Lauren Tarshis has the 'I Survived' formula down to a science, and the 26th installment doesn't miss. It’s the perfect example of how high-action 'commercial' fiction can actually be a massive literacy win. By the time Dylan faces off with a lion, your kid will have accidentally learned more about the Okavango Delta than they would from a week of geography worksheets.

It’s safe, it’s exciting, and it’s a great bridge for kids who have outgrown Magic Tree House but aren't quite ready for YA-level intensity. If your kid is stuck in a reading rut, this is the escape hatch.