June 2, 2009 | Published in 12 and up, ages 6 - 9, ages 9 - 12, Carrie, Children's Books

Choose Your Own Adventure series

Does anyone else remember the Choose Your Own Adventure Stories? I was SO DELIGHTED to see them in a local bookstore as I have fond memories of reading these books voraciously when I was younger. I remember that I would always try to pick the option that would lead to the longest story. I remember sharing the books with my best friend. We would pour over these books for hours, trying to see how many story conclusions could be drawn per book.

If you have somehow lived your life hidden under a rock and are not familiar with the Choose Your Own Adventure stories well, just sit down! Let’s catch you up. Choose Your Own Adventure stories are stories where you get to do exactly that. You are put “into” the story. You, the main character, get to decide which option you’ll take in causing the story to unfold. You and you alone get to hunt for the abominable snowman. You and you alone (say this with a deep and mysterious voice:) will search for the lost jewels of Nabooti. Oh yes, my friends. The adventures are dangerous, sometimes deadly, frequently mysterious and very. very. curious.

There is a new Choose Your Own Adventure series (that I had never seen before) specifically tailored for kids between the ages of 9-12. The books are about 50 pages long and very between having 9-12 possible endings. For example, in the book Your Very Own Robot you are given a (surprise!) robot. You must choose what you are going to do with him from whether or not you are going to paint him or not (with varying results) to whether or not you will choose to attack a band of pirates with him (with varying degrees of success depending on which option you choose). You can choose whether or not your robot will have friends and how those friends will be. The illustrations in this look very much like a cartoon you’d see on tv. The characters are therefore easy to identify with because they have a familiar look about them. It is simply a matter of what you will choose to have those characters do.

Then, of course, there are the traditional classic stories which are being reprinted. You can get the first four in the series in a boxed set for convenience sake and it contains the following titles: The Abominable Snowman, Journey Under the Sea, Space and Beyond, and The Lost Jewels of the Nabooti. They also have a relatively new series under the Choose Your Own Adventure umbrella. The first book in the series is called The Golden Path: Into the Hollow Earth which is a series that is a little more up-to-date with this modern world. However, all the stories are so fantastical that I don’t think the “classic” series is really out-of-date in any way. They are creative, imaginative and I’ve never seen anything else quite like them.

What about you? Do you have fond memories of this series? Well, then, you’ll be glad to note that you can share them with your kids also. Remember: YOU and YOU ALONE decide the adventure so BEWARE!

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Speaking of sharing them with your kids (or grandkids!), the Choose Your Own Adventure Company has graciously agreed to give away a copy of the first four titles in the classic series to one of our readers, signed by author R.A. Montgomery.

In order to win, leave a comment below. U.S. Residents only, please. Good luck and may your adventures be safe!

Click on the banner above to enter our other Summer Fun Giveaways. All winners will be announced on June 11.

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1 Kipi (In My Own Little Corner) June 2, 2009 at 2:07 pm: Loved these books!
2 JDSG June 2, 2009 at 3:23 pm: It is always so much fun for the children to choose their own adventure. R.A. Montgomery is a fabulous author, too. Thanks for the opportunity to win theses delightful books, and what a treat to have them signed by the author as well.

JDSG

visionquest2020 (at) msn (dot) com
3 AZ Dog Mom June 2, 2009 at 3:33 pm: Oh my goodness, seeing that image of the original cover gave me a shiver of nostalgia for long summer days in the tree house, devouring CYOA books (and chips). Wow. My favorites, that I read over an over were “Help! You’re Shrinking” and “The Mummy’s Tomb”
4 Literaturecrazy June 2, 2009 at 3:41 pm: I loved the Mayan mystery; I must have read it a million times. That’s how I learned the term “attache case.”

