10 Best Kids Activity Books Reviewed in 2024
Whether you have time to kill at home on a rainy day, in the car, or at the doctor’s office, activity books for kids can be a wonderful way to occupy a child’s spare time. It is not always a good environment for reading books, but activity books for children can be the best thing to keep them focused and calm when you are busy doing other things. We have listed the best activity books for kids in this informative buying guide for you that have pleased parents with their outstanding creativeness and designs for entertaining children of many ages. We have ranked them according to the important criteria of the age range, ease of use, entertainment value, and design for you to analyze. It will be hard to decide on just one as these are all so interesting and thrilling to try. Let the fun begin!
In a Hurry? The test winner after 79 hrs of research
Illustrations are kid-friendly and colorful
Encourages learning that is self-directed
Skills and concepts are progressive
Pages are perforated for worksheets
Award certificate as the last page for the child
10 Best Children's Activity Books Reviewed
1. School Zone
Illustrations are kid-friendly and colorful
Encourages learning that is self-directed
Skills and concepts are progressive
Pages are perforated for worksheets
Award certificate as the last page for the child
Does not fold easily – can be heavy for kids
Some children were bored halfway through
Authored by School Zone, the Big Preschool Workbook is offered in a spiral-bound and a paperback printed version. This activity book for kids is for ages three to five years old and has over 1,2000 online reviews from mostly satisfied buyers.
Read moreIt is the first book out of fifteen in the series of School Zone Big Workbooks, has 320 pages in total, and 319 pages of activity. There is an award certificate as the last page to give to the child for finishing the activities. The skills and concepts are progressive throughout the book going from easy to difficult exercises. Pages can tear out easily to make individual worksheets since the pages are perforated.
Age range
This volume is great for preschool to third grade. It is best for those in the age range of three to five-years-old with the included exercises and level of things to do in this children's activity books.
Design
Included are five large sections of early math and numbers, following directions, shapes and colors, the alphabet, and pre-writing abilities. School Zone makes exceptional products for kids for learning fun.
Entertainment value
This activity book for children encourages learning that is self-directed with visual clues and easy directions. The mixture of activities is perfect to ward off boredom and keep them entertained.
Ease of use
The focused skill is printed at the page bottoms, and the illustrations are kid-friendly and colorful to help with the lessons. Being able to tear out the pages helps the child focus on one activity at a time.
2. Melissa & Doug Water Wow!
Perfect for travel or in the car with no mess
Pages are spiral bound
Fun facts and hidden pictures
Endless fun with reusable pictures
The pen is easy to hold and chunky in form
The pen tip needs to be rounded more
Some experienced pen leaks
The Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Activity Pads product is a three-pack of fun activity that includes the themes of under the sea, safari, and farm. Each one is perfect for travel or in the car excitement and creates no mess with the water or the pen.
Read moreEach pad has four pages to color with the water pen that is included. The pen is refillable with water and the pages are spiral bound. It promotes visual discrimination, early reading and writing abilities, and fine motor talents. As the child “paints” with the pen, the hidden pictures are revealed. When the pages dry, the images disappear to show a blank page. They can be repeated over and over for endless fun.
Age range
Great for those aged three to seven, this terrific children's activity book includes fun facts and hidden pictures. It is this age set that becomes very involved in their coloring activities and would enjoy this item the most.
Design
These are coloring books that are completed with water and are reusable. When the “ink” dries, the pictures fade to a blank page that can then be enjoyed again and again.
Entertainment value
Whether you use these to keep kids busy in the car or while you do your household activities, they will be thrilled with the coloring and the exotic pen with the water.
Ease of use
The pen is easy for small kids to hold because it is chunky in form, and it stores in the cover front very neatly. Neither the pen or the water in it will pose a problem of becoming messy.
