THE OUTDOOR KID HANDBOOK
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Books

We compiled a list of books to help you dig deeper into doing different activities with kids and also to inspire your kids to get outside. We are working on getting reviews posted for many of the most useful or influential books, and those will be tagged with a link to the review. 

Do you have a book to recommend? Contact us and let us know!
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Online Communities
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Books

Activity specific books:

Camping
​How-To
Backpacking
​& Hiking
Camping
​Activities
Skiing
Camping
​Recipes
Climbing


​Education related books:

Education
Journals
Nature Activities


​Travel and guidebooks:

Travel
Guidebooks


​Storybooks (Including Diversity Storybooks):

Storybooks

 
Camping How-To
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  • The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids by Helen Olsson (2012)
  • Camp Out!: The Ultimate Kids' Guide by Lynn Brunelle (2007)
  • The Kids Campfire Book by Jane Drake and Ann Love (1996)
  • Camping for Kids (Into the Great Outdoors) by Melanie Ann Howard (2012)
  • Camping With Kids: Complete Guide to Car Tent and RV Camping by Goldie Gendler Silverman (2013)
  • Tent And Car Camper's Handbook: Advice for Families & First-timers by Buck Tilton (2006)
  • Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping & Boating with Babies and Young Children by Jennifer Aist (2010)

 
Camping Activities
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  • Sleeping In A Sack: Camping Activities for Kids by Linda White (2000)
  • Mac King's Campfire Magic: 50 Amazing, Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts Using Cards, String, Pencils, and Other Stuff from Your Knapsack by Mac King (2010)
  • Scary & Silly Campfire Stories: Fifteen Tales For Shivers & Giggles by Kimberly Eldredge (2012)
  • Fun Campfire Stories by John Bradshaw (2009)
 
Camping Recipes
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  • 100 Easy Camping Recipes by Bonnie Scott (2012)
  • Campfire Cooking by Publications International, Ltd. (2018)
  • Camping Recipes: Foil Packet Cooking by Bonnie Scott (2013)
  • Hungry Kids Camp Fire Cookbook by Deb Graham (2013)
  • Cooking On A Stick: Campfire Recipes for Kids by Linda White (2000)
  • Pie Iron Recipes by Darren Kirby (2015)
 
Backpacking
​& Hiking
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  • Backpacking with Babies and Small Children by Goldie Silverman (2010)
  • Backpacker Magazine's Hiking and Backpacking with Kids: Proven Strategies for Fun Family Adventures by Molly Absolon (2012)​
  • Get Your Kids Hiking: How to Start Them Young and Keep it Fun! by Jeff Alt (2013)
  • Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping & Boating with Babies and Young Children by Jennifer Aist (2010)
 
Climbing
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  • How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi and Yao Xiao (2020)
 
Skiing
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  • A-B-Skis: An alphabet book about the magical world of skiing by Libby Ludlow and Nathan Jarvis (2019)
  • I'm Smart. I Know the Code! by Nathan Y. Jarvis (2020)
  • Safely Ski from A to Z by Mary Stubbs Palmer (2011)  (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
  • Snowmastodon!: Snow Day Adventure by Amiee White Beasley and Paul Antonson (2011) (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
  • Snowmobile: Bombardier's Dream Machine by Jules Older and Michael Lauritano (2012) (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
  • ​Sliding in the Snow by Melissa Dymock and Fran Lee (2015) (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
  • Kids' Travel Guide - Ski: Everything kids need to know before and during their ski trip by Lisa Marie Mercer and Shiela H Leon (2016) (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
 
Education
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  • Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell (1998)
  • Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv (2008)
  • Nature Log Kids: A Kid's Journal to Record Their Nature Experience by DeAnna Brandt (1998)
  • Moving the Classroom Outdoors: Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning in Action by Herbert W. Broda (2011)
  • Small Wonders: Nature Education for Young Children by Linda Garrett (2006)
  • Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability (Contemporary Issues) by Michael K. Stone (2009)
  • Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival by Denise Long (2011)
  • The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in the Virtual Age by Richard Louv (2012)
  • Backyard Birding for Kids by Fran Lee (2005)
  • The Kids Book of the Night Sky by Ann Love, Jane Drake, and Heather Collins (2004)
  • Tools of Navigation: A Kid's Guide to the History and Science of Finding your Way by Rachel Dickinson (2005)
  • Tracks, Scats and Signs by Leslie Dendy (1996)
  • Trees, Leaves & Bark by Diane Burns (1995)
  • Follow That Map!: A First Book of Mapping Skills by Scot Ritchie (2009)
  • Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years by David Sobel (1998)
  • National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America by Jonathan Alderfer (2018)
 
Journals
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  • My Nature Journal: A Personal Nature Guide for Young People by Adrienne Olmstead (1999)
  • We Love Nature!: A Keepsake Journal for Families Who Love to Explore the Outdoors by Stacy Tornio (2014)
  • Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You by Clare Walker Leslie (2003) (Review by Outdoor Kid Handbook)
  • The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families, and Classrooms by Clare Walker Leslie (2010)
 
