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Free Book Scavenger Hunt Printable | Great For The Library

Our book scavenger hunt printable is a fun way to make reading an adventure for kids.

They’ll explore stories about animals, magical worlds, and far-off places.

As a homeschool parent, I’ve seen how activities like this spark curiosity and a love for reading.

Whether you’re a librarian wanting to make visits exciting, a teacher aiming to inspire students, or a parent looking for fun learning activities, this scavenger hunt printable is the perfect tool to make reading special.

A colorful Book Scavenger Hunt printable is displayed with 20 illustrated prompts, such as “Animal on Cover,” “Roald Dahl Book,” “Book About Pirates,” “Turned Into Movie,” and “Book Set in the Past.” Small toy books and a copy of The Twits by Roald Dahl surround the page. The text reads “Book Scavenger Hunt – Have Fun at the Library!” in bold and playful fonts. Designed for kids, the activity encourages interactive reading exploration.

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Exploring the library through a scavenger hunt

This library scavenger hunt printable includes a variety of book categories, encouraging participants to explore different sections of the library and discover books across diverse topics and genres. Here’s a closer look at the types of books to find:

  1. Animal on the Front Cover. Encourages children to find books related to animals, fostering a love for nature and wildlife stories.
  2. Christmas Book. Gets kids into the spirit of holidays and seasonal reads, introducing them to festive tales.
  3. Roald Dahl Book. Guides them toward classic children’s literature, exploring the imaginative worlds created by a beloved author.
  4. Turned into a Movie. Connects literature with cinema, encouraging kids to compare and contrast books with their movie adaptations.
  5. Autobiography. Introduces children to real-life stories and historical figures, expanding their knowledge and understanding of the world.
  6. A Book About Sports. Engages young athletes and sports fans, linking their interests to reading.
  7. Empty Bookshelf. A creative challenge that encourages kids to think about what books they would add to an empty shelf, fostering imagination and personal expression.
  8. Books About Pirates. Sets children off on swashbuckling adventures, delving into tales of treasure and high seas.
  9. Book About Friends. Highlights stories of friendship, teaching values of empathy, loyalty, and social skills.
  10. A Car on the Front Cover. Appeals to young readers fascinated by vehicles, steering them towards stories of adventure and travel.
  11. About Witches or Wizards. Opens the door to fantasy and magic, sparking creativity and a love for imaginative storytelling.
  12. Geography Book. Expands young minds with explorations of different places, cultures, and the physical world.
  13. A Book Set in the Past. Takes readers on a journey through history, enhancing their understanding of different eras and events.
  14. Self-Help Book. Offers age-appropriate insights into personal development, encouraging positive habits and self-care.
  15. Music Book. Connect children with the world of music, whether through stories of musicians, books on learning instruments, or tales where music plays a central role.
A colorful book titled The 50 States lies on a white surface with a Book Scavenger Hunt printable resting on top. The scavenger hunt sheet includes illustrated categories such as “Animal on Cover,” “Christmas Book,” “Autobiography,” “Book About Pirates,” and “Geography Book.” The activity encourages children to find specific types of books, making it a fun and educational tool for library or classroom use.

How to play

This scavenger hunt is free for personal and classroom use. To download the PDF file, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your email.

There are many ways to use this activity to make reading fun:

  • Librarians: Set up the book hunt to help kids explore different sections of the library and discover books they may not normally choose. It’s a great way to spark excitement for reading!
  • Teachers: Use it as a classroom activity that encourages students to find and discuss books, making learning interactive and fun.
  • Homeschool Parents: Incorporate the hunt into reading time as a daily or weekly challenge to add variety and keep kids engaged.
  • Families: Turn it into a family activity where everyone can explore new books and share their favorites together.

For a more durable list, print it on cardstock for added fun and reusability.

A printable Book Scavenger Hunt sheet lies flat on a white surface next to a copy of Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray. The scavenger hunt features illustrated prompts like “Animal on Cover,” “Turned into Movie,” “Book Set in the Past,” and “Book About Pirates.” The activity encourages kids to explore various genres and themes during library visits or reading time. The book beside it fits the historical category in the scavenger hunt.

Can I adapt the book hunt for older students?

As older kids often get left out of the fun, I wanted to give you some ideas on how to adapt this book hunt for older students.

They can still hunt for the books, but this time, tell them to find a book they have already read.

Then give a short summary of the books. This can either be a fun writing activity or a discussion.

A Book Scavenger Hunt printable is shown on a white surface next to a copy of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. The scavenger hunt includes illustrated prompts such as “Witches or Wizards,” “Book Set in the Past,” and “Turned Into Movie,” all of which apply to the Tolkien novel. The activity sheet is colorful and engaging, designed to encourage kids to explore different book themes during library or reading time.

Get the kids to read one of the books and then write a book review on it.

Get the kids to read a book that has been turned into a movie and then write a comparison report.

Additional free book printables

To further support your reading adventures, we offer a collection of free book worksheets designed to complement the library treasure hunt:

  • A fun and interactive way to encourage diverse reading is our free summer reading bingo printable.
  • Tailored for young learners, this 3rd grade book report pdf helps third graders summarize and analyze their reading experiences. This helps with comprehension and critical thinking.
  • This book log printable provides a structured way for kids to track their reading progress. Fostering a sense of accomplishment as they fill in each entry.
  • Keep the reading momentum going through the summer with this summer reading log printable pdf. Designed to motivate children to continue exploring books during their break.

These additional resources are crafted to enrich the reading experience. Offering varied and engaging ways for children to interact with books and literature.

A colorful Book Scavenger Hunt printable is clipped inside a bright blue plastic clipboard storage case. The sheet includes illustrated prompts such as “Animal on Cover,” “Autobiography,” “Book About Pirates,” and “Turned Into Movie.” A blue pen is placed in the clip at the top of the case. The setup is clean and organized, ideal for taking the scavenger hunt to the library or classroom for an interactive reading activity.

I highly recommend getting a storage clipboard and keeping all of our free scavenger hunts together and leaving them in the car! These make a perfect, and free, boredom buster!

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Last Updated on 11 April 2025 by Clare Brown

5 Comments

  1. i would really appriciate if you send me PDF file of this scavenger hunt. this will be really nice activity for word book day.

    1. Hi Soniya

      Please fill out your name and email address in the blue box just above the comments and the free pdf file will be sent immediately. I hope you and the kids have fun with it 🙂

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