Books About Search And Rescue

The Best Search And Rescue Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Rescue Books, featuring 13 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about search and rescue? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

#1 in Series

#57 in Series

#2 in Series

#1 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Search And Rescue

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2011

Dog Heroes

By Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce, Sal Murdocca (Illustrator) · Book #24 in the Magic Tree House: Fact Tracker series

A book about the history and abilities of dogs, including their role in search and rescue, guiding the blind, and detecting diseases.

128 pages· 7,243 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 510 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Join Jack and Annie as they unravel the mysteries of heroic dogs. From avalanche-rescuing St. Bernards to legendary war dogs, their quest for answers leads to fascinating discoveries. What makes a dog a hero? Dive into this fact-filled journey and find out!

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015

Ellie's Story

By W. Bruce Cameron · Book #1 in the Puppy Tales series

The story revolves around the adventures of a German Shepherd named Ellie and her handlers Jakob and Maya as they work together in search and rescue missions.

208 pages· 37,505 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 6,159 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Ellie, a dedicated search-and-rescue dog, excels at finding lost people. But her greatest challenge lies in helping her handlers, widowed Jakob and lonely Maya, who are lost in their own ways. As Ellie navigates her mission, she must discover how to rescue those she loves most. Can she fulfill her purpose beyond the call of duty and bring healing to her human companions? Join Ellie on a heartwarming journey of loyalty and love, where the stakes are not just about saving lives, but mending hearts.

Sale price

$574

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2012

The Disappearance of Drover

By John R. Erickson · Book #57 in the Hank the Cowdog series

A trip to town turns chaotic when Drover vanishes. Can Hank find him in time?

122 pages· 20,871 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 133 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Hank and Drover's nap in Slim's pickup leads to unexpected chaos at a livestock show. When Drover suddenly disappears to visit his mother, Hank must race against time to find his sidekick before Slim returns to the ranch. Will Hank's search turn into a wild goose chase, or can he reunite with Drover before it's too late? The clock is ticking, and the stakes are high in this thrilling adventure.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2016

Love Matters Most

By Mij Kelly

A polar bear braves the icy wilds to find her lost cub.

32 pages· 193 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

5.2/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 205 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In a frozen wonderland, a polar bear leaves her cozy cave, searching for something beyond silver salmon or golden treasures. Her journey through the icy expanse is driven by a mother's love, as she seeks her lost cub. Will she find her precious little one amidst the swirling winter skies? This heartwarming tale, set against breathtaking winter landscapes, captures the enduring bond between mother and child, inviting readers to join a touching adventure of love and hope.

Sale price

$574

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2006

The Return

By John Vornholt · Book #3 in the Flight 29 Down series

Stranded students on a remote island face storms, rivalries and fading hope of rescue.

222 pages· 44,515 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 133 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Weeks after their charter plane went down on a remote Pacific island, a group of students has learned to fend for themselves. Now supplies are running low, tempers are flaring and some of them set out to find help. The third novel based on the Flight 29 Down TV series continues the castaways' fight to survive and get home.

Sale price

$574

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2013

The Mystery of the Fallen Treasure

By Tim Jessell (Illustrator) · Book #132 in the The Boxcar Children series

A dog finds a backpack of jewelry from a plane. Mystery deepens.

128 pages· 13,841 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 256 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: The Alden children discover their dog, Watch, has a knack for search and rescue. During training in Oregon, Watch uncovers a backpack brimming with jewelry that mysteriously fell from a plane. As they attempt to return it, the mystery thickens, leading them into an unexpected adventure. What secrets does the backpack hold, and who is its rightful owner?

Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

Mountain Dog

By Margarita Engle, Aleksey & Olga Ivanov (Illustrator)

A boy finds healing and love with a search-and-rescue dog in a new, wild world.

240 pages· 17,708 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 1,744 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Tony's life changes when his mother goes to jail, sending him to live with an unknown uncle in Sierra Nevada. Amidst the wilderness, Tony's troubled past begins to mend. With his uncle and a loyal search-and-rescue dog named Gabe, Tony learns to track animals, finds community at the Cowboy Church, and makes friends at the Mountain School. As he navigates this unfamiliar terrain, Tony discovers the power of unconditional love through Gabe, offering him hope and a new beginning.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015

Blood Will Tell

By April Henry · Book #2 in the Point Last Seen series

A teen becomes the prime suspect in a murder. Can his friends prove his innocence?

272 pages· 57,801 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 4,370 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Nick Walker, a teen fascinated by knives and video games, becomes the prime suspect in a Portland murder. His interest in Search and Rescue is twisted into evidence against him. As suspicion mounts, friends Alexis and Ruby race against time to uncover the truth and clear Nick's name. Can they unravel the mystery before it's too late, or will Nick's life be forever changed by a crime he didn't commit?

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2014

The Body in the Woods

By April Henry · Book #1 in the Point Last Seen series

Three teens find a body in the woods and must catch the killer before becoming targets themselves.

288 pages· 60,310 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

3.8 Goodreads · 10,646 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Alexis, Nick, and Ruby, each grappling with personal struggles, join a search and rescue team. Tasked with finding a missing man, they instead discover a dead body. As danger looms, their newfound friendship is tested. Can they unmask the killer before he strikes again? Dive into a world of suspense and mystery where every decision could be their last.

Sale price

$2781

Picture Book · Ages 8–11 · 2012

Pararescuemen

By Mark Harasymiw · U.S. Special Forces series

Elite airmen parachute into danger to rescue people in trouble.

32 pages· 2,184 words· Est. 17 min read-aloud

4.5 Goodreads · 2 ratings

$29.27Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: U.S. Air Force pararescuemen are specially trained to reach and rescue people in dangerous places, often while avoiding enemy forces. This book covers their demanding training as parachutists, the work they do on rescue missions and their part in recent military operations, with photographs and sidebars.

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