My youngest was obsessed with books from basically the moment he could sit up. Like, we had to hide the book box or the kid would just… read all day. So when we started planning our first camping trip with him, obviously the first thing I did was raid Amazon for every camping book for toddlers I could find!
And honestly? It worked SO well to get him excited. He knew what a tent was, what s’mores were, and why we’d be sleeping somewhere “different” – all before we ever left the driveway. Reading camping books before a trip is genuinely one of my top tips for camping with toddlers because it turns the unknown into something familiar and fun.
Below I’ve put together the best camping books for toddlers and preschoolers – organized by age so you can grab exactly what fits your kid right now. I’ve also noted what each book is best for, because some are perfect for bedtime, some are great for working through “scary” camping fears, and some are just really fun reads to hype up the trip!
Disclosure: I’m an Amazon Associate and may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links – at no extra cost to you! I only recommend books I genuinely think are worth it.
Related: Best camping toys for kids – and don’t forget to grab our free toddler camping packing list!
Quick Picks – Best Camping Books for Toddlers by Category
- Best overall: Goodnight, Campsite
- Best for babies + board book age: Llama Llama Loves Camping
- Best for nervous campers: Bailey Goes Camping
- Best classic character pick: Curious George Goes Camping
- Best for bedtime: Goodnight, Campsite
- Best for growing with your kid: S is for S’mores
- Best for girls: Do Princesses Make Happy Campers?
- Best for learning about nature: When We Go Camping
- Best for a good laugh: Pete the Cat Goes Camping
Board Books + Babies (Ages 0-2)
These are great for little ones who aren’t quite toddlers yet – short, durable, and simple enough to hold a baby’s attention. They also make awesome baby camping gifts!
1. Llama Llama Loves Camping
Best for: First-time campers + babies who are a little nervous about new things
Llama Llama and his friends head out for a camping trip – and even though it’s new and a little scary at first, they discover it’s actually super fun! This is a beautiful board book for the youngest campers (think 1-2 years old), and the message – that new things that seem scary can turn out to be the best adventures – is one I honestly love for toddlers who might be anxious about sleeping somewhere different. The illustrations are colorful and cozy, and it’s short enough to hold a baby’s attention all the way through.
2. Goodnight, Campsite
Best for: Bedtime reads + showing toddlers what a camping day looks like
This is honestly one of my all-time favorites on this list. It walks your toddler through a full day of camping – hiking, exploring, and then winding down at night – so it’s perfect as a bedtime book right before a camping trip. It covers both RV and tent camping, which I love since not every family camps the same way! There’s also a campsite bingo game inside AND a hide-and-seek squirrel on each page that keeps toddlers totally engaged while you read. Super sweet book.
3. C is for Camping – A Camping Alphabet Board Book
Best for: Babies + toddlers who love alphabet books
This is a gorgeous little board book with retro-style illustrations featuring camping favorites from A to Z – campfires, hammocks, s’mores, wildlife, and more. It’s simple enough for babies but the illustrations are so charming that honestly adults love it too. If you’re looking for a camping-themed baby shower gift or a first camping book for an infant, this is a really sweet pick. The art style has that classic midcentury look that’s both toddler-friendly and genuinely beautiful.
Toddlers + Preschoolers (Ages 2-5)
This is where the fun really starts! These books are longer, have more story, and are perfect for the 2-5 age range – whether you’re reading aloud before bed or packing one in your camping bag for the trip.
4. Pete the Cat Goes Camping
Best for: A fun, easygoing read – and kids who scare easily (there IS a Bigfoot, fair warning!)
Pete the Cat is such a hit with the 2-5 crowd, and this book does not disappoint. Pete goes camping with his family and they hike, fish, eat s’mores, and enjoy all the classic camping adventures. The writing is simple and easy to read aloud, and the vibe is very “camping is chill and fun” – which is exactly what you want before a first trip! One heads up: Bigfoot does appear as a real character, so if you have a toddler who scares easily, just preview it first. But most kids think it’s hilarious.
5. Curious George Goes Camping
Best for: Classic character fans + a little fire safety lesson snuck in
Does any toddler NOT love Curious George?! This book follows George on a camping trip with the man in the yellow hat, and – obviously – hijinks ensue. It’s so relatable if you’ve ever tried to do anything with a toddler “helping” you around camp. George gets curious, wanders off, causes chaos, and somehow still manages to save the day. There’s also a tiny fire safety lesson woven in, which is a nice bonus for parents. Available on Kindle too if you’re a last-minute planner like me!
