Children's Adventure Books

Adventure Books for Grades 1-6

Updated June 18, 2026
C
City of Mission Viejo Library
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15 secrets to survival
Richards, Natalie D.
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling authorNatalieD. Richards's middle grade debut about a group of four classmates forced to navigate the wilderness for an extra credit project with nothing but the pages of a survival handbook-and each other-to save them. When...

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 740

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

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.

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 750

The cardboard kingdom
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

Cat ninja
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

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

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

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

Freddie vs. the family curse
Badua, Tracy
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2023 SID FLEISCHMAN HUMOR AWARD In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure steeped in Filipino folklore, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that's haunted their family for generations . . . or be trapped in an...

AR: 5.3

Lexile: N/A

Haven : a small cat's big adventure
Lloyd, Megan Wagner
Ebook
When her cherished Ma Millie falls ill, a timid housecat ventures into the wild to seek help in this adventure about love, loss, and finding the truest version of ourselves. A warm, cozy lap. The toasty smell of baking bread. Tasty food served in a bright-blue bowl. These make...

AR: 4.4

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

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

The many assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams
Nayeri, Daniel
Ebook
Newberry Honor Award Winner School Library Journal Best of the Year An NPR Best Book of 2023 The Silk Road comes to life in this picaresque epic adventure with twists and turns and a wonderful surprise ending from Printz Medalist Daniel Nayeri This is the tale...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: N/A

The nebula secret
Trueit, Trudi Strain
Paper Book
Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers. Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists...

AR: 4.7

Lexile: 660

The Princess in Black
Hale, Shannon.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Who says princesses don'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...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: 500

Sea Sirens
Chu, Amy
Paper Book
Dive into this visually stunning, middle-grade graphic novel about a spunky Vietnamese American surfer girl and her cantankerous talking cat who plunge into a fantasy world of oceanic marvels . . . and mayhem! Trot, a Vietnamese American surfer girl, and Cap'n Bill, her cranky...

AR: 2.5

Lexile: 240

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 duke of the...

AR: 2.6

Lexile: N/A

Strangeworlds Travel Agency
Lapinski, L. D.
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of The Train to Impossible Places and Nevermoor, this "utterly delightful" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade fantasy follows a young girl who uses a travel agency's magical suitcases to travel to different worlds. When twelve-year...

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 710

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

Treasure map
Todd, Brandon
Ebook

AR: 2.6

Lexile: 410

The Van Gogh deception
Hicks, Deron R.
Ebook
Dan Brown meets Jason Bourne in this riveting middle-grade mystery thriller. When a young boy is discovered in Washington DC's National Gallery without any recollection of who he is, so begins a high-stakes race to unravel the greatest mystery of all: his identity.    ...

AR 5.4

Lexile: 750

The wandering hour
Clark, Zack Loran
Paper Book
A superb choice for fans of Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. series, Tom Booth's Eerie-on-Sea books, and creepypastas.' -Booklist, Starred Review. What if your favourite scary story was real? With eerie illustrations and chilling creepypasta interstitials, The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour...

AR: 5.7

Lexile: N/A

Welcome to the island
Costa, Dela
Paper Book
Meet the ever-curious Isla Verde, a young girl with a secret--she can speak with animals--in the first book of an all-new chapter book series! Welcome to the adventurous island of Sol! For eight-year-old Isla Verde, Sol is the perfect place to live. The sun shines bright, the...

AR: 3.4

Lexile: 540

Wild river : a novel
Philbrick, W. R.
Audiobook

AR: 4.2

Lexile: 630

The zebra's great escape
Rundell, Katherine
Paper Book
In the vein of Islandborn and If Dominican Were a Color comes a picture book by bestselling author Katherine Rundell about a zebra trying to get back home to his family and the little girl who helps him. Mink doesn't believe in rules. She loves letting her hair down...

AR: 4.1

Lexile: N/A


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