Books About Wilderness

The Best Wilderness Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about wilderness? 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.

#35 in Series

#3 in Series

Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Wilderness

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 11–15 · 1906

White Fang

By Jack London

A wild creature battles nature and its own instincts to find trust in humans.

256 pages· 72,088 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 211,094 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In the unforgiving Yukon, White Fang, a half-dog, half-wolf, is the sole survivor of his litter. As he navigates the brutal laws of the wild, he grapples with distant memories of love and warmth. Can this fierce creature overcome his instincts and learn to trust humans once more? Journey with White Fang as he faces the ultimate challenge of survival and the possibility of redemption in a world that demands both savagery and tenderness.

Sale price

$474

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2007

Rain Forest Rose

By Terri Farley · Book #3 in the Phantom Stallion: Wild Horse Island series

A girl faces her fears to uncover a forest's secrets and mend friendships.

224 pages· 36,831 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 450 ratings

$4.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Darby fears the dark woods but is drawn to a mysterious pink roan mustang. Venturing into the rain forest to visit her healer great-grandmother, she discovers a hidden tragedy that fractured her friends. Can Darby and her great-grandmother heal the rift, or will the enigmatic mustang hold the key to reconciliation? As secrets unravel, Darby must confront her fears and the forest's mysteries to restore harmony.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2021

Camp Time in California

By Mary Pope Osborne, AG Ford (Illustrator) · Book #35 in the Magic Tree House series

Two siblings travel through time to the early twentieth century and find themselves in the midst of a grand adventure in the Yosemite wilderness.

112 pages· 8,917 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,028 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Jack and Annie travel to Yosemite National Park in 1903, joining John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt on a historic camping trip. As they explore the majestic wilderness, they must uncover an invisible threat to nature. With only their sketchbooks and a mysterious grizzly bear as guides, they learn that some dangers are felt, not seen. Can they protect the park before it's too late? Discover the hidden perils lurking in the heart of the forest and the courage needed to face them.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014

Togo

By Kate Klimo, Tim Jessell (Illustrator) · Book #4 in the Dog Diaries series

A forgotten sled dog defies danger to save a town from an epidemic.

176 pages· 21,090 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 607 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1925, a diphtheria outbreak threatens Nome, Alaska. While Balto is celebrated, it's Togo, a determined Siberian husky, who braves treacherous ice with musher Leonard Seppala. Can this unsung hero's daring journey change history? Discover the untold story of courage and survival in the frozen wilderness.

Sale price

$574

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2008

Camping Catastrophe!

By Abby Klein, John McKinley (Illustrator) · Ready, Freddy! series

Can Freddy brave the wild to avoid a week's worth of chores?

96 pages· 7,814 words· Est. 1 hour read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 209 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Freddy Thresher faces a daunting challenge: survive a camping trip to avoid losing a bet with his sister, Suzie. With the school bully, Max, doubting him and a week's worth of chores on the line, Freddy must conquer his fears and prove he's no scaredy-cat. Will he make it through the night, or will Suzie's taunts become reality? Join Freddy and his best friend Robbie on an adventure filled with suspense and unexpected twists as they navigate the wild and their own fears.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2017

Falcon Wild

By Terry Lynn Johnson

A girl must survive the wilderness to save her family after a car crash.

176 pages· 40,414 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 459 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Karma dreams of becoming a falconer, but a car crash leaves her father trapped and her brother in danger. Stranded in the wilderness, Karma must navigate the wild with only her falcon, Stark, and a troubled boy named Cooper. As they struggle to survive, Karma discovers her true strength and the power of friendship. Can she save her family and prove herself as a falconer?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2009

Smoke Mountain

By Erin Hunter · Book #3 in the Seekers series

Bears face perilous mountains to reach the Last Great Wilderness.

288 pages· 62,205 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 5,305 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In a world where bears embark on epic quests, polar bears Kallik and Taqqiq, black bear Lusa, grizzly Toklo, and the enigmatic shape-shifter Ujurak unite. Their journey leads them to the fabled Last Great Wilderness, but the path is fraught with danger. The Smoke Mountains loom ahead, filled with challenges that test their courage and unity. Will they overcome the fiery trials and reach their destination, or will the wilderness claim them? Discover the fate of these brave bears in a tale of adventure and survival.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1990

Johnny Appleseed

By Reeve Lindbergh

A legendary wanderer sows seeds, transforming the Midwest forever.

32 pages· 738 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud

4.1/5 Goodreads · 834 ratings

$16.95Save 6%

Library Binding

Summary: Follow the journey of John Chapman, a legendary figure who roams the Midwest, planting apple seeds and leaving a lasting legacy. Through the eyes of a pioneer family, witness the transformation of America's landscape and the rhythms of frontier life. What drives this enigmatic wanderer, and how will his simple acts of planting shape the future? Discover the story of a man whose seeds of change continue to grow.

Sale price

$855

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2011

A Beautiful Friendship

By David Weber · Honor Harrington - Star Kingdom series

A teen's bond with an alien species sparks a battle for survival on a dangerous planet.

384 pages· 101,590 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 5,377 ratings

$9.00Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Stephanie Harrington, a determined teen on the frontier planet Sphinx, discovers an intelligent alien species, the treecats. Forming a telepathic bond with one, she faces powerful enemies intent on claiming the planet for humans. As galactic wealth hangs in the balance, Stephanie must protect her new friends from extermination. Will her courage and loyalty be enough to save them?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Wild River

By Rodman Philbrick · Book #2 in the The Wilds series

A rafting trip turns deadly; stranded kids must survive nature and each other.

208 pages· 31,195 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,442 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Daniel and his classmates awaken to chaos as a dam failure floods their camp. Stranded in Montana's wilderness with no adults, they must navigate survival's harsh realities. As they struggle for food and safety, tensions rise, threatening their fragile unity. Can they overcome nature's fury and their own conflicts to find rescue? This gripping tale of survival tests courage and friendship in the wild.

The Bookroo Book Club