Camping Books for Preschoolers

Our preschooler LOVES camping. She’s borderline obsessed. So naturally, she LOVES all books related to camping. Over the past year or so, these have been our absolute favorite camping books for preschoolers.

Now there’s A LOT of books out there for nature, the woods, the mountains, etc. However, for this list I wanted books that focus exclusively on CAMPING. Being in the campgrounds, sleeping through the night in a forest, sitting around a fire, etc.

I wanted books that would either help my daughter be excited about an upcoming camping trip (not that that’s hard to do with her little camping-obsessed heart). I also wanted books that she would really resonate with because as much as she loves hiking, exploring, etc.- when we camp, her favorite part of the trip is just playing in the campground.

And if your little one hasn’t been camping yet, these are a great way to introduce them to the idea of what camping is really like. Reading about it ahead of time can really calm their anxieties. Additionally, some of these books address those anxieties head on. It’s a great way to open up a conversation with your child about things they might be nervous about.

These are also great to bring with you ON camping trip. If they’re getting a little apprehensive about the idea of sleeping in a tent or of it getting dark, it can be great to read from one of these books together and remember that it’s ok to be nervous about new things.

These books can also be great inspiration for things to do while camping. They’re getting restless? Grab one of these books and see if you can recreate it.

In this list, which includes picture books AND early chapter books, I’m sure there will be something that grabs the interest of your little one.

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Monster and Mouse Go Camping by Deborah Underwood

This book is absolutely hilarious- perfect for preschoolers who love a silly book to laugh at over and over again.

Mouse wants to go camping- Monster isn’t so sure and is a little hesitant about it.  However, the promise of food convinces Monster to go, but mishaps occur along the way.

In no way is this a “give kids a realistic idea of what camping is really like” book, but it’s adorable and FUNNY.  It’s great for just building up positive associations with camping and laughing at Monster’s hilarious antics.

It’s genuinely funny- not just funny to a preschooler, but funny to adults as well.  We read it on REPEAT.

It’s available on Amazon here.

Yasmin the Camper by Saadia Faruqi

We love the Yasmin chapter books (you can read more about them in my post about best chapter books for preschoolers here), and this one absolutely fantastic.  Yasmin goes camping with her scouts troop, but she’s a little nervous about being away from her parents.

When she and her friend can’t quite get the tent set up properly, she takes a deep breath, remembers what her dad always tells her about her being capable, and she figures out a solution.  

What I really like about this book is at the end there are discussion questions for you and your child, including talking about situations where they have felt both excited and nervous, and how it’s ok to feel different emotions at one time.

Additionally, it has activities to go with the book including writing activities and nature activities.

My three year old immediately wanted to dive into the activities after we read the book. I love books that have activities in them as it really encourages more bonding and learning time.

Emma Every Day: Camping Fun by C.L. Reid

Another great book from another fantastic series. (Seriously- go check out that post about our favorite chapter books for preschoolers!)

Emma and her family are going on a camping adventure. The first thing they do is pick up a list of activities when they check in. My daughter LOVED this as we often make scavenger hunts or attend events in our campgrounds.

(In fact, she loved it so much that after reading this book she spent WEEKS pretending to check into a campground and I had to hand her a list of available activities that she then pretended to do around the house. It was a great game to play during some cold and dark November evenings while we were getting dinner ready.)

Their weekend is full of fun things that a preschooler would love. They set up a tent, roast marshmallows, and look for shooting stars. The next day they also go on a family hike, observe nature, and a swim in the lake.

It’s a great introduction to all of the different fun things there are to do while camping to really hype up a preschooler.

One thing we love about the Emma Every Day books is how it addresses deafness and introduces American Sign Language. Emma is deaf and uses a cochlear implant. Throughout the book there are finger spellings for some words and at the end there’s a glossary with more signs.

My three year old loves learning some of the signs as we read these books. I also think it’s really powerful to for her to see deafness not in terms of something that would hold someone back- but instead as just a matter-of-fact.

It’s available on Amazon here.

Sophie MOuse: The whispering Woods by Poppy Green

This is another one of our favorite chapter book series, and this book just might be in our top five favorite Sophie Mouse books.

Sophie goes camping for the first time with her friends, Hattie and Owen.  They eventually get spooked by noises they hear at night, but it all turns out to be a fun misunderstanding.

This is a great book for showing how your imagination can run away with you a bit in the woods, and how camping is still great fun.

HOWEVER- my favorite part about this book is the role that Hattie takes on.  Hattie is typically shy and cautious- always hesitant to get into the adventures that her more outgoing friend Sophie initiates. 

But this book shows Hattie in a different environment and she really shines.  In this one it’s Hattie who is the experienced camper and Sophie and Owen are learning from her.  It shows Hattie with a lot of confidence and leadership- really highlighting how camping and time outdoors can build up confidence in a young child.

Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq

Fatima is going on her first family camping trip ever and is excited about spending time with her family.  Fatima’s family has immigrated from India and Fatima’s dad says that camping is what Americans love to do.  Together, they learn how to set up a tent and cook over a campfire.

In the end, Fatima finds a new level of peace and joy in the forest, and eagerly awaits their next camping trip.

It’s a good introduction to how sometimes, camping can be a learning experience for everyone.  It also shows the magic that there is in camping and how wonderful it can be for a family to spend time together in nature.

Lastly, it includes some glimpses at Indian culture, including multilingualism, food, and the idea of why people might immigrate to America.

My daughter identified with the deep sadness that Fatima feels as they leave the campsite as she also is always reluctant to leave our camping trips.

Closing Thoughts

These books are read on REPEAT in our house. We absolutely love them. They emphasize all the best parts of camping- the fun, the adventure, the time in nature. However, they also emphasize the value of camping- growing in confidence and spending valuable time with your family and friends.

I hope that at least one of these camping books for preschoolers helps your own little one get excited about camping OR resonates with a preschooler who is already head-over-heels in love with camping.

If you have littler ones in the house as well, be sure to check out my post on best camping books for toddlers here.

And if you’re looking for tips on camping with preschoolers or toddlers, be sure to sign up for email updates!