the story follows her on a quest to free herself of that curse.
As a tween, I admired Ella for her independent, empathetic and adventurous spirit, and her determination to obey her own heart instead of what other people think is best for her.
Inspire Your Kids to Read with Once Upon a Book Club’s Middle Grade Subscription Book Box
Looking for a way to inspire your child’s excitement about the adventure of reading? Want to help middle grade readers discover new books and genres? Check out the middle grade book boxes from popular subscription book box, Once Upon a Book Club.
Designed for 7 – 12-year-old readers, each middle grade book box includes 2-3 wrapped gifts for kids to open as they read the featured book. Each gift has a page number and there is a reminder note inside the book to prompt kids to open the gift at the perfect time in connection to the story.
As my sometimes reluctant-to-read son started his Once Upon a Book Club adventure book selection, he was motivated to keep reading by the excitement of finding out what was inside the gifts. The gifts help bring the featured novel to life and are fun items that will keep kids engaged in the story even after they finish book.
More Book Recommendations from Adventure-Seeking Mom
Want more book recommendations for adventurous kids? As we discover new favorites, we’re constantly adding more adventure books for kids to our Books For Adventure-Seeking Kids Amazon Idea List.
Interested in adventure book recommendations for moms? Check out our Books for Adventure-Seeking Moms Amazon Idea List and read more of our book reviews here.
Do you have suggestions for kids’ adventure books or adventure books for moms to add to our lists? Share them in the comments!
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