heathernkemp(at)hotmail(dot)com
5 Terra Heck June 2, 2009 at 3:46 pm: I’m sure my son would enjoy these books. Please count me in to win. Thanks.
6 GAhome2mom June 2, 2009 at 3:46 pm: I know my kids and grandchildren would enjoy these books. Thanks.

gahome2mom at gmail dot com
7 Linda June 2, 2009 at 3:50 pm: I know my neighbors kids would love these! Please add me to the contest.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
8 Brittany June 2, 2009 at 3:54 pm: Wow, I loved these books growing up – they were so much fun to read! What great memories…
9 LuAnn June 2, 2009 at 4:03 pm: I loved these books when I was a kid. I will definately need to get some of these for my kids.
10 Kerry S. June 2, 2009 at 4:15 pm: I have lots of happy memories reading these when I was young.
11 Stefanie Hartman June 2, 2009 at 4:56 pm: My 2 older sons, Bobby and Jacob, will go absolutely bonkers if we win these wonderful books. My son, Jacob, who is 10, needs to develop a love of reading – these books would satisfy his need for adventure!! Blessings!!
12 Mark June 2, 2009 at 5:03 pm: I loved these books as a kid, especially the “Time Machine” spin off where you went on a mission back in time.

I have happy memories of sitting with my fingers stuck in the book at various spots because, obsessive person that I am, I had to make sure I read every possible ending. So I’d start by doing what I’d do. Then when I hit an end, I’d back track to the last branch and see where the other path led. It got complicated, but I didn’t mind in the least.
13 Elizabeth Sprague June 2, 2009 at 5:08 pm: Of this would be so perfect for my boys… my oldest for now. I remember loving these!
14 Kristin June 2, 2009 at 5:11 pm: Oh my gosh…I use to love these books. I would read them over and over to see all the possible endings.
15 Angie June 2, 2009 at 5:23 pm: oh yeah! I know my kids would love these!
16 jo June 2, 2009 at 5:33 pm: this would be a great birthday present for my nephew Max
jceko77@yahoo.com
17 Jean June 2, 2009 at 6:10 pm: My oldest loves the Choose Your Adventure series and he would be thrilled to get the newest adventures for himself.
18 spring chicken June 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm: I was telling my daughter about this series and she was gung ho. Please consider her for the giveaway!!!! Zoe0825@verizon.net
19 TCKK June 2, 2009 at 7:59 pm: I’ve never read them, but my kids have.
20 PisecoMom June 2, 2009 at 9:16 pm: My son would LOVE these! He has a couple of my old ones and a few other books written in the same page-flipping style. Thanks for the contest!
21 Heather J. June 2, 2009 at 9:40 pm: I’d love these for my son! We’ve been reading my old Star Wars Choose Your Own Adventures together and I’ve been searching for more to add to our collection.
22 Sonia June 2, 2009 at 10:30 pm: How fun to be able to pass these on to the next generation!
23 Tammy Gordon June 3, 2009 at 6:08 am: I used to love reading this!!
24 Amy June 3, 2009 at 8:27 am: Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Carrie!

Sign me up–I think my nephews might enjoy these!
25 Nicole C. June 3, 2009 at 9:06 am: I always loved these books, as did my older kids!!
26 Dan Kuck June 3, 2009 at 9:35 am: Then you’ll love Tweet Your Own Adventure http://while.foolishmortal.org/tyoa/
27 Randy Bailey June 3, 2009 at 9:55 am: These look like they would keep young readers interested in reading
28 Carey June 3, 2009 at 10:16 am: These books were great fun and I’m sure my son would love them.
29 Danetta June 3, 2009 at 10:38 am: Oh wow! I remember these books! I LOVED them! I would read them over and over to come up with different endings. I think my son would love them just as much as I did.
30 Jenn S. June 3, 2009 at 10:48 am: I was just thinking about these books the other day. I loved them when I was about my kids age. I am sure they would enjoy them as well.
31 Cassandra June 3, 2009 at 11:04 am: I love these books! Hubby and I were talking about them last week. We both read almost the entire series when we were kids.
32 Alison June 3, 2009 at 11:13 am: Wow, I used to read these constantly! And, write my own
33 Charity S. June 3, 2009 at 11:48 am: My son would love these!

