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Welcome go Camping Month (or Week, if you choose). One of my favorite themes to use. Now I did put this in preschool theme but you can absolutely tweak activities for older grades. This is a Giant list of Camping Books so if you use this theme for other years, you won’t get bored. I usually choose 1-2 books to read per a day that are themed based. You can read more about that in my Preschool Curriculum Planning. And then a craft or two per theme. Our Camping Time will be posted here, with suggestions for younger kids as well as older. Enjoy your reading time.
When we go Camping by Margriet Ruurs
In this beautifully illustrated book, one busy family finds lots to do from sun up to sunset. At the campsite, there’s wood to chop for the fire and fish to catch. And there’s lots of time to explore, climb rocks, splash in the lake, and discover animals in the shadows of the woods. As afternoon turns to evening, supper needs to be made, and just before bed, stories are told around the campfire.
Ruby’s Sleepover by Kathryn White
Ruby and Mai are camping out in the garden. As the night draws in, all sorts of scary characters head towards their tent. Luckily, Ruby has some magical objects in her rucksack, but will they be enough to keep the girls safe?
Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean
In Pete the Cat Goes Camping, Pete can’t wait to go hiking, fishing, and eat s’mores by the campfire. But when he hears about the mysterious creature named Bigfoot, Pete can’t help but wonder: Is Bigfoot real?
Goldilocks and the three bears by James Marshall
What a sweet child,” says a newcomer in town about Goldilocks. “That’s what you think,” a neighbor replies. For Goldilocks is one of those naughty little girls who does exactly as she pleases, even if that means sampling the three bears’ porridge, breaking Baby Bear’s chair, and sleeping in his bed. James Marshall’s offbeat and inventive telling of this familiar tale will enchant readers, young and old.”A delightfully irreverent retelling of an old favorite is illustrated with delicious humor and contemporary touches.” —Booklist, starred review
Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert
Now toddlers can dive into counting with this board book edition of one of Lois Ehlert’s most popular books. With cutout fish eyes to touch and an energetic fish friend to guide them, they’ll have so much fun they won’t even notice they’re learning!
Camping out with Little Critter by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter and Gator camp out in the backyard, but what are those noises? Find out what keeps scaring Little Critter and Gator?
Piggy and Dad Go Fishing by David Martin
Piggy is going fishing with Dad for the very first time, and he couldn’t be more excited. But when he comes face to face with the bait—an irresistibly cute worm — tenderhearted Piggy starts thinking about the sport in a whole new way.
We’re Going on a Nature Hunt by Steve Metzger
When three friends take off on a lovely spring morning, they have no idea where the day will lead them. Together, they explore the beauty nature has to offer. And together, they have fun everywhere they go off on an adventure, or right here at home!
Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peak by Marianne Berkes
Follow the tracks of ten woodland animals but . . . uh-oh . . . watch out for the skunk! Children learn the ways of forest animals to the rhythm of “Over in the Meadow” as they leap like a squirrel, dunk like a raccoon, and pounce like a fox. They will also count the babies and search for ten hidden forest animals. Cut paper illustrations add to the fun in this delightful introduction to a woodland habitat.Once again, Marianne Berkes makes learning fun. Kids will hide, graze, and pounce as they imitate and count the animals.
Turtle Splash! Countdown at the Pond by Cathryn Falwell
One by one, ten turtles splash! into the pond. It’s a colorful countdown that you can be a part of
A Rock is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston
From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, A Butterfly Is Patient, and A Nest Is Noisy comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the fascinating world of rocks. From dazzling blue Lapis Lazuli to volcanic Snowflake Obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor
Bear wants more by Karma Wilson
When springtime comes, in his warm winter den a bear wakes up very hungry and thin!
Bear comes out of hibernation and he’s VERY hungry.
He eats everything in sight–but he still wants more!
Bear’s friends finally help him satisfy his HUGE hunger by throwing him a surprise birthday party.
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear’s cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on!
See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited guests — all of them having a party without him!
Baby Bear , Baby Bear What do You see? By Bill Martin Jr
A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck–all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle’s flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin’s singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.
If you find a Rock by Peggy Christian
Think of all the rocks there are: skipping rocks, splashing rocks, climbing rocks, and wishing rocks. Children can’t help collecting them. With joyful, poetic text and luminous photographs, If You Find a Rock celebrates rocks everywhere—as well as the mysterious and wonderful places they are found.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury
Now the very youngest readers can join in the fun with this Classic Board Book™ edition of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Full of delightful comedy and high drama, this tale of a brave family’s joyous romp through sweeping landscapes is sure to win new fans.
The Ants Go Marching one by one by Richard Bernal
Throughout the book the ants are marching one by one to get out of the rain. And the baby ant always lags behind.
