If your kid loves playing in the woods or walking along a stream looking for treasure rather than watching TV, you’ve got an outdoor lover on your hands. If they also struggle to sit still and read a novel, then the world of non-fiction books might be exactly what they need. For outdoor kids, the right nonfiction book doesn't feel like a chore. It feels like discovery!
I was one of those kids who loved nonfiction books because they were about something real. I remember lying on the floor in my bedroom with a book about marine life, learning about how large a blue whale can be. And it had pictures! It blew my little mind!
Non-fiction books have become even better in recent years. With engaging pictures and fun facts, many outdoor nonfiction books make kids feel like real-life explorers. Field guides written for young readers help them identify trees, animals, rocks, and insects they encounter on hikes or camping trips. Suddenly, a walk in the woods becomes a treasure hunt. Kids start asking questions like: What kind of bird made that call? Why are those leaves shaped differently? Which animal left those tracks by the creek?
The best nonfiction books for outdoor-loving kids mix exciting facts with vivid photos, diagrams, and hands-on ideas. Many include experiments, scavenger hunts, or small projects kids can try outside, like building a bird feeder, tracking animal footprints, or starting a nature journal.
Here are a few books that I think your outdoor kid will love:
Deer Hunting for Kids by Andrew McMurdie
I wrote this book to help kids easily learn how amazing deer are, facts about the different species, and the basics of hunting. This book features over 50 full-color pictures, fun facts, and tried-and-true deer-hunting strategies to help your kid get ready to harvest their first animal.
$12.99
Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars by Steven Rinella
A titan in the outdoors world, Steven Rinella is truly a gifted writer and storyteller. This book is full of activities for the outdoor-loving kid, such as collecting fossils, tracking animals, building survival shelters, and much more. I would highly recommend this for any young outdoorsman or outdoorswoman.
$18.00
Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survival Story by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace
For the kids who love true stories, this book is perfect! This thrilling book tells the story of the USS Jeannette and their 1879 search for the North Pole. When disaster strikes, they must abandon the ship and search for civilization. De Long documented this harrowing, two-year-long adventure in his extensive journals, which were found alongside his body, giving this real story an extra wow-factor.
$22.00
Untamed Grossology: Icky Things in the Great Outdoors by Sylvia Branzei, illustrated by Jack Keely
Anyone who spends time outside knows there are a lot of gross things. This book helps your budding outdoor adventurer learn about all of the gross things found outside. For example, did you know that a group of rats is called a mischief and a single rat can leave 25,000 droppings in a year? That’s a lot of poop!
$7.99
The Wilderness Survival Guide for Kids by Will Kingsmen
Being outdoors requires knowing how to stay safe and what to do if things go wrong. This book is an excellent way for kids to learn about outdoor survival in an engaging format. They’ll learn how to build shelters, find safe drinking water, forage for food, build fires safely, and enjoy many other fun activities. You’ll find a lot of great tips for your next camping trip or hike!
$8.99
Check out more books for outdoor enthusiasts ages 8-12.