3. Paint by Sticker Zoo Animals
Pages are made of durable card stock
Stickers are large for little hands
Perforated pages come out easily
Each picture can be framed
Craft, an activity, and a puzzle all in one
Pictures could be more detailed said the buyers
Some stickers might need to be cut from pages
Available in a paperback edition, the Paint by Sticker Kids Zoo Animals activity book for kids is authored by Workman Publishing and contains all zoo animals.
Read moreThis kids activity book gets kids to create colored pictures by placing the stickers one by one and has ten pictures in all. The images include the animals of a tiger, a gorilla, a snake, a giraffe, a puffin, a peacock, a red panda, a frog, a koala, and an elephant. The finished work looks that good. This activity promotes matching and number recognition for kids that are older and matching and number introduction for smaller children.
Age range
Good for those aged five and older, this activity books for kids uses the computer-style of low-poly art to take polygon shapes and make 3D images in color.
Design
It is a craft, an activity, and a puzzle all in one that develops spatial orientation and fine motor talents. It is like Tangrams combined with stickers and paint-by-number pictures for the grades of kindergarten to sixth with 34 pages.
Entertainment value
This is an activity without any mess since it uses stickers that are large for little hands to grab easily. Children must find the correct sticker for the spot they want to cover and then peel and stick it on the paper picture.
Ease of use
The pages inside this kids activity book are made of durable card stock, so the artwork can be displayed after they are completed. Pages are smartly perforated to come out easily, and each picture can be framed.
4. Melissa & Doug Tape
Comes with easy-tear colorful tape
Plastic binding is sturdy and long-lasting
Pages are reusable
Twenty pictures to finish with the tape
Tape goes in the cover for simple storage
Some kids could not tear the tape – too young
Older children tired of this quickly
With 20 pages of fun tape activity, this Melissa & Doug Tape Activity Book for kids comes with easy-tear colorful tape of four rolls. The tape is four different colors, and the pages are reusable.
Read moreThe adorable book has a plastic binding that is sturdy and long-lasting for continued fun. The tape can be put in the cover for simple storage and can be taken off the pages without damaging them or the pictures. Colorful and interesting, this terrific children's activity book is good for color recognition, coordination of hands and eyes, finger strength and dexterity, and fine motor abilities. The pictures have empty white dashes and stripes to fill in with the colored tape and can be done over and over again for added fun.
Age range
Featuring twenty pictures to finish with the tape, this preschool activity book for kids is ideal for kids four to seven-years-old. It is mostly the younger ages that will be the most thrilled with this book.
Design
Each page has pictures that need the child to add the tape to finish the coloration of the design. Whether that is lines of a railroad track or the whiskers of a cat, it is fun and engaging for the child.
Entertainment value
Kids love tape, pretty colors, and fun pictures, and this activity book has all of that. They use the tape to complete the colorful images and have loads of fun while doing it.
Ease of use
There is no mess with this activity because everything is done with the roles of tape that come with the kids activity book. The child just tears the tape of the color and size that the picture needs for that particular feature to finish it.
5. Don't Let the Pigeon Finish!
Colorful and interesting
The author is an animator and writer on Sesame Street
Each page has an activity
Pages are perforated to use one at a time
Many fun and exciting cartoon characters
The layout can be confusing and busy for kids
Can be too heavy and big with all of the pages
Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book! is a paperback book written and illustrated by Mo Willems who is an animator and writer on Sesame Street.
Read moreHe has won six Emmys for his work because of its entertainment value and excellence. Pages are perforated to use one at a time if needed because the activity book for preschoolers is so large. Best for children aged three and older or for grades of preschool and beyond, this wonderful book has 272 pages of thrilling activities for kids. There are plenty of fun and exciting cartoon characters to guide them through the book and the many things to do such as the Bus Driver, Mad Cow, Duckling, and, of course, Pigeon.
Age range
Preschoolers will enjoy this book the most with the guidance of parents to help them through the activities. Ages three and up will understand the concepts that are being asked of them to do.
Design
Each page of this activity book for preschoolers has a challenge for the child with the bus driver giving the instructions. It is a large book, but the pages can be removed along the perforations for easy use.
