Let’s Go Camping: 10 Picture Books to Spark Outdoor Adventures
by Sharon Holbrook
Ah, summer nights! Fireflies, flashlights, s’mores, and tents; it’s camping season, and your kids are ready for outdoor adventures. With these books about camping in the great outdoors, prepare for or relive your own trip, or just live vicariously from your air-conditioned living room.
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Llama Llama Loves Camping
Available from:Llama Llama and his friends are going camping for the first time, and they're both excited and a little nervous. They soon learn that new things that seem scary at first can be super fun! Your kids will see how this relates to their own challenges and adventures.
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Just Me and My Dad (Little Critter)
Available from:A sweet story about spending time with dad and exploring the great outdoors, kids will love seeing all the funny mishaps Little Critter gets into when pitching the tent, fishing, and canoeing. They’ll also learn that things don’t have to go perfectly to be fun. They only need to get out there and try.
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Nana the Great Goes Camping
Available from:Camping in the great outdoors is even better when Nana is involved! She's excellent at hiking, cooking over a campfire, and exploring the wonders of nature. Memories made with Nana will last a lifetime.
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Fred and Ted Go Camping
Available from:In this Beginner Book, young readers meet two lovable dogs who are good friends, even though they are opposites of each other. Fred and Ted have different ideas about how they should camp, from the way they pack, fish, and cook, but they are always respectful of one another. This charming book is an excellent introduction to the concept of opposites, and your child will love the friendship between these funny pups.
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Camp Cretaceous, Volume One
Available from:For fans of the Netflix show, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, comes an amazing novelization that will send your kids on a great adventure to Isla Nublar — the home of Jurassic World. When events don’t go according to plan, the campers of Camp Cretaceous will need to work together to survive the dinosaurs. It is truly a camp experience like no other!
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Camp Tiger
Available from:Camp Tiger is a beautiful coming-of-age story about a young boy who, while on a camping trip with his family, befriends a tiger in the woods. With text that helps kids find their own independent spirit and dazzling illustrations, this book is sure to spark any child’s imagination.
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Welcome to Camp!
Available from:This comic book edition is perfect for boys and girls alike who want to go on an adventure to Camp Cretaceous. Full-color, action-packed pages will transport your child to the land of the dinosaurs.
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P. J. Funnybunny Camps Out
Available from:P. J. Funnybunny plans a camping trip for him and his friends. But when they think they see a ghost, will they be brave enough to stay the night? This Step Into Reading, Level 2 book is the perfect companion for your young reader to gain confidence in their reading skills, all while having fun along the way!
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Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations
Available from:A must-have for any nighttime adventure, whether you are camping or just sitting in your own backyard. This field guide for young stargazers features glow-in-the-dark illustrations of constellations, as well as tips and tricks to help you find them in the night sky.
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Lost in the Wild!
Available from:Comic books are a great way for your little one to get excited about reading. This dinosaur adventure introduces readers to the characters of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous as they go to the most incredible camp in the world, build friendships, and survive the dinosaurs.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2021.