Looking for thrilling reads that teach valuable survival skills?
From classic adventures to dystopian futures, there’s a world of exciting books waiting to inspire young readers. Discover stories that teach wilderness survival, gardening, cooking, and more. Whether your child is dreaming of far-off lands or building a backyard fortress, these books will ignite their imagination and prepare them for any challenge. Let’s dive into our top picks for kids’ adventure and survival literature.
Books Grouped by Category
The Classics
Here are a few classic titles from The Survival Mom’s bookshelves:
- The Cay by Theodore Taylor
- The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
- Dakota Dugout by Ann Turner
- Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- Homeplace by Anne Shelby
- Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
- Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell
- Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Meet Kirsten, an American Girl by Janet Beeler Shaw
- The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis
- My First Little House Books series for ages 4–8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
- Nine for California by Sonia Levitin
- The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
- When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
Outdoor and Life Skills
These books are focused on teaching a wide variety of skills kids can use from gardening and herbal remedies to wilderness survival and campfire cooking.
- American Boy’s Handy Book by Daniel Beard
- American Girls Handy Book by Lina Beard
- Camp Out: The Ultimate Kids Guide by Lynn Brunelle
- Complete Starter Guide to Whittling: 24 Easy Projects You Can Make in a Weekend (Best of Woodcarving) by the Editors of Woodcarving Illustrated
- Composting (Urban Gardening and Farming for Teens) by Brian Hanson-Harding
- Cooking on a Stick: Campfire Recipes for Kids by Linda White
- Family Camping Recipes: A Kid-Inspired Camp Cookbook by Debbie Madson
- Garden to Table: A Kid’s Guide to Planting, Growing, and Preparing Food by Katherine Hengel
- It’s Time to Call 911: What to Do in an Emergency by Inc. Penton Oversees
- Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy
- Square Foot Gardening with Kids by Mel Bartholemew
- Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival by Denise Long
- Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children by Tom Brown
- Ultimate Book of Step-by-Step Cooking and Gardening Project for Kids by Nancy McDougal and Jenny Hendy
- Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System by Mary Appelhof
Contemporary Kids Survival Literature
Here are some more recent, often dystopian, books. These are generally for more of a YA to adult audience, not as much for younger kids. The Book Thief, for example, deals with WWII – not an easy subject for little ones.
- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- The Maze Runner by James Dashner
- Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
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Updated October 30, 2024
You have given us a good list of books. I have a few and have read a few of the others! Great job.
Thanks, Lisa! I’m new to your site, but am impressed with your sage information; especially with what is transpiring on the world scene right now.
Best,
Brett Wright
The “Hatchet” series is even good for adults! I have them all and read them regularly. For kids, I’d also recommend “Down the Long Hills” by Louis L’Amour and any original Boy Scout handbooks. By “original”, I mean the ones written in the early part of the 20th century. They had a lot more “how to” information than the later books, and reprints are readily available of the 1911 version.
Are you in my Facebook group, Survival Mom Book Club? “Down the long hills” was our June selection!