In the small, small pond by Denis Fleming
A child explores the wonders of the natural world in this rhyming, beautiful bright colored picture storybook about the lives of small animals and insects living around a freshwater pond.
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
Can two fish, tails going swish, help? Will three moose, munching on spruce, be able to pull the unlucky duck out of the muck? Perfectly sized for small hands, this counting rhyme is a feast of sounds and numbers that will have young listeners scrambling to join the slippy, sloppy fun!
Five Green and Speckled Frogs by Constanza Basaluzzo
Five frog friends are hungry and hot. Count and sing along with this funny favorite.
S is for S’smores by Helen Foster James
Next to baseball and fireworks on the Fourth of July, nothing else seems as American as the family camping trip. From what to pack, where to go, and what to do when you get there, S is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet takes readers on an A-Z trail exploring this outdoor pastime.
P.J Funnybunny Camps Out by Marilyn Sadler
Illus. in full color. Camping is not for girls, right? At least, that’s what P.J. and his pals tell Donna and Honey Bunny when they want to tag along on a camping trip. But when two mysterious ghosts frighten the boys all the way home, only the girls know the real story.
Amelia Bedelia goes camping by Peggy Parish
Amelia Bedelia has never been camping in the great outdoors before. She’s trying her best to do exactly as she’s told, but pitching a tent is not the same as throwing it into the bushes, and catching a fish with your bare hands isn’t easy.
Scaredy Squirrel goes camping by Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel is not too comfortable with the idea of camping ? unless it’s on his couch! There will be no mosquitoes, skunks or zippers to worry about when he watches a show about the joys of camping on his brand-new TV. But first Scaredy must find an electrical outlet, and that means going into the woods! Will the nutty worrywart’s plans prepare him for the great outdoors, or will his adventure end up as a scary story told around
Toasting Marshmallows by Kristine O’Connell George
Everything that happens when you go camping can be an adventure, from getting dressed inside your sleeping bag on a chilly morning to meeting a moose to sharing secrets in a tent at night. Kristine O’Connell George turns the memorable moments of a family outing into spirited, evocative verse, and Kate Kiesler’s vivid paintings provide a cast of characters and the perfect setting. The captivating poems and pictures in Toasting Marshmallows will leave readers with wonderful memories of a camping trip—even if they’ve never
A camping spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
In A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when along comes a lumbering, marshmallow-loving bear and the excitement begins. The next thing the two campers know, they are plunging down a mountain, racing down a river, and teetering on the edge of a waterfall! How will Mr. Magee and Dee find their way out of this slippery situation?
Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman
In this story Fred and Ted go camping, and as usual, their uniquely different approaches to doing things (such as packing equipment, setting up camp, and fishing techniques) have humorous—and sometimes surprising—results. A charming introduction to opposites that beginner readers will find ruff to put down!
123 Make a S’more with me by Elizabeth Gauthier
A silly counting book about your favorite, gooey campfire treat!
Brave Little Camper by Carmen Crowe
Join Little Camper on an adventure with the look and feel of a classic childrens book. You’ll hear a variety of forest-animal sounds as Little Camper spends the night in the forest for the very first time.
Camp Out! The Ultimate Kids Guide by Lynn Brunelle
Whether you’re planning an over night in the backyard or a weekend in the wilderness, this book is packed with stuff to know. The basics, from gearing up to choosing a site to building a tarp tent. Tasty outdoor recipes: Solar Oven Pizza, Chow Down Chili and s’ more’s of course—with 8 variations.
Camping Catastrophe by Abby Klein
With more than two million copies sold, this series is a huge Scholastic Book Clubs success. Klein presents a diverse community of 1st graders facing real issues that matter to this age group.
Camping Day! By Patricia Lakin
Sam, Pam, Will and Jill are crocodile friends with a camping plan but not much know-how. They get lost on their way to the campsite, get attacked by a swarm of bees, get all mixed up while trying to assemble their tent, and then get so frightened by nighttime shadows that their campout is in danger of fizzing out.
But all ends well, as it always does for this happygo- lucky crew.
Camping for Kids (into the Great Outdoors) by Melanie Ann Howard
As you roast a marshmallow, the sunset paints the sky in beautiful shades of red. Countless breathtaking encounters with nature are just waiting to be found. Are you ready for a trip into the great outdoors? Now is your chance to learn what you need to know about camping history, gear, safety, and more.
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
Through neatly drawn illustrations and a spare yet dramatic color palette, artist Lizi Boyd offers an enchanting exploration of night, nature, and art with Flashlight. Both lyrical and humorous, this visual poem—like the flashlight beam itself—reveals there is magic in the darkness. We just have to look for it.
