We love to read books to our children, and children love adventure books the most. So, we try to find the perfect adventure books for our kids that keep them excited and engaged. However, finding the right adventure book can feel like a daunting task.
With so many books available, how do you pick one that will captivate your child’s imagination, keep them engaged, and teach them valuable lessons?
If you’ve ever found yourself wandering a bookstore or scrolling online for hours and need help figuring out where to start, this guide is for you.
After being stuck in the same situation multiple times, I created a simple, step-by-step guide, and now I’m sharing it with you to help you choose the perfect adventure book for your child so they’ll be flipping pages instead of asking for more screen time.
Step 1: Considering Your Child’s Age
The first thing to remember when choosing an adventure book for your child is their age. Books are often written with specific age groups in mind, ensuring that the story, language, and themes are appropriate.
Ages 4-6: Kids in this group are still developing their reading skills, so opt for books with colorful illustrations and simple, straightforward stories. Think along the lines of picture books or early readers with easy-to-follow plots.
Ages 7-9: At this stage, kids can handle chapter books. They love adventure stories with relatable characters and exciting (but not too intense) challenges.
Ages 10+: Older kids are ready for more complex stories. You can introduce them to epic quests, fantasy worlds, and deeper character development.
For example, A Hippie Mile by Allie Bobbitt is perfect for children in the 7-10 age range. It’s a fun and light-hearted adventure about two siblings, Gabe and Junebug, who reluctantly embark on a road trip with their parents in a beat-up old school bus. They end up having the time of their lives, and the book teaches them valuable lessons about family, friendship, and embracing the unexpected. Perfect for sparking young imaginations.
Step 2: Identifying Your Child’s Interests
Next, think about what your child loves. Do they enjoy stories about animals, pirates, wizards, or time travel?
Are they fascinated by outer space, fantasy worlds, or historical adventures?
Knowing what excites them will help narrow down your options.
Here are some popular themes for adventure books:
- Magic and Fantasy: Books with wizards, magical creatures, or enchanted lands.
- Exploration: Stories about kids discovering new places, like jungles or mysterious islands.
- Family Adventures: Books where the adventure revolves around family members traveling or experiencing challenges together, like in A Hippie Mile, where the family’s road trip brings laughter and surprises along the way.
Step 3: Check the Reading Level
The reading level is important to consider. You want a book that’s challenging enough to help your child grow as a reader but not so difficult that they get frustrated and give up.
Most books list their reading level on the cover or in the description. Make sure the level aligns with your child’s current abilities. You can also have your child read a few pages to see if they feel comfortable with the text.
Books like A Hippie Mile are written in a way that is accessible to younger readers but still engaging enough for older kids. Its relatable characters and straightforward language make it the perfect fit for kids ready to move on from picture books to more immersive chapter books.
Step 4: Read Reviews and Get Recommendations
If you’re unsure where to start, you can begin by reading reviews from other parents, teachers, or kids.
Online bookstores and review sites often have helpful feedback about books, especially from people who have read them with children the same age as yours.
Additionally, you can ask your child’s teacher or librarian for recommendations, as they often know popular adventure books suitable for different reading levels and interests.
Step 5: Look for Positive Themes and Lessons
Adventure books aren’t just about excitement and thrills—they’re also a great way for kids to learn important life lessons. When choosing a book, look for themes of friendship, bravery, teamwork, and perseverance. These lessons can help shape your child’s understanding of the world and how they interact with others.
For example, in A Hippie Mile, Gabe and Junebug learn that family, even when a little wacky, is a source of strength. Their road trip teaches them how to work together, solve problems, and make the best of unexpected situations while having a blast.
Step 6: Choose a Book That Sparks Imagination
The best adventure books are the ones that ignite your child’s imagination. When a book transports your child to a new world, makes them laugh, and gets them invested in the characters, they’ll keep coming back for more.
Look for books with:
- Engaging Characters: Kids love characters they can relate to, cheer for, or even laugh at.
- Exciting Plot: Whether it’s a daring escape from pirates or a journey through a magical forest, an adventure book should keep your child hooked.
- Unpredictable Twists: Kids love surprises, so books with unexpected events or plot twists will hold their interest.
A Hippie Mile is one such adventure book. It’s a quirky story about a family’s road trip, filled with odd encounters and laugh-out-loud moments, and it will keep your child glued to the pages. And, who knows? Maybe they’ll start dreaming about their own family adventures—minus the smelly bus, of course.
Step 7: Find Books by Authors You Trust
Finally, looking for books by authors known for writing captivating children’s literature is always a good idea. Authors who pour their love for storytelling into their books often create worlds kids love escaping into.
Allie Bobbitt, the author of A Hippie Mile, is one such writer. With a lifelong passion for reading and writing, Allie uses her own experiences to craft stories that resonate with children. Growing up traveling on a school bus, she knew something about road trip adventures, which shined through in her writing. Allie’s ability to create enchanting, humorous tales makes her a standout author in children’s literature.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect adventure book for your child can be easy if you follow this guide. By considering your child’s age, interests, reading level, and the lessons you want them to learn, you can easily find a book that sparks their imagination and keeps them excited about reading.