Thanks
34 Abby June 3, 2009 at 11:50 am: Can I tell you how happy I am to see these books make a come back? My son has the entire collection of the first series (he scrunged garage sale boxes to find them all!) Now my daughter who is 7 years younger than him will have a chance to get her own!
35 Michael Capp June 3, 2009 at 12:09 pm: I’d love to win!
36 Michele June 3, 2009 at 1:57 pm: Oh, I loved these books whenever I was in school! My nephew would love these…count me in!
37 Tracey Byram June 3, 2009 at 2:23 pm: I have 3 readers like myself in the family that would enjoy these books.
38 Brandon Ralston June 3, 2009 at 2:28 pm: Enter me please! Thanks!
39 Amy Reads Good Books June 3, 2009 at 3:00 pm: Ooo! Those were awesome. I too always tried to make choices so that the story would last longer.
40 Brian Morin June 3, 2009 at 5:19 pm: I loved Choose Your Own Adventure when I was growing up. I actually kept most of the books that I read as a kid. I always loved You Are A Shark.
41 daniel rosenberg June 3, 2009 at 5:38 pm: the choose your own adventure series was one of my favorite series as a kid!
42 Sue June 3, 2009 at 6:14 pm: I remember these when I was a kid and my boys have just recently discovered them. Thanks for sharing~
43 Mozi Esmes Mommy June 3, 2009 at 7:26 pm: I love these books growing up! Of course I read all the alternatives…
44 DanielleC June 3, 2009 at 7:37 pm: my friends and I all loved the choose your adventure books when we were little. We would trade our books all the time and do the adventures as a team!
45 MRS.MOMMYY June 3, 2009 at 8:53 pm: loved these books
46 Lacey June 3, 2009 at 10:35 pm: Yes, I remember these books and I love them!
47 Sue June 3, 2009 at 11:37 pm: Love these books
48 Carol Lawrence June 4, 2009 at 5:21 am: My grandkids would love it if I had these books for them to read.
49 alicia wallace June 4, 2009 at 6:13 am: Looks like a great series for summer reading.
50 Ali June 4, 2009 at 8:16 am: I used to *love* these? I would re-read them over and over until I thought I had read every possible combination!
51 Aimee Davis June 4, 2009 at 8:56 am: I hadn’t thought about these books in ages! How fun!
52 Elena June 4, 2009 at 11:51 am: I loved these, and my kids love them too! Thanks for the contest!
53 pag June 4, 2009 at 1:11 pm: I would love to win these books, please. Thanks
54 Beth June 4, 2009 at 2:50 pm: I loved these as a kid. I had a whole shelf full of them and even tried writing my own. It would be great to win these so my daughter can enjoy them.
55 Karen B June 4, 2009 at 4:43 pm: I’ve never heard of these before but I have grand and greatgrandchildren who would go nuts for them!
56 Ellen C. June 4, 2009 at 4:44 pm: My son would love these. Thanks for the chance.
57 beth shepherd June 4, 2009 at 5:10 pm: Thank you for the chance
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
58 Vicky Boackle June 4, 2009 at 5:26 pm: my grandkids would love these.
59 valerie Mitchell June 4, 2009 at 7:13 pm: i’d love to win
60 jeanine June 4, 2009 at 10:25 pm: i didn’t even know they still made these! i LOVED choose your own adventure books when i was little. i would love to win these for my son!
61 Laureen June 4, 2009 at 11:24 pm: My children love to come up with different story endings. This would be great for them! Thanks!
62 tiki11 June 4, 2009 at 11:48 pm: I loved these books when I was a kid
