Books About Summer Camp

Worried your little one might feel nervous about summer camp? These fun and gentle picture books about summer camp can help ease fears, spark excitement, and give your child a sense of what to expect.

Whether it’s their very first time away from home or just the idea of sleeping in a cabin with new friends, young children often have big feelings about camp. That’s where stories come in! Reading aloud together is a powerful way to prepare little ones for new experiences.

This curated list of preschool books features relatable characters, silly adventures, and warmhearted moments that help demystify camp life in a kid-friendly way. These stories can open up conversations, calm nerves, and even make your child look forward to their own summer adventure.

Summer camp is an excellent way for kids to have fun and make new friends. It is also a special time when you can engage in exciting activities and create memories that will last a lifetime. Reading some of our favorite books about summer camp can make it even more enjoyable. They provide lots of fun and help children learn how to read better, too!

Books About Summer Camp

Reading and pairing literature with summer camp activities can be a great way to help children learn and grow. Not only can it provide hours of entertainment, but it can also help improve their language skills and literacy.

As a homeschooling mom and former educator, I’ve found that stories like these truly help kids build confidence around big new experiences, such as camp.

Summer Camp Critter Jitters
Some familiar faces and some new ones meet up at summer camp . . . and they all feel nervous!
There's a duck afraid everyone will find out he can't swim, a bear afraid of noises in the woods, and a sloth who worries he'll have to catch his own lunch.
But can they get over their nerves to have some fun and make new friends?
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The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp
Join Brother and Sister as they head to Grizzly Bob’s Day Camp for the very first time.
The cubs will get to play soccer, go swimming, kayak, and even make crafts!
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The Night Before Summer Camp
The first day of summer camp is almost here, and one little camper doesn’t know what to expect.
For a while everything is hunkydory . . . until rest time rolls around and he gets a bad case of nervous butterflies.
But an unlikely friend appears out of the crowd and reassures him that the best cure for the summertime blues is tons of summertime fun!
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Froggy Goes to Camp
Froggy's off to camp! He packs a lot into one week: archery lessons, food fights, and scary stories around the campfire. But only Froggy could also manage to lose his trunks during swim class and overturn his kayak with the camp director in it. Froggy will keep his fans laughing with his latest antics.
My 4-year-old asked to read this three nights in a row!
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A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
When James and Eamon go to a week of Nature Camp and stay at Eamon's grandparents' house, it turns out that their free time spent staying inside, eating waffles, and playing video games is way more interesting than nature.
But sometimes things work out best when they don't go exactly as planned.
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Tacky Goes to Camp (Tacky the Penguin)
Tacky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy themselves while Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and playing Capture the Ice Cube.
One night, they gather around the campfire to sing, eat s’mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed, something straight out of one of their scary stories pays the sleeping penguins a visit.
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Activities to Pair with Summer Camp Picture Books

Summer camp picture books are a great way to inspire children to participate in fun and educational activities.

Here are some ideas for activities that parents and educators can pair with the featured books in this post.

Creating arts and crafts based on the books

  • Create friendship bracelets like the characters in the book
  • Make binoculars or telescopes to go on a nature walk just like the characters in the story
  • Create a paper plate campfire and tell stories around it like the characters in the book

Cooking recipes mentioned in the books

  • Make smores, hot dogs, or other campfire treats mentioned in the book
  • Bake cakes or cookies and decorate them with camping-themed frosting
  • Create a trail mix with your child, and let them add their favorite ingredients inspired by the book

Outdoor activities inspired by the stories

  • Build a fort or a tent and spend a night outside like the characters in the book
  • Organize a scavenger hunt based on the settings and objects mentioned in the story
  • Set up an obstacle course to mimic an adventure encountered by the characters in the book

Pairing summer camp picture books with related activities helps children connect with the stories in a meaningful, engaging way. These activities also create hands-on learning experiences that reinforce understanding and make reading more fun and memorable for young kids.

The activities can be adjusted depending on the age and ability of the child and encourage them to think creatively while having fun.

Summer camp is a big milestone for many little ones, and sharing stories is a wonderful way to help them feel more confident and excited about what’s ahead. These preschool books about summer camp offer the perfect mix of fun, reassurance, and gentle life lessons—whether your child is heading off to camp for the first time or just curious about what it’s all about.

Snuggle up with a few of these titles before bedtime or during quiet time, and use them as a springboard to talk about feelings, friendships, and fun in the great outdoors.

Have a favorite camp-themed book we missed? Share it in the comments below—we’re always looking for great new reads to add to our list!

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