Children's Adventure Books

Adventure Books for Grades 1-6

Updated February 4, 2026
C
City of Mission Viejo Library
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Jack gets zapped!
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Mac Barnett and Geisel Award-winning illustrator Greg Pizzoli, an uproarious early reader series about a mischievous rabbit, a cranky old lady, and a lovable dog. On rainy days, Jack loves nothing more than playing video games. But...

AR: 1.7

Lexile: 250

Ahoy!
Blackall, Sophie
Paper Book
Join a child captain and parent first mate as they embark on a wild high seas adventure...all without leaving the living room! This imaginative romp of a picture book is filled with glorious illustrations from a beloved Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator.

AR: 1.7

Lexile: 410

Cat Ninja. 1
Cody, Matthew
Paper Book
Beware, villains! Cat Ninja may appear to be nothing more than a silly internet meme. But he is evil's greatest enemy, and the silent master of Kat Fu and carpet scratching! From Epic! Originals, Cat Ninja is a hilarious graphic novel series about a lovable cat with a heroic...

AR: 2.9

Lexile: 390

Sydney & Taylor explore the whole wide world
Davies, Jacqueline
Paper Book
Best-selling author Jacqueline Davies tells the story of two unlikely friends: Sydney and Taylor, a skunk and a hedgehog who strike out to discover the great unknown, despite how afraid they are of it. Charming illustrations and a laugh-out-loud story make this chapter book perfect for fans...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: N/A

Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin
Donaldson, Julia.
Paper Book
Winner of the 2025 British Book Award for Book of the Year: Children's Illustrated "Gorgeous ... it has a lovely message about finding your place in the world." - Good Housekeeping Magazine "A captivating story written in rhyme so perfect that reading it as a bedtime story is a...

AR: 3.7

Lexile: N/A

Rescue on turtle beach
Marlin, Jen
Paper Book
Hop aboard Wind Rider, a magical sailboat, with Max and Sofia, two kids trying to save the environment one problem at a time. Their first mission Rescuing baby sea turtles in the beautiful waters of Hawaii. Max and Sofia are ordinary kids whose lives are changed when they...

AR: 4.1

Lexile: N/A

The zebra's great escape
Rundell, Katherine
Paper Book
_______________ A TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK **'The year's most magnificent adventure' - Guardian** **'Fizzing with anarchic energy' - Daily Mail** **'An intoxicating adventure' - Observer**<...

AR: 4.1

Lexile: N/A

Sir Ladybug
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
From Caldecott Honoree and two-time Geisel Award-winning author-illustrator Corey R. Tabor, this is a fresh and funny young graphic novel series sure to delight readers. Perfect for fans of Catwad, Bird & Squirrel, and Narwhal & Jelly. Ladies and gentlebugs, presenting the...

AR: 2.6

Lexile: N/A

Barb the last Berzerker
Abdo, Dan
Paper Book
The action of Moana meets the humor of books like Dog Man in this sidesplitting graphic novel about a young Berzerker who has to rescue her fellow warriors from the evil villain Witch Head before he destroys the world! Barb is a Berzerker, one of a group of warriors...

AR: 2.5

Lexile: N/A

Elf dog & owl head
Anderson, M. T.
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Book "A hilarious, heartfelt triumph."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) From the singular imagination of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson comes a magical adventure about a boy and his dog--or a dog and her boy--and a forest...

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 660

The boy who met a whale
Farook, Nizrana
Paper Book
From the author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant comes another brilliant escapade. A thrilling adventure set in a fictional Sri Lanka jam-packed with peril and kidnap and a huge blue whale!

AR: N/A

Lexile: 660

The book of stolen dreams
Farr, David
Paper Book
An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson. An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time,...

AR: 4.9

Lexile: 700

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
Lapinski, L. D
Paper Book
'Assured, witty and inventive. This debut has "future classic" written all over it.' - The Guardian Pack your suitcase for a magical adventure! Perfect for fans of The Train to Impossible Places and Pages & Co. At the...

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 710

Mabuhay!
Sterling, Zack
Paper Book
An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APALA) Honor Book An Eisner Award Nominee From rising star Zachary Sterling comes a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that celebrates food, family, and folklore. Can two kids save the...

AR: 2.6

Lexile: 300

Freddie vs. the family curse
Badua, Tracy
Ebook

AR: 5.3

Lexile: N/A

Juniper's Christmas
Colfer, Eoin
Paper Book
A brand-new Christmas classic adventure about the magic of Santa Claus, set in North London and the North Pole - from the bestselling author of Artemis Fowl A New York Times Bestseller IT ALL STARTED IN CHRISTMAS PAST ... It's been ten years since Santa Claus...

AR: 6.4

Lexile: N/A

The last last-day-of-summer
Giles, L. R.
Paper Book
"The Last Last-Day-of-Summer reminds me that all children deserve to exist in magical spaces where their imaginations and familial bonds will them into heroism. Every single child should have the freedom to be one of The Legendary Alstons. And I, for one, am grateful to Giles, and this brilliant...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 740

Shinji Takahashi and the mark of the coatl
Kagawa, Julie
Ebook
The first book in a globe-trotting middle-grade adventure, Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl combines high-tech wizardry, old-world legends and a little bit of magic from the internationally renowned best-selling author, Julie Kagawa. Shinji Takahashi is just an ordinary kid. An ordinary...

AR: 5.5

Lexile: 760

Lei and the fire goddess
Maunakea, Malia
Paper Book
"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." -Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana Curses aren't real. At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 770

The outlaws Scarlett & Browne : being an account of their daring exploits and audacious crimes
Stroud, Jonathan
Paper Book

AR: 5.3

Lexile: 700

Mac undercover
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
A thrilling, hilarious fully-illustrated spy adventure series, from the esteemed New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author Mac Barnett!A New York Times bestsellerAn Amazon Best Book of 2018Before Mac Barnett was an author, he was a kid.And while he...

AR: 3.7

Lexile: 460

Charlie Thorne and the last equation
Gibbs, Stuart
Paper Book
"Fast-paced, smart, and action-packed...a real page-burner." --Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestelling author of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series A 2020 Texas Lone Star Reading List Pick From New York Times bestselling author...

AR: 6.1

Lexile: 850

The Princess in Black
Hale, Shannon.
Ebook
Who says princesses can't wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black. Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . . Brring! Brring! The...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: 500

The candy shop war
Mull, Brandon
Paper Book
Magical candy that gives kids superpowers? Sweet! The possibility of evil overtaking the world? Not so tasty. And so begins The Candy Shop War, a trilogy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Welcome to the Sweet Tooth Ice...

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 750

City spies
Ponti, James
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! A GMA3 Summer Reading Squad Selection! "Ingeniously plotted, and a grin-inducing delight." --People "Will keep young readers glued to the page...So when do I get the sequel?" --Beth McMullen, author of Mrs. Smith's Spy School...

AR: 5.6

Lexile: 750

The Cardboard Kingdom [1]
Sell, Chad
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Awkward, and All's Faire in Middle School, this graphic novel follows a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary cardboard into fantastical homemade costumes as they explore conflicts with friends, family, and their own identity. ...

AR: 2.4

Lexile: 150


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