63 Tawnda June 5, 2009 at 11:43 am: I loved to find out what happens if I choose a different path… these books are good for repeat readers too!
64 Jen June 5, 2009 at 12:54 pm: I think I read like 200 of these! I would love to have a set for older kids that frequently visit!
65 Karen Medlin June 5, 2009 at 3:43 pm: kids enjoy re-reading these from the library.. it would be awesome for them to have their own books
66 bridget June 5, 2009 at 4:56 pm: I loved choose your own adventure when I was a kid. I would always choose the wrong path and have to start over again and again.
67 Kathy Scott June 5, 2009 at 7:07 pm: My son would love the Robot.
68 Alicia June 5, 2009 at 10:27 pm: When I was a child, I remember reading choose your own adventure books. I loved them. I would love these for my son.
69 Janelle June 6, 2009 at 12:04 am: Wow, the books sure look different now. I fondly remember reading these as a kid. Would love to have a set for my kids.
70 Daniel M June 6, 2009 at 10:28 pm: I remember these when i was a kid, been around a long time, used to like them a lot
71 Nadia June 7, 2009 at 1:23 am: These books are fun!
72 Carlene June 7, 2009 at 9:13 am: Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
73 Kathy D June 7, 2009 at 10:02 am: My sisters kids would love these
74 Jennifer C June 7, 2009 at 10:09 am: I would love these for my nephew.
75 Bob June 7, 2009 at 10:14 am: would love for my grandkids who are homeschooled they love to read
76 Dave June 7, 2009 at 6:04 pm: These bring back a lot of memories. Choose Your Own Adventure were some of my favorite books when I was younger. I’m sure my little nephews will enjoy these books just as much as I did when I was their age. Thank you for the chance to win.
77 Victoria June 7, 2009 at 6:42 pm: I adored these books when I was young. Never knew how they’d turn out and you could read them several times. They were great! I’d love to win a set. Thanks!
78 Jennifer June 7, 2009 at 8:13 pm: I really loved reading and re-reading choose your own adventure books. They give kids a sense of power and option that is usually lacking in real life.
79 christopher h June 7, 2009 at 9:29 pm: i remember those! too cool
80 corrie June 8, 2009 at 10:24 am: ive never read them, but my boys would love them
81 Rachel Higgs June 8, 2009 at 10:56 am: I used to love reading these when I was a kid. would love to pass on the tradition to my kids
82 Heather H June 8, 2009 at 11:38 am: These would be grand to read with my kids!
83 Christine June 8, 2009 at 1:24 pm: WHOA!!! I LOVED these when I was a kid and would love to share them with my son now! Thanks for the chance!
84 Paula H June 8, 2009 at 2:18 pm: I remember reading these and my older kids have read many of them, too. I would like to introduce my younger kids to them.
85 Elli June 8, 2009 at 2:45 pm: my boys are 9 and 11 – they would love these!
86 Mary Casper June 8, 2009 at 10:20 pm: my twin nephews would love this
87 Susan Smith June 8, 2009 at 10:21 pm: My daughter would love to read these books
88 Christine Walker June 8, 2009 at 11:52 pm: My kid would love these!
89 samella June 9, 2009 at 5:04 am: these were my favorites as a child and i would love to share them with my children
90 Erma H June 9, 2009 at 6:39 am: I would love the chance to win, thanks.
91 Ali Hammons June 9, 2009 at 9:49 am: These books look like a lot of fun!
92 sarah June 9, 2009 at 10:18 am: enter me!
93 gloria mckellar June 9, 2009 at 10:47 am: Looks like a good book for a lazy summer day.