Goodnight, Campsite by Loretta Sponsler
Goodnight, Campsite” is set in a beautiful nature park, and the story follows visitors as they explore the park during the day (hiking, biking, fishing, etc.), and then returns with them to their campsite at night. There is an emphasis on RVs, which sets this title apart from other camping books on the market, which only feature tents.
Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night by Cynthia Rylant
It’s time for a camping trip with Henry’s parents! They’ll go on hikes and smell good smells. They’ll see deer and raccoons and waterfalls and rainbows. Henry’s mother will cook camp food and Henry’s father will sing sappy old songs, and they’ll all lie on their backs and look at the stars (except for Mudge—he’ll chew on a log, instead). And at the end of a perfect day, Henry and Mudge will snuggle in their tent and dream wonderful green dreams.
Just me and my Dad by Mercer Mayer
Whether he and his dad are canoeing, fishing, or building a campfire, parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story. A perfect gift for Father’s Day . . . or any day!
Kids Camp! Activities for the Backyard or wilderness by Laurie Carlson
Activities to help young campers build an awareness of the environment, learn about insect and animal behavior, boost their self-esteem, and learn the basics for fun, successful camping.
Llama Llama loves Camping by Anna Dwedney
Look out, world–Llama Llama is a TV star! The beloved character, made famous by Anna Dewdney’s best-selling picture books, is the star of his own original series, now airing on Netflix. In this episode-based 8×8, Llama Llama goes camping for the very first time and learns a valuable lesson: what seems scary can actually be super-duper FUN! Your little llamas will love
Maisy goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
When Maisy sets off to go camping in the country, it’s only natural that all her friends come along, too. But they soon find that pitching a tent is not an easy thing to do. Even if they do manage to keep the tent up, there’s the matter of fitting them all in — Maisy, Charley, Cyril, Tallulah, and finally, the huge elephant, Eddie. What a squeezy squish-squash! Good night, campers! Uh-oh-what’s that popping sound?
Oh, Beautiful Camping Site by Steve Herman
Kids will love the beautiful and colorful pictures with all the fun activities camping has to offer.
Oliver & Hope’s Adventure Under the Stars by Meg Cadts
Come along for the ride as Oliver the bear and Hope the butterfly join their friends Millie the barn owl and Chewie the English bulldog for their first camping trip. From fire-breathing dragons and alien spaceship encounters to a circus filled with elephants, giraffes and acrobats spinning in the air, the friends spend the night discovering the beauty of Mother Nature and playing silly games that make the shadows a little less scary and the adventure a whole lot more fun.
A Campfire Tail by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Welcome to Camp Wildwood! It’s Dragon’s first day, and his buddy would LIKE to show him a good time. But Dragon doesn’t seem to fit in with the boys and girls. He overturns the boat, ruins the puppet show, and even sets the tent on fire. Then, just as his buddy is about to give up, Dragon comes through in a pinch. This sweet, funny picture book teaches an important lesson about the true meaning of friendship—and in accepting the strengths and weaknesses of others.
The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock
Caldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein captures the majestic redwoods of Yosemite in this little-known but important story from our nation’s history. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt joined naturalist John Muir on a trip to Yosemite. Camping by themselves in the uncharted woods, the two men saw sights and held discussions that would ultimately lead to the establishment of our National Parks.
The Kids Campfire Book: Official Book of Campfire Fun by Jane Drake
This book in the Family Fun series has everything you need to know about having a fun and safe campfire. This collection of outdoor activities, games, stories, songs and more is for kids and families to share around the campfire. It includes tips on how to find the best campfire site, identify animal cries at night and locate constellations. Kids will also find out how to make pizza over an open fire, tell a spooky ghost story, or create musical instruments for a sing-along. With more than 125 pages of fun things to do around a campfire, this is the perfect book for every
The Bernstein Bears Blaze a Trail by Jan and Stan Bernstein
Brother, Sister, and Cousin Fred are ready to set out on a Bear Scout adventure. However, when Papa joins the trio, things end up becoming a bit of a mishap.
Olivia goes camping by Alex Harvey
Olivia is super excited to have her best friend come along on her family camping trip. However Francine is not a huge fan of the Great Outdoors and is less than excited about the mud, the bugs, and the idea of sleeping in a tent. It’s up to Olivia to help Francine get in touch with her inner nature lover in this funny story
Tacky goes to camp by Helen Lester
Tacky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy themselves while Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and playing Capture the Ice Cube. One night, they gather around the campfire to sing, eat s’mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed, something straight out of one of their scary stories pays the sleeping penguins a visit. Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect think they should high-tail it out of there, but it is Tacky—with some unexpected heroics—who saves the day.
