Adventure Begins at Your Library: Independent Readers

These are some books we recommend to elementary-aged readers who want to find adventure in a book this summer!

Updated May 2, 2024
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
The girl who speaks bear
Anderson, Sophie
Paper Book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 CARNEGIE MEDAL"Written with passion and compassion, Anderson's talent as a weaver of magic and creator of evocative landscapes is growing with every book." - The Daily Mail"Enchanting story." - The Daily TelegraphThey call me Yanka the Bear. Not because of where I was found...
Race to Fire Mountain
Blackwood, Remi
Paper Book
The start of a thrilling, highly illustrated series about a boy who finds a portal to a legendary world in his local barbershop . . . and learns he's the hero they've been waiting for. For younger fans of Black Panther and Last Gate of the Emperor! Jarell has never quite...
The Adventurers Guild The Adventurers Guild Trilogy, Book 1
Clark, Zack Loran.
Ebook
Few ever asked to join the Adventurers Guild. . . . Their members often died young. In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages...
The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane
DiCamillo, Kate.
Ebook
The #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller -- now in a digest edition (Age 7 and up) Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who adored him...
The hike
Farrell, Alison
Paper Book
Snacks, supplies, and a dog. What more do you need for an epic adventure? In this plucky, sweet story, three intrepid young female explorers set out to conquer their local forest. The well-written, empowering narrative takes us on a local quest across a river, through the trees, and up a mountain,...
Fortunately, the milk--
Gaiman, Neil
Paper Book
From multi-award-winning Neil Gaiman comes a spectacularly silly, mind-bendingly clever, brilliantly bonkers adventure - with lip-smackingly gorgeous illustrations by Chris Riddell. Mum's away. Dad's in charge. There's no milk. So Dad saves the day by going to buy some. Really, that's all...
The storm dragon
Harrison, Paula
Paper Book
In a magical kingdom filled with fantasy creatures, a young maid called Sophie has to help save magical baby creatures from a cold-hearted nobel. A brand new series perfect for young girls who love baby animals, adventure and magic.
Frostheart
Littler, Jamie
Paper Book
Way out in the furthest part of the known world, a tiny stronghold exists all on its own, cut off from the rest of human-kin by monsters that lurk beneath the Snow Sea. There, a little boy called Ash waits for the return of his parents, singing a forbidden lullaby to remind him of them... and doing...
Finding wild
Lloyd, Megan Wagner
Paper Book
A lovely, lyrical picture book with gorgeous illustrations that explores the ways the wild makes itself known to us and how much closer it is than we think. There are so many places that wild can exist, if only you know where to look! Can you find it? Two kids set off on an...
The map to everywhere
Ryan, Carrie
Paper Book
'It is said the Bintheyr Map to Everywhere will take its possessor wherever he or she needs to go...' Master thief, Fin, is unusual - when he's out of sight, everyone forgets he exists! He needs to find his mother - the one person who might remember him. Schoolgirl, Marrill,...
The adventures of Beekle : the unimaginary friend
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
Winner of the Caldecott Medal #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning creator Dan Santat combines classic storytelling with breathtaking art in an unforgettable tale about friendship, imagination, and the courage to find one's place in...
The adventures of a girl called Bicycle
Uss, Christina
Paper Book
Selected for the 2019-2020 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year A determined 12-year-old girl bikes across the country in this quirky and charming debut middle grade novel. Introverted Bicycle has lived...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.