Turn a new page to enjoy quieter drives and more meaningful conversations with the kids.
SUMMER’S LIST OF PLEASURES IS SUNNY AND LONG
And summer reading is certainly one of them. But for parents, there is also a secret bonus: When your kiddos are immersed in a good book, your drive takes on a touch of serenity. So, you need those books to be good— like can’t-put-this-down good. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of books for travelers of every age—full of RVs, adventure, and off-grid grit. Not only will they captivate your kids, but they’re also great conversation starters for the road. (As long as there is no test at the end.)
Goodnight, Campsite
Loretta Sponsler 29 Pages, Fiction
Finally a camping book for kids that’s not all about tents! The illustrations include every kind of RV, so your kids will easily be able to find one like theirs. They’ll also get to know the campground regulars. it’s long enough to captivate them during the drive, with a squirrel hidden on almost every page, but still short enough to read at bedtime, with easy-to-read rhymes like, “The air is filled with campfire song The wind is cool, the shadows long.
50 Adventures in the 50 States
Kate Siber and Lydia Hill 112 Pages, Nonfiction
If you’re making a summer of it and marking up the map, this book will keep your kids engaged as they go from state to state. Inside its beautifully illustrated pages, they’ll be walking on glaciers and surfing the Venice beaches, even before you arrive at your destination. With 50 different adventures and fun facts about each place, your young travelers may look forward to your next stop more than you do. (And be sure to quiz them about their favorite pages: It just might give you the perfect idea for a family trip.)
My Side of the Mountain
Jean Craighead George 208 Pages, Fiction
A chapter book without the illustrations, this novel sparks young imaginations to consider what it would take to live off the land. Set in the Catskill Mountains, Sam Gribley makes his way there after deciding that New York City is not for him. (We feel ya, Sam.) With almost nothing to his name, he learns how to live off the land in a year that changes him forever. Like Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain is the perfect primer for your aspiring adventurer.
Into the Wild
John Krakauer 240 Pages, Nonfiction
This true story of a missing person case should be reserved for teenagers. But at the core of Christopher McCandless’ ultimately tragic journey are themes parents can—and should—explore with their teenagers. How does heading into the wild help return us to “the raw throb of existence?” Do you think Christopher McCandless was bravely idealistic or dangerously naïve? There’s plenty
to explore here, and talking about it with your teenager is a well-paved route to a deeper conversation.
