We went camping in tents and cabins a lot when I was a kid. My daughter has already shown an interest in going camping, but until we do go on our own trip, these camping toys and books for kids have helped us to pretend!

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The Camping Trip*

Written by Jennifer K. Mann

This book follows a young girl named Ernestine as she heads out on her first camping trip with her aunt Jackie and her cousin Samantha. As she prepares for her trip, she is excited to try new things. But camping is a little different than she was expecting. With the help of her aunt and her cousin, she learns to overcome the new things that make her uncomfortable, and enjoy the beauty of nature. The illustrations include lots of lists and step by step instructions, including what to pack and how to build a s’more. This is a great introduction to camping for kids who may be a little nervous about what to expect.

Digger and Daisy Go Camping*

Written by Judy Young and illustrated by Dana Sullivan

This simple story follows a pair of dog siblings named Digger and Daisy who are heading out on a camping trip together. As they head to the campsite, Digger keeps thinking that he hears a bear. Each time, Daisy shows him the sounds of nature that he is really hearing. But when night falls and they are curled up in their tents, Daisy thinks she hears a bear too. The funny ending to this story will have kids laughing out loud, and the sweet illustrations will have them wanting to go camping themselves.

Curious George Goes Camping

By Margret & H.A. Rey and Alan J. Shalleck

Join the lovable monkey as he ventures into the woods with the man in the yellow hat for a camping trip. As usual, his curiosity leads him into trouble. But when an emergency strikes the campgrounds, can he save the day? The illustrations highlight the adorable monkey and his shenanigans, and kids will love cheering him on.

Related Post: Camping Indoors with Kids

A Camping Spree for Mr. Magee

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Mr. Magee and his dog Dee decide to head to the woods for a peaceful camping trip. But soon, a bear stumbles onto their campsite and chaos ensues. Next thing they know, their camper is flying down the mountain and heading toward the river! Will they be able to save their camping trip, and themselves? The illustrations are done in Van Dusen’s vintage style, and the story is full of action and hilarious situations that will make kids laugh out loud.

Llama Llama Goes Camping

Based on Anna Dewdney’s stories

This storybook is based on an episode of the Llama Llama TV show on Netflix. It follows Llama and his friends as they head out on a camping trip and learn the important lesson that not everything that seems scary is actually scary. Fans of Dewdney’s original stories will enjoy the new adventures of Llama and his loved ones, and the important lessons that his stories teach little ones.

Camping Toys We Love

Fisher Price Camping Set

This dramatic play set is one of my daughter’s favorite toys. The fabric campfire and logs come with marshmallow roasting sticks and realistic looking s’mores ingredients. The firepit can even be flipped over to reveal a picnic blanket on the other side. Kids will love to pretend They are chopping wood, building a campfire, cooking their own meal, and even jumping out to scare each other with the included bear paws!

KiwiCo Camping Kit

This edition of the Koala Crate from KiwiCo focuses on camping and gives kids a chance to create their own glowing campfire, an adorable bear backpack, and pretend foods to cook over their campfire. Putting together the campfire and the backpack helps kids to work on fine motor skills, and my daughter was so proud of the items that she created. Plus, the kit includes a battery operated light for your campfire, so it glows like a real fire!

Related Post: The Truth about Kiwi Crates!

Fort Building Set

Build a tent in your own living room! This kit gives kids an opportunity to build tents, forts, and any other creations that their minds can come up with. We love to use it to build tents and cover it with a sheet, so we feel like we are actually camping outside. (Bonus! If you have a Google Home device, you can ask it to make campfire sounds, so it really sounds like you are camping outdoors!).

What are your favorite camping toys and books for kids? Share them in the comments below!

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