Bushcrafty story books for kids

[weekend_warrior]

I'm sure we've done this topc before - but I can't seem to find the thread anywhere.

I'm looking for books I can read/read with by 8 year old son - he's starting to get the bushcraft bug and I'd like to find a few bedtime fiction stories that have a bushcraft theme to them. Any ideas?

 

[woodwalker]

Try Robin Hood stories, I think the publisher "Ladybird" does them, or did them. Incidentally old editions of ladybird classics go for a lot on Ebay....

But Robin Hood is very good, good moral leader, although some of the tales are "darker" than others and perhaps more suited to older readers.

woodwalker

 

[g4ghb]

not bushcraft as such but I loved my copy of 'The Hardy Boys' Survival Handbook' when I were a lad!

Just tried to find it - and its seems out of print!

 

[Toadflax]

Try the Hatchet books by Gary Paulsen - a boy is stranded in the Canadian Wilderness and survives using his hatchet.

A very good read.


Geoff

 

[Wayland]

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver ( Wolf Brother, Spirit Walker and Soul Eater. ) http://www.torak.info

Modern writing with bags of bushcrafty stuff and a good story for kids.

I'm reading them myself at the moment.

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

The Adventure series books by Willard Price are very good. Great series that travel the earth.

Catweazle is another great kids book.

Phil.

 

[dommyracer]

Not fiction, and possibly not bushcraft per se, but I remember reading Thor Heyedral's Kon Tiki Expedition when I was about that age, proper adventure story!

 

[sam_acw]

I second the Willard Price books. Not too PC with African servants et al. but great reads.

 

[mace242]

Me too. Just finished the first and really enjoyed it - and I'm 36 Just about to go out and buy the second one.

 

[British Red]

You really out to try the "Dangerous Book for Boys" - not a story book but packed with great father son projects - a stonking read.

I believe Chris Ryan has done some kids fiction with a survival theme.

I liked "Swallows and Amazons" at that age - plenty of camping, sailing on Lakes etc.

I would heartily recommend Anne MacCaffreys "Black Horses" (Arthurian but lots of herb lore and outdoors stuff)

Red

 

[Toadflax]

And nobody seems to have mentioned Stig of the Dump yet. I've just looked out my copy from 1966.


Geoff

 

[weekend_warrior]

Thanks guys - some great recommendations there. :You_Rock_

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

You really out to try the "Dangerous Book for Boys" - not a story book but packed with great father son projects - a stonking read.

I had this book bought for my son and I at Christmas by the in-laws, great book!!!

Glad to see Willard Price has been suggested by some others folk on here. I'm going to read them to Ben once I've completed all the Harry Potter books, think we're on the fourth so hopefully only a couple to go!!!!!

Oh BTW weekend-warrior how about The Hobbit not bushcrafty but it made a big impression on me at that age.

Phil.

 

[andyn]

Try the Hatchet books by Gary Paulsen - a boy is stranded in the Canadian Wilderness and survives using his hatchet.

A very good read.


Geoff

Echo that. Great books. Not just for kids either. Well maybe big ones

 

[Ahjno]

Have a look at these:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/search.php?searchid=42343&DoReWrite4

 

[SMOKOE]

My favourite was 'Brendon Chase' by 'BB' (Denys Watkins-Pitchford)
About three brothers who run off to live in the forrest like Robin Hood

Read it to my six year old last year and he enjoyed it

 

[weekend_warrior]

Oh BTW weekend-warrior how about The Hobbit not bushcrafty but it made a big impression on me at that age.

Phil.

Yep, we've done the Hobbit and a couple of the Alan Garner books (Moon of gomwrath and elidor). Robin Hood and alll the of the Arthurian stories

I think I'll try the hatchet and willard books though - they sound just right.

 

[C_Claycomb]

My Side of the Mountain; Talking Earth; To Hook a Fish and Catch a Mountain and Julie of the Wolves all by by Jean Craighead George. All are about young people, and have real bushcraft in them, not fictional stuff.

Another vote for the Arthur Ransom books, Swallows and Amazons etc.

Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote good stuff about the time of the Romans. Eagle of the Ninth and Frontier Wolves had very evocative descriptions of the wilds beyond Hadrians Wall.

I was into all the above at the age of 8 and 9.

 

[richardnhunt]

I liked "Swallows and Amazons" at that age - plenty of camping, sailing on Lakes etc.
Red

Oh i blame these for so much. If it hadn't been for the dream of sailing, camping and all the rest, I probably wouldn't be stuck now as a Sea Scout leader. Seriously though - superb books

Anyone know where you can get them on cd/mp3 - audible don't seem to have them

Rich

 

[weekend_warrior]

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver ( Wolf Brother, Spirit Walker and Soul Eater. ) http://www.torak.info

Modern writing with bags of bushcrafty stuff and a good story for kids.

I'm reading them myself at the moment.

Looks like the Guardian are putting the audiobook of Wolf Brother up as a downloadable MP3 In thirteen episodes, over the next thirteen weeks.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/wolfbrother/0,,2097767,00.html