In Lewis Carroll's timeless classic Alice in Wonderland, the Gryphon cries out to Alice, "No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time." We agree with the Gryphon, let's get to the adventures! That's something we love most about children's books: they offer instant access to adventure. As Stephen King said, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” One minute we're in our home on the couch, and a moment later we're journeying across the African savanna, exploring the world in a hot air balloon, or even rocketing through space. The possibilities for adventure are endless. Here we've compiled a list of the best adventure books for kids. This list features adventure books of all sorts and for all ages (we've searched long and hard to ensure we have titles exciting for girls and for boys). There are books that involve mysteries, magic, and fantasy, or books about leaving home, journeys, and friendship. Some are classic stories you may recognize from your own childhood, while others are exciting new titles containing new adventures just waiting to be had. Some titles are even part of a series that might become a new treasured favorite for your kids or start a cherished tradition of reading aloud together. The list includes board books, picture books, and chapter books. Board books are best for babies and toddlers from ages newborn to around 2 or 3. Picture books are generally good options for toddlers and for preschool and kindergarten age children. The chapter books on our list are generally best for elementary and early middle school age children. Within that range, some titles are best suited for 9 year olds and 10 year olds (around 4th or 5th graders) while others are better suited for 7 year olds and 8 year olds (around 2nd or 3rd graders). Still others are best for advanced readers approaching middle school age (11 year olds and 12 year olds). Each book includes age suggestions you can reference to guide your search. You can filter to sort by the best book type for your kid, and you can also use our table of contents to jump to particular topics you think your kid will enjoy. We've kept you from the list long enough. As the Gryphon says, explanations take such a dreadful time. Let's get to the adventures! As you explore the list, please comment below to let us know what books you would add.