Get Ready for Adventure with These Amazing Books About Jewish Summer Camp

“It was the best ever!” That’s what many people say about summer camp. What makes overnight camp such a great place for friendship — haverut in Hebrew — to grow? The key elements are time and shared experiences. Overnight campers are together almost every minute of the day. Eating together, sharing adventures, and helping each other through tough moments build friendship in a deep, lasting way.

Whether your children are preparing for their first experience as day campers, heading off for a longer overnight stay, or saying “See ya later!” to an older sibling, the books in this list offer a wonderful preview of the Jewish camp experience.

Picture Books

Sadie, Ori, and Nuggles Go to Camp book cover

Sadie, Ori, and Nuggles Go to Camp

by Jamie Korngold

Recommended for ages 4-6

Ori is nervous about going to sleepaway camp for the first time. Big sister Sadie steps in to help him get ready with the help of a special lovey.


No Baths at Camp book cover

No Baths at Camp

by Tamar Fox

Recommended for ages 5-7

Camp is full of rock climbing, face painting, marshmallow roasting, and water-balloon fighting, but the best part? No bathing!


Camp Wonderful Wild book cover

Camp Wonderful Wild

by Laurel Snyder

Recommended for ages 5-7 years

This rhyming book shows the highs (fun with friends) and lows (mosquitoes! mud!) of summer camp.


Picnic at Camp Shalom book cover

Picnic at Camp Shalom

by Jacqueline Jules

Recommended for ages 5-7 years

Carly and Sara are bunkmates who get off to a rocky start, but their love of music (and a surprise in common) leads to a great summer camp friendship.


Sam and Charlie (and Sam too) at Camp book cover

Sam and Charlie (and Sam too) at Camp

by Leslie Kimmelman

Recommended for ages 5-7 years

Best friends Sam and Charlie are heading off to sleepaway camp together. Follow them through their first week at camp.


Sami's Sleepaway Summer book cover

Sami’s Sleepaway Summer

by Jenny Meyerhoff

Recommended for ages 7-8 years

Though her family doesn’t seem to see it, Sami is absolutely certain she’s not a “sleep-away camp kind of kid.” Will a four-day, three-night mini session at Camp Cedar Lake change her mind?

Middle-Grade Books

Noah Green Saves the World book cover

Noah Green Saves the World

by Laura Toffler-Corrie

Recommended for ages 10 and up

Noah’s summer is turning into the wildest ever. Instead of film camp, his parents are sending him to … Camp Challah? Plus, his wacky grandfather keeps sending him messages by carrier pigeon, and now the rottweilers are after him. How will he ever finish making his movie?


The Path of Names book cover

The Path of Names

by Ari Goelman

Recommended for ages 10 and up

Dahlia’s bunkmates at summer camp think she’s super strange. She sees ghosts walk through walls, and she's beginning to think she's possessed! If only Dahlia could have gone to math camp...


Scout’s Honor and the Cave of Courage book cover

Scout’s Honor and the Cave of Courage

by Anna Levine

Recommended for ages 9 and up

Josh isn’t as brave as his twin brother Nate, but when danger strikes on a Scouts trip in Israel, it’s up to Josh to rescue his friends. Can he find the courage to save the day?


Shabbat Sabotage book cover

Shabbat Sabotage

by Emma Carlson Berne

Recommended for ages 9 and up

It’s Maya’s first time at summer camp and she has a secret she’d rather her bunkmates didn’t find out about. But she’s not the only one hiding something…


The Sun Will Come Out book cover

The Sun Will Come Out

by Joanne Levy

Recommended for ages 9 and up

Eleven-year-old Bea and Frankie have been planning their first summer at Camp Shalom forever. But then Frankie gets into horse camp. How will Bea replace her best friend for a whole summer?

More

10 Books About Jewish Summer Camp
The 8 Things You NEED to Pack for Summer Camp
Mad Libs–Style Activity: Silly Summer Camp Packing