6. Bailey Goes Camping
Best for: Nervous toddlers + kids who feel “too little” for big adventures
This one is so sweet and honestly a little emotional as a parent. Bailey is a little bunny who desperately wants to go camping, but his older siblings tell him he’s too young. His mom steps in and creates the most magical backyard camping adventure so he doesn’t miss out. It’s a really beautiful book about inclusion, imagination, and making kids feel capable – and honestly one of the best ones on this list for toddlers who might feel nervous or left out. My kids have asked for this one over and over.
7. Maisy Goes Camping
Best for: Fans of Maisy + a silly, giggly read
Maisy and all her friends try to fit into her tent – including a very large elephant named Eddie – and it does not go smoothly! It’s a really fun, funny read with bright bold illustrations that toddlers love. The story also has a little mystery noise at night (seems to be a theme in camping books, which honestly is pretty realistic camping parenting). A great pick for the 2-4 age range, especially kids who already love the Maisy character.
8. The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail
Best for: Kids who love the Berenstain Bears + a classic camping adventure story
I grew up on the Berenstain Bears and I am THRILLED to have an excuse to pass them along! This one follows the Bear family on a hiking and camping adventure, with all the typical mishaps and chaos that comes with it – but they have a great time anyway. It’s a First Time Book which means it’s slightly longer than a board book and aimed at the 4-6 range, but honestly most 3-year-olds will love it read aloud. A classic for a reason.
9. Fred and Ted Go Camping
Best for: Big Dog Little Dog fans + learning that different is OK
Fred and Ted are back from Big Dog Little Dog (if you haven’t read that one yet, grab it – it’s a great intro to opposites for toddlers) and this time they’re going camping! They do everything differently – pack differently, fish differently, cook differently – but they have the best time anyway. It’s a really sweet lesson about friendship and how there’s no single “right way” to do things, wrapped up in a super fun camping adventure. Toddlers who already love these characters will be absolutely pumped to see them go camping.
10. Biscuit Goes Camping
Best for: Kids who already love Biscuit + prepping for rainy camping days
One of the things I love most about this book is that it tackles something real – what happens when it RAINS on your camping trip. Because it will. It always does. Biscuit and his little girl head out camping and it starts to pour, but they make the best of it and have a great time anyway. That’s such an important message to set with toddlers before a trip, because the last thing you want is a meltdown the second a cloud appears. If your kiddo already knows and loves Biscuit, this one is a total no-brainer addition to the camping book stack.
11. Bert and Ernie Go Camping
Best for: Sesame Street fans + sparking real outdoor activities
I really love this one because it’s not just a story – Bert and Ernie actually do things around camp that you could recreate in real life. They follow animal tracks, experiment with what floats and what sinks in the water, and explore nature together. It’s sneakily educational in the best possible way, and gives you and your toddler easy activities to try while camping. Almost every toddler knows and loves Bert and Ernie, so this is a really natural pick. Great for the 3-5 age range.
12. Caillou Goes Camping
Best for: Caillou fans (you know who you are) + kids anxious about camping noises at night
Ok, I know. It’s Caillou. But hear me out – if your toddler loves him, this book is genuinely worth it! It’s a lift-the-flap book (always a hit), and the story follows Caillou hearing about his grandpa’s camping trip and then convincing his family to camp in the backyard. They roast s’mores, tell stories around the campfire, and then hear some spooky noises at night. The backyard camping setup actually makes this a really good book for kids who are nervous about sleeping outside for the first time – it normalizes the experience without throwing them into the deep end. Solid pick for ages 2-4.
13. Do Princesses Make Happy Campers?
Best for: Little girls who love princess stuff but also love adventure
This one is such a fun pick for girls! It answers all the big camping questions from a princess perspective – what do you do when it rains? Can princesses ride bikes over mountains? (YES.) The whole message is that you can absolutely be a princess AND an outdoor adventurer, and I am here for it. If you’re planning a camping trip that includes hiking, there’s also a companion book called Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots that pairs perfectly – I’d grab both at the same time!
14. Little Bear Dover’s Camping Adventure
Best for: Toddlers who haven’t camped before + working through fear of nighttime sounds
This is a really sweet one for first-time campers. Little Bear and his friend go camping with their dad and hear a scary noise in the night – and they learn to be brave and figure out what it is. If you’ve ever camped, you know the first night with owls hooting or coyotes howling can freak a toddler out! This book is a really gentle way to prepare them for those sounds beforehand and show them that it’s going to be okay. Great for ages 2-4.
