Adventurous Books for Fans of Pippi Longstocking
by Janssen Bradshaw
My girls love the Pippi Longstocking books and all of the hijinks she gets into! They’ve listened to this series at least ten times on audio and never get tired of it, so of course, I’ve been on the hunt for more books like Pippi Longstocking.
If you’re also looking for stories filled with adventure, laughter, friendship, and girl power, these books are worth checking out for your young Pippi lovers.
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Pippi Longstocking
If audiobooks are your thing, you’ll love the performance of award-winning actress Sutton Foster in this audiobook adaptation. Now, you can sit back and press “play” to enjoy all the fun, humor, and adventure with your favorite characters. The audiobook is perfect for readers of any age and is great to enjoy as a family.
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Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape #1
Available from:Bridget is an orphan with fiery red hair and a thirst for adventure. When Mr. Vanderpuff arrives at the orphanage to adopt her, she jumps at the chance to become his daughter and work at his bakery. But when Bridget’s arch-nemesis shows up, she must navigate a series of booby traps, bake some bizarre foods, and save her new dad from the clutches of an evil villain.
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Bree Boyd is a Legend
Available from:Bree is super organized, hates surprises, and lives up to her father’s expectations. But when an errant lightning bolt gives her superpowers, Bree’s ultra-organized life turns upside down. Learning to control her powers leads to a series of hilarious disasters in this sequel to Ellie Engle Saves Herself.
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Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters
Available from:Mr. Whiskers is an adorable pup who loves his human sisters, Misty and Zelda. When their father gets kidnapped, Mr. Whiskers puts his nose to the ground and takes the sisters on a clue-collecting mission through San Francisco.
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Bringing Back Kay-Kay
Available from:Set in India, this beautifully written novel features a headstrong girl who will go to any lengths to find a missing sibling. When Lena’s beloved older brother doesn’t return from summer camp, the police label him a runaway and refuse to help. Armed with nothing but a poem and her wits, Lena heads out alone to search for her brother.
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The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels
Available from:When a family reunion turns deadly, Shenanigan Swift decides to find the culprit. This energetic girl lives up to her name while piecing together the clues in this suspenseful and funny mystery novel. If your kid loves Pippi Longstocking’s energy and charm, they will adore Shenangan Swift!
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Kaya of the Ocean
Available from:Send your young reader to the beaches of Hawaii in this gentle fantasy novel. Kaya is anxious and afraid of the ocean, but she must face her worries head-on when she develops magical powers and a special connection to the sea. Adventure, magic, and friendship make this book an enjoyable read.
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Bird Nerd
Available from:A love of nature combines with friendship drama in this charming and humorous middle grade novel. When Nyla enters a bird-watching competition with her class, the most popular girl in school suddenly wants to be her friend. With the competition looming, Nyla must figure out where she fits in and what is most important.
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Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum
Available from:Humor, mystery, and adventure combine in this hilarious whodunnit about a 10-year-old girl who dresses up like a detective and solves the world’s toughest crimes. When someone dies under suspicious circumstances at the museum, Montgomery Bonbon takes the case! Don’t miss the next two books in the series, Montgomery Bonbon: Death at the Lighthouse and Montgomery Bonbon: Mystery at the Manor.
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Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer
Available from:Gillian Goerz starts the Shirley and Jamila series with a beautiful middle grade graphic novel about unlikely friendships. Shirley and Jamila become fast friends despite their differences and work together to solve their neighborhood’s biggest mystery yet — a missing pet!
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Journey to the Moon #1
Available from:Astronaut Girl is obsessed with all things science, especially space. With her crew — her little brother and cat — she blasts off on outer space missions. Astronaut Girl’s neighbor, Wallace, doesn’t love talking about space facts, which drives her crazy. But when they get into a sticky situation, they all need to work together to find their way home again. Check out this excellent early reader book that will keep your little one’s attention with friendship and a little bit of mystery.
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The Penderwicks
Available from:The Penderwicks hits the book scene again with a bright and beautiful new cover! It's a story about four girls spending the summer on the Arundel estates. They quickly discover adventure-filled gardens and plenty of ways to get into trouble. This charming National Book Award Winner is sure to win over your family — my own four girls LOVE these stories starring the four sisters.
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The Runaway Princess
Available from:It’s hard to believe that a princess would be bored of her life, but Robin has the itch for adventure! In this fun graphic novel, Robin disregards her parents' displeasure and sets off on a crazy escapade. Will she be able to fill her adventurous cup before her parents drag her back home to the castle?
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Katie the Catsitter
Available from:The summer ahead looks grim for Katie when all of her friends head to a camp her family can’t afford. But things get more interesting when she gets asked to cat-sit 217 cats! Even stranger, the cats' owner mysteriously disappears whenever serious crimes are committed in the city — putting her at the top of the suspect list. This book is full of silliness, friendship, mystery, and felines!
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Pippi Longstocking Books
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Pippi Longstocking
Also available from: Pippi Goes on Board
Preorder from: Pippi in the South Seas
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2025.