Five Adventure books to Inspire Kids

Kids can't get enough of the wild, wonderful world around them.

They’re like little sponges soaking up all the stories and experiences that help shape who they become. That's why it's our mission to encourage mini explorers everywhere to live life adventurously, and what better way to help ignite their spark than by introducing them to the power of adventure through a good book? 

We've gathered some amazing recommendations of adventure tales from our Tribe to inspire budding adventurers to take off on incredible journeys as they turn each page. Let these exciting stories spark your child’s curiosity and inspire an adventurous spirit.

David Walliams is an award-winning children’s author, and Code Name Bananas is a recommendation from several Go Ape tribe parents – what can we say we all just love bananas, apes and adventure.

This book is a time-turning epic adventure about the friendship between a young boy and a huge, loveable gorilla.

Set in Wartime Britain in 1940, eleven-year-old Eric spends his days at the London Zoo with his favourite animal, Gertrude the Gorilla. When bombs begin to fall though, Eric must join together with his Uncle Sid and a keeper at the zoo to rescue Gertrude, accidentally uncovering a top-secret Nazi plot during their escape.

Despite its serious setting, Code Name Bananas is a sensitive and, often, laugh-out-loud funny book, which teaches the importance of family, fun and adventure.

Another firm Go Ape parent recommendation, The Blizzard Challenge is the first of a 12-book series by world-famous survival expert and Chief Scout, Bear Grylls. In each book, a different child discovers a magical compass leading them to inspirational adventurers and a special place where they can learn new skills and facts relevant and helpful in their real life.

In the Blizzard Challenge, Olly is transported to a high mountain range where he must survive in sub-zero temperatures. With the help of Bear Grylls, he finds out what to do if the ice cracks when you're crossing a frozen lake as well as when a blizzard sets in . . .

Running Wild is a beautifully heart-rending story about adventure and our connection to creatures and forests of the world.

The story is set against the backdrop of the 2001 Boxing Day Tsunami in Indonesia. Will and his mother set out on a holiday of a lifetime to make a new start and help put the tragedies of the past behind them - but then tragedy strikes again.  

When the tsunami hits, Will is riding an elephant, Oona, along the beach but she senses the wave before it breaks and begins to run. Lost in the jungle, with nothing but the shirt on his back and help from animal friends, Will must face the truth of what is happening in our forests and find his way home.

The White giraffe is the first of the 'Animal Healer' series following young Martine Allen with the extraordinary ability to heal animals.

When disaster strikes on New Year’s Eve in England, Martine is sent thousands of miles away to live with her grandmother on a game reserve, in Sawubona, South Africa.

Her new home is wild and beautiful but completely alien to her and Martine feels all alone until she sees the legendary White Giraffe from her window one stormy evening.

Not used to her new home and surroundings, Martine is unsure of everything around her but knows she will need all the courage and smarts she has to protect the ones she loves.

The White Giraffe is a powerful and beautiful story of friendship, adventure and the importance of protecting the wild creatures in our world.  

Written by the best-selling novelist of The Christmasaurus and The Danger Gang, The Creakers is a “creepy, spooky and (just a little bit) yucky” adventure story filled with amazing illustrations.

One morning, Lucy Dungston wakes up to find that all the grown-ups in her town have disappeared into thin air.

Everyone seems thrilled there are no more grown-ups but Lucy feels differently. 

Chaos descends and while others eat cereal for every meal and build roads from trampoline, Lucy is determined to find out what happened to the adults.

Certain the strange noises she always hears at night have something to do with the disappearances, Lucy sets out on a quest to the strange upside-down world of the mysterious monsters under her bed.