15. Oh Beautiful Camping Site
Best for: Families who do both tent AND RV camping
At 44 pages this is one of the longer books on this list, and it covers basically everything – RV camping, tent camping, hiking, fishing, and all the sights you see in nature. It’s a really comprehensive look at camping life for kids, which makes it great for families who camp in different ways. Also available on Kindle if you’re a last-minute shopper who can’t wait on Prime shipping (no judgment, I am also that person).
More Great Camping Books for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
16. S is for S’mores – A Camping Alphabet
Best for: Growing with your kid – works for ages 3 all the way to early elementary
This is one of those rare books that genuinely works across a big age range. For younger kids (3-4), the rhyming text and colorful illustrations are engaging and easy to follow. For older kids (5+), the sidebar text goes deeper with real information about camping, famous outdoor people, and nature – so it grows with them. If you only want to buy one book that’ll last multiple camping seasons, this is a really smart pick. It’s educational without being boring, and the s’mores theme alone will have toddlers sold.
17. When We Go Camping
Best for: Nature lovers + learning about real animals you might spot camping
This one has realistic illustrations of a campsite and nature – not cartoon animals, but actual-looking scenes – which I really love for kids who are visual learners. It walks through a full camping trip including exploring, fishing, chopping wood for the fire, eating supper, and sitting around the campfire. There’s also a fun animal-finding challenge in the back of the book where kids have to find hidden animals in each picture. Technically recommended for age 4+, but I’ve found you can absolutely adapt it for younger toddlers by just narrating over the pictures and making it your own story.
18. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
Best for: Silly humor + unpredictable camping adventures
Mr. Magee and his dog Dee head into the forest to camp in their little camper, and things go sideways fast – in the funniest possible way. The rhyming text is really catchy and fun to read aloud, the illustrations are lively and detailed, and the whole book just has a goofy, joyful energy that kids love. It’s a great one for kids who like a little chaos and humor in their stories, and it’s short enough to hold a 3-year-old’s attention from start to finish.
19. Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping
Best for: Anxious kids + a really funny take on facing fears
Scaredy Squirrel would much rather watch camping on TV than actually go camping – he has a very detailed list of everything that could go wrong! If you have a toddler who is nervous about new experiences (and especially one who has a lot of “what ifs”), this book is so perfect because it meets them exactly where they are. The humor is gentle and the message is encouraging without being preachy. It’s a fan favorite for a reason and works really well for the 3-5 age range.
20. Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping
Best for: Older preschoolers who are ready for a longer story + a good laugh
Amelia Bedelia has been making kids laugh for decades with her very literal interpretation of everything, and camping is no exception. When told to “pitch the tent,” she does exactly that – and things get predictably chaotic. This is a great pick for kids on the older end of preschool (4-5) who can appreciate the word-play humor, and it’s a fun read-aloud for parents too. A classic series that holds up really well.
21. Peppa Pig: Going Camping
Best for: Peppa Pig obsessed toddlers (you know if this is your kid)
If your household has been taken over by Peppa Pig, this book is a must. Peppa, Daddy Pig, and George head out on a camping vacation and it’s exactly the cheerful, simple, colorful fun you’d expect. It’s a short and easy read, perfect for ages 2-4, and it does a great job of showing camping as a happy normal family activity. The illustrations are bright and recognizable to any Peppa fan. Sometimes you just have to lean into whatever character has your toddler’s heart – and Peppa camping is genuinely cute.
22. Flashlight
Best for: Toddlers who are nervous about the dark + a gorgeous wordless read
This is a wordless picture book – no text at all – which makes it really special and different from everything else on this list. A boy explores the dark forest at night with just his flashlight, and the illustrations are absolutely stunning – dark nighttime scenes with bright splashes of light revealing animals and nature. It’s a beautiful book for working through fear of the dark before a camping trip, and the no-words format means you and your toddler create the story together. Works for ages 2-5 and is especially wonderful right before bed on a camping night.
Don’t Forget to Grab These Resources Too!
- 53 best tips for camping with toddlers and babies
- Complete toddler and baby camping packing list
- 11 easy camping activities for toddlers around camp
- How to find the perfect toddler-friendly campground
- 7 tips for getting your baby to sleep while camping
- RV camping sleep tips for toddlers
- Best camping toys and games for kids
Now go get those books stacked by the bed and start the camping hype train early – your toddler is going to be SO excited for that first trip!
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