Entertainment value
The several cartoon characters the child will see and get to know, make this activity book for kids even more exciting because of the fun banter and dialogue between them.
Ease of use
All 272 pages include something for the child to do in a wonderful and thoughtful challenge. Parents may have to help the younger kids with some things, but older children will be able to do most things themselves.
6. School Zone Hidden Pictures
32 hidden and exciting picture puzzles
Teaches global awareness and geography
More than 250 small pictures to find
Develops attention for details and visual perception
A good travel size
Not as large as some people expected
Can be too easy to do for five-year-olds and older
Designed and authored by School Zone, the Hidden Pictures Around the World Workbook is for children five-years-old and up. It is a paperback volume that is a good travel size with just 32 pages.
Read moreIdeal for kindergarteners and preschoolers, this treasured book develops attention for details, hand-eye coordination, and visual perception. It includes more than 250 small pictures that must be found among the larger ones. Within colorful illustrations of discovery, kids solve the 32 hidden and exciting picture puzzles. This terrific activity book for kids teaches global awareness and geography with hidden objects and puzzles.
Age range
Even though the given age range begins at five-years-old for this kids activity book, many children younger than this are currently enjoying the picture hunting. It is never too early to try new ideas and concepts with kids.
Design
Made to be a part puzzle and part activity, this seek and find book has pictures hidden with pictures. It sounds more difficult than it really is and is very entertaining for children anywhere.
Entertainment value
Finding objects in pictures is a fascinating pastime for all ages, but this lovely book is specially made just for children. they can look for hours at a time into the beautiful pictures on each page for the items.
Ease of use
Perfect for travel purposes or in the car, this marvelous kids activity book will keep kids quite busy while parents are busy with other things. It does not create a mess and can be used over and over.
7. The Everything Puzzle
Many puzzles, word games, and mazes
Has matching, unscrambling, and secret messages
Mouse character Mervin is a guide
Packed with wacky and wild puzzles
Many hours of fun and enjoyment
Might be too complicated for younger children
Was boring for a few six and seven-year-olds
Written by Jennifer A Ericsson and Beth L Blair, The Everything Kids’ Puzzle Book is in a paperback format and provides hours of exciting fun with the many puzzles, word games, and mazes.
Read moreIncluded are the matching of snowflakes, the classic hangman game, unscrambling a timeline, and decoding secret messages just to name a few of the many thrilling things to do in this volume. The mouse character Mervin guides kids along in the book as they turn the pages. Be sure to look for him on each page! This activity book for children is jam-packed with wacky and wild puzzles. It includes 144 pages and is best for grades four to six or ages of seven to twelve.
Age range
The recommended age to begin with this activity book for kids is seven, but this really depends on the maturity of the child. Many little ones much younger can master the skills needed to enjoy this book.
Design
Loaded with all sorts of puzzles, games, and mazes, this children's activity book of kid fun is large and enticing. Your child will not want to stop with just a few pages completed because each new page is more thrilling than the last.
Entertainment value
What child does not like puzzles? It is just something we are born with to investigate and solve challenges. Even the smallest of youngsters can perform these feats of solving problems.
Ease of use
To make this puzzle activity book for kids even more interesting, the author included Mervin the little mouse that can be found on each page. Kids should make it a point to look for him as he leads them through the many activities.
8. Daily Things to Draw
An image to draw every day of the year
365 easy pictures to duplicate
Lessons are divided into simple steps
Diagrams are simple to follow
Builds the confidence in drawing well
Some kids were bored with this soon
Could use more instruction for some images
The Drawing Book for Kids has 151 pages and is authored by Wool Jr. Kids Activities. It comes in paperback and Kindle versions and builds the confidence of children in drawing well.
Read moreMade for ages seven and older or grades three and up, each lesson is divided into a series of simple steps. A masterpiece can be created easily with diagrams that are so simple to follow. There is an image to draw every day of the year with 365 easy pictures to duplicate. It gives easy instruction to draw each design and includes plants, foods, animals, objects, sports, vehicles, and holidays for the subjects. Those interested in art will love this beginner’s level of artwork whether they are very young or older.
