Do you want to inspire your kids to be free and self-sufficient?  There's nothing better than a good book to point them in the right direction.

My kids are total bookworms, so I enlisted their help to compile this list of favorites. Some folks may pooh-pooh the idea of fiction as a teaching tool, but reading about a character who is smart, adaptable, self-reliant, and skilled can influence the way your child or teenager thinks.  These books are not all specific to kids in prepper families – many of them are just tales of kids who are put into situations in which they must rely on their wits and courage to survive, while others outline the dangers of too much government.

In no particular order, (and just in time for Christmas) here is a list of favorites from the Luther Family Library of Awesome and Influential Books. I've included a little synopsis from Amazon with each book.

For Younger Kids

The Little House series

This nine book set follows the adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family from their little homestead in the middle of the frigid Northern forest of her younger years through the journey west on a wagon train, farming, education in a one-room schoolhouse, up until Laura becomes an adult and gets married. Order it here.

The Boxcar Children series

There's something about orphans struggling to get by that inspires great works of fiction, and this vintage series is no exception. The Alden children begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather they never knew they had. Order it here.

Jake and Miller's Big Adventure: A Prepper's Book for Kids

The world can be a scary place! There are snowstorms and mean snakes, hot jungles and wild rivers. But intrepid adventurer Jake and his dog Miller aren't scared —they're prepared! In Jake & Miller's Big Adventure, young readers discover it's never too early to start prepping. Learning how to use life-saving survival equipment like canned goods, water filters, first aid kits, Mylar blankets and emergency radios can keep you safe, healthy and happy even in the scariest of adventures—whether you're deep in the jungle or hunkering down at home. Order it here.