Nature Activities
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  • Let's Go Outside!: Outdoor Activities and Projects to Get You and Your Kids Closer to Nature by Jennifer Ward (2009)
  • Nature in a Nutshell for Kids: Over 100 Activities You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less by Jean Potter (1995)
  • Nature's Art Box: From t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere by Laura C. Martin (2003)
  • Run Wild!: Outdoor Games and Adventures by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield (2011)
  • 101 Nature Activities for Kids by Jane Sanborn (2011)
  • I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature Paperback by Jennifer Ward and Susie Ghahremani (2008)
  • Fun With Nature: Take Along Guide by Mel Boring, Diane Burns, and Leslie Dendy (1998)
  • More Fun With Nature (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring, Diane Burns, and Laura Evert (2001)
  • Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up by Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer (2013)
  • Wishing on a Star: Constellation Stories and Stargazing Activities for Kids by Fran Lee (2001)
  • Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness by Laurie Carlson (1995)
 
Travel
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  • Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children by Shelly Rivoli (2007)
  • Take-Along Travels with Baby: Hundreds of Tips to Help During Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler Paperback by Shelly Rivoli (2010)
  • The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children by Fawzia Rasheed de Francisco (2008)
 
Guidebooks
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  • Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades by Joan Burton, and Ira Spring (2006)
  • Best Hikes with Kids Colorado by Maureen Keilty (2012)
  • An Outdoor Family Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park by Lisa Gollin-Evans (2011)
  • Best Hikes with Kids in Oregon by Bonnie Henderson (2007)
  • Best Hikes with Children in Michigan by Jim DuFresne (2001)
  • Best Hikes with Kids: San Francisco Bay Area by Laure Latham (2011)
  • Best Hikes with Children in New Mexico by Bob Julyan (2003)
  • Best Hikes with Kids: Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine by Emily Kerr, Thomas Lewis, and Cynthia Copeland (2007)
  • Outdoors with Kids: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont: 75 of the Best Family Hiking, Camping, and Paddling Trips by Ethan Hipple and Yemaya Clair (2014)
  • Best Hikes with Children in Pennsylvania by Sally Trepanowski and Marty Trepanowski (1996)
  • Best Hikes with Kids: Connecticut, Massachusetts, & Rhode Island by Emily Kerr, Thomas Lewis, and Cynthia Copeland (2007)
  • Kids on the Trail: Hiking with Children in the Adirondacks by Rose Rivezzi, David Trithart, and Colette Piasecki-Masters (2020)
  • Flying kids travel guidebooks (USA, Europe, Asia, Australia)
 
Storybooks
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Stories to inspire your kids to go outside and have adventures!
​Books with diverse characters indicated with ★, many of which came from this list on OutsideOnline.
  • ★ Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell (2018)
  • ★ ​We are Brothers by Yves Nadon and Jean Claverie (2018)
  • ★ ​A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams and Floyd Cooper (2010)
  • ★ ​The Hike by Allison Farrell (2019)
  • ★ The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1976)
  • ★ Where's Rodney? by Carmen Bogan and Floyd Cooper (2017)
  • ★ The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann (2020)
  • ★ Hike by Pete Oswald (2020)
  • Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr (1987)
  • The Journey Home by Alison Lester (1991)
  • Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish and Lynn Sweat (2003)
  • Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes (1997)
  • The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain (1987)
  • Caillou Goes Camping by Roger Harvey and Eric Sévigny (2012)
  • Camping Out by Mercer Mayer (2002)
  • A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen (2003)
  • The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock and Mordicai Gerstein (2012)
  • Curious George Goes Camping by Margret Rey and H. A. Rey (1999)
  • Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? Hardcover by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
  • Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman (2005)
  • In the Woods by Elizabeth Spurr (2012)
  • Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night by Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson (1999)
  • Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins (2009)
  • Martha Speaks: Campfire Stories by Jamie White (2013)
  • My First Hike by Catherine Maria Woolf (2008)
  • OLIVIA Goes Camping by Alex Harvey and Jared Osterhold (2011)
  • P. J. Funnybunny Camps Out by Marilyn Sadler and Roger Bollen (1994)
  • S is for S'mores by Helen Foster James and Lita Judge (2007)
  • Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt (2021)
  • Stella and Roy Go Camping by Ashley Wolff (1999)
  • Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams (1984)
  • When We Go Camping by Sally Sutton (2017)
  • When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs and Andrew Kiss (2004)
  • Squirrels on Skis by J. Hamilton Ray (2013)
  • Sonder the Snow Snake by Annie B. Fox (2012) (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
  • Fresh Snow, Natasha Wing.
  • Here Come the Little Rippers by Rebecca Munsterer (2013)
  • The Little Rippers, Volume 2. Go West, Little Rippers by Rebecca Munsterer (2015)
  • The Adventures of Monty the Marmot: Monty Goes Skiing by Richard Liddle (2013) (Review by Brave Ski Mom)
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  • Activity Type
    • Backpacking
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Skiing/Snowboarding >
      • Sienna Ski Van
    • Climbing
    • Travel (Coming Soon!)
  • General Advice
  • Interviews
  • Blog
  • Outdoor Inspration
  • About
    • Contact us