kngmckellar@hotmail.com
94 Pamela S June 9, 2009 at 12:00 pm: To be honest, I don’t remember these books, but my kids have liked other books where you can pick endings. So I’d love to try them. Thanks.
95 Brenda Park June 9, 2009 at 12:25 pm: I remember reading these books, and ‘cheating’ by going back and trying to make another choice to get a better ending! My 10 year old would love these so much, so thank you for hosting yet another great giveaway!
96 LaVonne June 9, 2009 at 12:39 pm: I loved these when I was in fourth grade. Thanks for the chance to win.
97 Cynthia Mercado June 9, 2009 at 2:04 pm: I would love to read these with my 5 year old son. He would love it.

mercsmercado at yahoo dot com
98 Denise June 9, 2009 at 3:02 pm: They look like something that my youngest daughter would really enjoy. Thank you!
99 Marie June 9, 2009 at 3:22 pm: I loved these books when I was a kid, it would be fun to share them with my kids!
100 Adrienne Gordon June 9, 2009 at 4:48 pm: my son just picked up one of these at the library today
101 Marianna June 9, 2009 at 6:58 pm: Thanks for the chance to win! My son loves these kind of books!
102 Julie K June 9, 2009 at 7:50 pm: I loved these as a kid, and I bought one for my son who really liked it, too. I would love to get him some fun summer reading. Thanks!
103 Jay F. June 9, 2009 at 8:10 pm: I also loved these as a kid, reading through all the paths in the book.
104 Susan Smith June 9, 2009 at 8:16 pm: My daughter would love these books
105 Monalisa C. June 9, 2009 at 9:00 pm: I’m in Heaven! I have loved the choose your own adventure books since I was a kid. They are hard to find in my neck of the woods.
106 Colleen Yamamoto June 9, 2009 at 10:44 pm: i grew up on these books!
107 Nicole June 9, 2009 at 10:48 pm: My boys would love it! And all my books get passed on to kids at my school when we’re finished creating more winners!
108 theodore esteghamat June 9, 2009 at 11:07 pm: I’d love to win these books.
109 Chrysa June 10, 2009 at 12:01 am: Thanks for the giveaway!
110 angie June 10, 2009 at 12:26 am: I loved these books when I was a kid.
111 Melanie June 10, 2009 at 12:30 am: I used to love the Choose Your Own Adventure books!, though I have to admit I would cheat a little and take a peek..
112 Karen June 10, 2009 at 2:37 am: I remember reading these when I was a kid, and spending lots of time trying to make sure that I’d read every single possible story arc. My 8-year-old loves them now!
113 Jessica June 10, 2009 at 3:00 am: These books would be so fun for my son. Thanks
114 Molly Capel June 10, 2009 at 4:15 am: I would love to read this book!
115 Rachel Robertson June 10, 2009 at 4:18 am: I love these books as they let children use their imagination and this lets them go into different worlds, situations and helps them to dream.
116 Steve M. June 10, 2009 at 7:28 am: I never did find the Lost Jewels of Nabooti.
117 Terri L June 10, 2009 at 11:03 am: Man, I LOVED these growing up and would hope my kids would like them too!
118 Veronica Garrett June 10, 2009 at 11:04 am: I would love to win this for my children.
119 HeatherS June 10, 2009 at 12:06 pm: Wow! This really brings back a lot of memories! I adored these books when I was a child and I would love to share them with my own children!
120 kathy pease June 10, 2009 at 12:16 pm: Thanks for the GREAT giveaway
please count me in
121 Leslie S. June 10, 2009 at 12:20 pm: I remember reading these in the summer.I would love for my girls to get to ead them like I did. Thanks!
122 Brittany Rebello June 10, 2009 at 2:21 pm: Choose your own adventure? What fun!
123 Jennifer M June 10, 2009 at 2:35 pm: I remember loving these!
124 Gianna June 10, 2009 at 4:44 pm: Please enter me
125 Lily Kwan June 10, 2009 at 4:53 pm: Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
126 Sandy M June 10, 2009 at 5:33 pm: My granddaughters would love these books.
127 jason fiske June 10, 2009 at 6:27 pm: Love those books. I remember hiding under my blanket late at night with a flashlight outside. Oh, now my kids are reading.