This month we are featuring books to help children understand the concept of being daring. We all want our kids to feel safe and protected, but we don’t want to stifle their creativity or sense of adventure. We also want them to be prepared for whatever comes their way.

It’s a tall order but reading about diverse groups of people and adventures can help them be more open to new experiences. We’ve even included a commonsense book of life skills for teens to help them understand important skills they need to master such as managing money, cooking, cleaning, interviewing for a job, and decision-making skills.

Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus’ Daring Escape by Erin Guendelsberger – Based on the real-life aquatic adventure of Inky who escaped from his aquarium at the National Aquarium in New Zealand and returned to the open sea. For ages 2-5

What Does Brave Look Like? by Little Hippo Books – A story about trying new things and learning that the word “brave” can mean different things to us all. For ages 2-6

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discovery of Mary Anning – by Linda Skeers – Mary Anning’s discovery of dinosaur bones in England helped establish the science of paleontology at a time when girls/women weren’t supposed to like science. For ages 3-8

Chase the Moon, Tiny Turtle: A Hatchling’s Daring Race to the Sea by Kelly Jordan – When a  baby loggerhead turtle hatches on a sandy beach at night, it must find its way to the sea guided only by the light of the moon evading predators along the way to find its family. For ages 4-8

How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure by John Rocco – What did it really take to get to the moon. Rocco shares some of the stories of the 400,000 unsung heroes who helped the astronauts travel through space and make it to the moon.  For ages 5-12

Duck Tales Adventurer’s Guide: Explorer Skills and Outdoor Activities for Daring Kids by Media Lab Books – Now is the perfect time for kids to get outside and explore nature. For ages 7-11  

The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden – Learn how to tie knots, use a compass, fish, build a treehouse, and other things to keep boys (and girls) excited about spending time outdoors. Now a Prime Original Series created by Bryan Cranston and Greg Mottola. For ages 7-11

The Daring Book for Girls by Miriam Peskowitz and Andrea J. Buchanan – Girls (and boys) can learn about female heroes in history, science projects, crafts, and many fun activities. For ages 8-11

Rebel with a Cause: The Daring Adventures of Dicey Langston, Girl Spy of the American Revolution by Kathleen V. Kudlinski – Dicey Langston was a real person. A plaque commemorates her bravery at her family home in South Carolina. Imagine how exciting and scary it must have been to be a fifteen-year-old spy during the American colonist’s fight for independence. For ages 9-12

Life Skills for Teens by Vivian Foster – Growing up is a daring proposition and teens can use all the help they can get to learn how to handle money, interview for jobs, cook, clean, and make informed decisions. For ages 13-17