If Your 8-12-year-old loved The Green Kingdom, they might also like…

• Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

• Wildwood by Colin Meloy

These books are united by a love of curiosity, nature, and discovery, blending real or imagined worlds with environmental awareness, hidden places, and brave young protagonists. Each story celebrates exploration, connection, and the quiet power of noticing — and protecting — the world around us.

Here’s what they’re about

The Green Kingdom

When Caspia’s family spends the summer in Brooklyn, she expects boredom — until she discovers a bundle of mysterious letters hidden in an old book. Each letter contains a riddle linked to a different plant growing somewhere in the city. As Caspia follows the clues through parks, rooftops, and hidden corners, she uncovers stories about nature, history, and human connection. Blending botany, puzzles, and gentle adventure, The Green Kingdom celebrates curiosity and the quiet magic of the natural world, making it a thoughtful and engaging read for inquisitive middle-grade readers.

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door

When Daisy’s mother disappears, Daisy is drawn through a hidden door into Greenwild — a breathtaking world where plants are powerful, magical, and under threat. Guided by new friends and extraordinary botanical wonders, Daisy must uncover the truth about her mother’s past and help protect Greenwild from destruction. Richly imagined and steeped in nature, this story combines environmental themes with classic fantasy adventure. Greenwild is perfect for readers who love lush world-building, brave heroes, and stories that celebrate the power and importance of the natural world.

The Last Mapmaker

Sai dreams of becoming a mapmaker, even though tradition says the role belongs only to boys. When she joins a dangerous sea expedition, Sai helps chart unknown waters filled with mythical creatures, political tension, and hidden truths. As the journey unfolds, she must decide where her loyalties — and her future — truly lie. Blending adventure, exploration, and questions of power and justice, The Last Mapmaker is an exciting, thoughtful fantasy inspired by Southeast Asian history, perfect for readers who love discovery and brave, determined heroes.

Wildwood

When Prue’s baby brother is carried off by crows into the Impassable Wilderness — a mysterious forest on the edge of Portland — she follows him into a hidden world filled with talking animals, magic, and political intrigue. Alongside her friend Curtis, Prue must navigate danger, shifting alliances, and her own growing courage. Wildwood is a richly detailed fantasy that blends classic fairy-tale elements with a deep love of forests and wild places, ideal for confident readers who enjoy immersive adventures and complex storytelling.