7 gripping books about caves to spark imagination and learning

There are three things we love here at Stump Cross Caverns: talking about caves, visiting caves and learning about caves.

And since it was World Book Day this month (7 March), we couldn't resist the opportunity to share some of our favourite books about caves.

These amazing books will take you on a magical journey of fact and fiction and pull you deep into their underground worlds. We've included something for everyone – from books that grown-ups and kids can read together to the gripping, real-life stories of caves from around the world.

1. The Adventures of Sophie Mouse: Journey to the Crystal Cave by Poppy Green (2017)

This kid-friendly novel is a great way to get those little imaginations going.

Let Sophie Mouse lead you on a journey of discovery after she stumbles across Crystal Cave during a game of hide and seek with her friends.

The question is, how long will it take before her friends believe her when she says she's discovered a glowing cave?

2. Cave Baby by Julia Donaldson (2010)

This storybook sees a woolly mammoth take a human baby on the adventure of a lifetime.

The duo take a moonlit journey across a landscape populated with the likes of sabre tooth tigers and brown bears.

Where are they going? And what will they discover when they get there? Find out in this gripping tale that's perfect for little ears.

3. Great Caves of the World by Tony Waltham (2008)

This fantastically illustrated non-fiction book takes readers on a tour of 26 of the world's natural caves.

Dive in and you'll learn about the environment surrounding these magnificent caves along with details of how they were discovered and how to reach them.

4. The Land Below by William Meikle (2020)

If you love caves and you don't mind a bit of spookiness, this novel could be right up your street.

The Land Below is a treasure hunt into the deepest cave system in Europe. When things take a drastic turn, you will see the characters catapulted to a world below the surface.

They'll come face to face with dinosaur-like creatures and animals unknown to the humans above.

Can they make it out safely?

5. The Cave Painter of Lascaux by Roberta Angeletti (1999)

In this storybook, a young girl named Cecilia is on a school trip to visit the caves of Lascaux in the south of France.

It's a mysterious place with well-preserved paintings that are believed to have been created by our prehistoric ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago.

When Cecilia notices some footprints unlike those of her classmates, she goes to take a closer look and comes face to face with none other than the painter of the walls.

This fascinating story is exciting and informative – and its explanation of prehistoric people and how they lived, used tools and painted is perfectly executed.

6. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864)

This book was first published in French in 1864 and reissued in 1867 in a revised and extended edition.

It's a classic science fiction novel that's not only been re-written and expanded upon by numerous writers but has also been adapted into a Hollywood film, several television series and a radio podcast.

Not only that, but Journey to the Center of the Earth has had a number of theme park rides named after it, including one that operated at Disneyland Paris until 2005.

It's an incredible read and one you will not want to put down.

7. Passport to Nature: Amazing Caves Around the World by Rachel Castro (2019)

If you'd rather explore the wonders of the real world rather than a fictional world, this book could be perfect for you.

Buckle up for a trip around the globe as you've never experienced before. You'll learn about caves in countries across the world, all of which have unique offerings and fascinating backstories.

You'll be lost in a cave in North America only to be catapulted across the globe to China, where you'll explore the glory of all things speleological.

Let your imagination come to life

Once you're done reading about caves, why not visit some?