Don’t feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty
Mac and cheese, Carrot cake, Meatball stew: Bear loves when campers leave him grub. The park ranger does not. Smackity smack, Ranger pounds a sign into the ground: DON’T FEED THE BEAR! Upset—no more chewy cookies? No more juicy burgers?—Bear quickly crosses out the “don’t.” Now, it’s war in the park! But when both Bear and Ranger end up losing out, will the two antagonists finally call a truce? With its delightfully cartoonlike pictures and clever wordplay, this picture book will keep kids laughing for hours.
Scare a Bear by Kathy Jo Wargin
Do you know how to scare a bear? Would you bang pots and pans? Would you rattle some cans? Would you shout? Would you yell? Would you ring a loud bell? Do you know how to scare a bear? How would you scare a bear out of your cabin? Or out of your fishing boat? How about away from your campfire? And what if he climbed in your bunk? Would the bed go kerplunk? From the author-illustrator team who created Moose on the Loose comes yet another example of the high jinks and hilarity that happens when wildlife wanders indoors. In this contest of wills, who will win? And once again, by story’s end, young campers will know exactly how to scare a bear!
A week in the woods by Andrew Clements
Mark didn’t ask to move to New Hampshire. Or to go to a hick school like Hardy Elementary. And he certainly didn’t request Mr. Maxwell as his teacher. Mr. Maxwell doesn’t like rich kids, or slackers, or know-it-alls. And he’s decided that Mark is all of those things. Now the whole school is headed out for a week of camping — Hardy’s famous Week in the Woods. At first it sounds dumb, but then Mark begins to open up to life in the country, and he decides it might be okay to learn something new. It might even be fun. But things go all wrong for Mark. The Week in the Woods is not what anyone planned. Especially not Mr. Maxwell. With his uncanny knack to reach right to the heart of kids, Andrew Clements asks — and answers — questions about first impressions, fairness, loyalty, and courage — and exactly what it takes to spend a Week in the Woods.
Our great big Backyard by Laura Bush
Our Great Big Backyard follows Jane, whose plans of spending the summer playing video games with her friends are dashed when her parents announce that her family is going on a road trip to national parks around the country. Yet somewhere between the Everglades and Big Bend National Park, things begin to change.
Jane starts paying attention to the magnificent sights and spends less time looking at her screen. The stunning views open up her imagination as she and her brother see everything that nature has to offer.
And the more Jane discovers, the more she realizes how much there is to love about the outdoors—whether she’s in a national park across the country or right in her own backyard.
Boris goes Camping by Carrie Weston
Miss Cluck is taking her class camping. There are various mishaps along the way – the little mice find it difficult to keep up, then Maxwell drops his Teddy in the stream while they play pooh-sticks. Each time, Boris comes to the rescue – earning him praise from Miss Cluck and his classmates.
Eventually the animals find a lovely spot for their tepee and they spend the afternoon decorating it before setting off to gather berries for supper. But . . . when they get back to their lovely tepee, they discover that . . . ‘Someone had scribbled on the sides. Someone had drawn a moustache on
Miss Cluck’s face. Someone had pulled down the sticks . . . And someone was going to be in BIG trouble!’ The culprits are two naughty wolf cubs and they laugh in the face of Miss Cluck’s reprimands (after all, since when have wolves been scared of chickens?) but they soon lose their bravado when
Boris steps in with his big bear grin. So Miss Cluck and her pupils reclaim their tent and, after an evening of songs and stories,
Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin
When a young girl brings her beloved stuffed fox to the playground, much to her astonishment, a real fox takes off with it! The girl chases the fox into the woods with her friend, the boy, following close behind, but soon the two children lose track of the fox. Wandering deeper and deeper into the forest, they come across a tall hedge with an archway. What do they find on the other side? A marvelous village of miniature stone cottages, tiny treehouses, and, most extraordinary of all, woodland creatures of every shape and size. But where is the little fox? And how will they find him?
Tall Tall Tree by Anthony D. Fredericks
There’s a world teeming with life that very few people ever see. Take a peek at some of the animals that make their home in a Tall Tall Tree―a magnificent coast redwood. Count the critters, one through ten―chipmunks chattering, bats roosting, slugs sliding, and many more. Tony Frederick’s playful rhyme makes this a book young children will want to look at and listen to again and again, while early readers will enjoy reading it on their own. The turn of every page reveals a unique perspective on the redwood’s many moods, illustrated with Chad Wallace’s stunning colors. Enriching STEAM activities complement the content. Come discover and explore this wild and magic world!
We hope you enjoyed some of the books on this list. We love to hear which are your favorites. You can also join us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at @homeschoolinginnyc and Pinterest for more updates and information.