Books About The American West

The Best The American West Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about the american west? 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.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About The American West

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1935

Little House on the Prairie

By Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Little House on the Prairie series

A pioneer family faces unexpected challenges on the Kansas prairie.

352 pages· 51,885 words· Est. 7 hour read

6.0/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 305,701 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Laura Ingalls and her family journey from Wisconsin to Kansas, seeking a new life on the prairie. As they build their home and adapt to frontier life, unexpected conflicts arise. Will they be forced to uproot once more? Join Laura in this tale of resilience and adventure, where the vast prairie holds both promise and peril.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1988

A Little House Sampler

By Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane · Little House series

Discover untold stories that inspired the Little House series, revealing frontier life through Laura and Rose's eyes.

243 pages· 75,171 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 3,862 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Step into the world that inspired the beloved Little House series with Laura Ingalls Wilder's early writings and Rose Wilder Lane's essays. This collection unveils never-before-published stories, offering a vivid glimpse into frontier life. Experience the challenges and triumphs of pioneering through the eyes of two remarkable women, as they recount tales of log cabins, covered wagons, and farm life. A Little House Sampler is a testament to American history, capturing nearly a century of life on the frontier. What secrets and stories await in these cherished pages?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Major Impossible

By Nathan Hale · Book #9 in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series

Ten men enter the Grand Canyon; only six survive. Can they conquer nature's fury?

128 pages· 12,616 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,893 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In 1869, one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell leads a daring expedition through the Grand Canyon. Facing treacherous rapids and dwindling supplies, ten men embark on a perilous journey. As boats are lost and danger looms, only six will emerge from the canyon's depths. Will Powell's spirit of adventure be enough to overcome nature's wrath and secure his place in history?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015

Where Is Mount Rushmore?

By True Kelley, Who HQ, John Hinderliter (Illustrator) · Where Is . . . ? series

A Danish-American sculptor and his son take a trip out west and begin an incredible project to carve a sculpture into the side of a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

112 pages· 6,505 words· Est. 55 min read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 343 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Gutzon Borglum dreams of sculpting four presidents into a South Dakota cliff, but faces skepticism and financial hurdles during the Great Depression. Can his vision overcome the odds and controversy?

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2010

The Buffalo Are Back

By Jean Craighead George, Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

Witness the buffalo's journey from near extinction to thriving herds.

32 pages· 1,630 words· Est. 13 min read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 364 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Explore the buffalo's dramatic journey from the Plains Indians to the Dust Bowl, and their resurgence in national parks. This tale of survival and revival invites readers to protect nature's balance.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–10 · 1998

Riding Freedom

By Pam Muñoz Ryan, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

A girl defies 1800s norms to live her dream life with horses.

160 pages· 20,363 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 8,767 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Charlotte Parkhurst, raised in a boys' orphanage, dreams of a life with horses. In the 1800s, society expects her to conform, but Charlotte is determined. Disguising herself as a man, she becomes a renowned stagecoach driver, outwitting bandits and finding love. Her true identity remains hidden until her death, leaving a legacy of courage and defiance. Can Charlotte truly live the life she desires, or will society's constraints hold her back?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2003

Golden Ghost

By Terri Farley · Phantom Stallion series

A lost palomino, a ghost town, and a mysterious stallion. Can Sam bring the horse home?

224 pages· 45,914 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,017 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a ghost town, Sam finds a lost palomino that seems both familiar and elusive. Is it the missing horse from her friend's ranch? As she attempts to return the mare, Sam faces an unexpected challenge from the Phantom Stallion. With the beauty of the American West as her backdrop, Sam must navigate friendship and mystery. Will she succeed, or will the Phantom Stallion thwart her plans?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1999

Tucket's Gold

By Gary Paulsen · The Tucket Adventures series

Stranded in a wasteland, a family faces outlaws and discovers treasure.

112 pages· 17,490 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,025 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Francis Tucket and his adopted siblings, Lottie and Billy, are stranded in a desolate prairie, pursued by ruthless Comanchero outlaws. With no horses, water, or food, survival seems impossible. But when they uncover an ancient treasure, their fortunes could change. Can they outsmart their pursuers and hold onto their newfound wealth? As they band together, the promise of riches and a reunion with Francis's parents on the Oregon Trail beckons. Will teamwork and courage be enough to overcome the dangers that lie ahead?

Sale price

$759

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2007

The Buffalo Storm

By Katherine Applegate, Jan Ormerod (Illustrator)

A girl must face her fear of storms to save a buffalo on a perilous journey west.

32 pages· 1,419 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud

4.0/5 Goodreads · 156 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Hallie embarks on a daunting journey west with her family, leaving her beloved grandmother behind. As storms loom, she must confront her deepest fear to rescue a stranded buffalo. Can Hallie find the courage within herself, inspired by her grandmother's wisdom, to brave the wild elements and forge a new path? Discover a tale of bravery and heart in a world where nature's fury tests the limits of a young girl's resolve.

Sale price

$1605

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2004

A Packet of Seeds

By Deborah Hopkinson, Bethanne Andersen (Illustrator)

A girl seeks to bring joy to her homesick mother with a special garden.

32 pages· 1,532 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud

4.0/5 Goodreads · 169 ratings

$16.89Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: On the dusty prairie, Anna's mother longs for the life she left behind. Determined to see her smile again, Anna enlists her brother Jim and their father to create a garden reminiscent of home. As they prepare the soil, a forgotten gift—a packet of seeds—offers hope. Will this small gesture be enough to lift her mother's spirits and bring a touch of the past to their new frontier life?

The Bookroo Book Club