Age range
Seven-year-olds are the recommended starting age for this drawing adventure, but it may be possible for much younger kids to practice these skills with some guided direction from parents.
Design
There are all sorts of pictures to replicate in this incredible digest of simple images. With 365 things to draw, children will never be bored and always have something to practice each day.
Entertainment value
All kids love to draw whether they are good or not. With this children's activity book, you can encourage their artistic abilities and give them the tools needed to be great at what they are passionate about.
Ease of use
The easy diagrams provide the steps necessary to duplicate the pictures on your own. Each has six steps to complete the image and become an advanced artist with the 365 designs.
9. Unicorn Adventure Scratch and Sketch
Comes with a wood stylus for the tracing
Silver, rainbow, and gold colors
20 pages of artboards
Includes 20 added pages to doodle
Is non-toxic
Not a lot for kids to really do
Could have more rainbow colors
Authored by Lee Nemmers, this hardcover-spiral volume of Unicorn Adventure Scratch and Sketch is a fun tracing activity that results in some stunning rainbow images.
Read moreIt comes with a wooden stylus to do the tracing in the book and has twenty pages of artboards that are scratch-off, non-toxic, and black-coated. Ten pictures are silver and gold and the other ten are multicolored. Included are twenty added pages for children to doodle with markers, colored pencils, or crayons. This activity book for kids is good for those ages of five and older or grades three to four.
Age range
It is best that children older than five do this activity because of the black substance that comes off when the pictures are scratched. Even though the material is non-toxic is best that toddlers do not participate.
Design
The pages are black-coated and when scratched, reveal the silver, rainbow, and gold colors underneath. With twenty pictures to complete, there is enough enjoyment for hours.
Entertainment value
A guide named Polly in the book leads kids on the wonderful journey to the enchanted castle. All of the images of the unicorns are progressive to this wonderful ending of enchantment.
Ease of use
Kids simply trace the many outlines of the pictures of the unicorns and their friends to make them colorful. The included stylus makes this very simple to do even for small children.
10. National Geographic Ponies and Horses
Contains more than 1,000 stickers
Plenty of adorable horses and ponies
Very colorful and interactive
Many drawing pages, games, and mazes
Occupies the attention for a long while
Some had trouble with the stickers sticking
Was not as large as some expected
Designed by National Geographic Kids, the Kids Ponies, and Horses Sticker Activity Book is a paperback book that contains more than 1,000 stickers to use.
Read moreThere are plenty of adorable horses and ponies for kids to enjoy in a very colorful and interactive activity book. Ideal for kids four to eight-years-old or grades preschool to third, this interesting activity book for kids has 56 pages and a large assortment of ponies and horses. It certainly occupies the attention for a long while and is good for both girls and boys equally.
Age range
Even the smallest of kids love stickers, especially the ones of horses and ponies. You will enjoy watching them with this book just to see their little faces light up with delight at the many ponies and horses.
Design
Included are many drawing pages, pattern and spelling games, and fun mazes. Besides the many stickers to place on the pages, all of these extra activities are be exciting too.
Entertainment value
The activities and games are terrific for children and perfect for horse lovers of many ages. This terrific book combines the best of the two worlds of horses and stickers into one exciting adventure.
Ease of use
It is so simple for children to just follow along in the book and place the 1,000 stickers in the designated places on the pages. Sticker fun is perfect for travel and away from home because there is no mess.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Age Range
As we have stated before, the age of the child is just one indicator of the type of activity book you should purchase for them. You will have to try several just to see what they are interested in but basically, stick to the recommended ages of the author. Activity books for kids can be a hit and miss situation, as some kids are far advanced than their peer, while others are lacking in some basic skills. These activity books begin at the three-year-old range and go to the age of the older child.
Design
It is hard to describe the particular design of all of these activity books for kids because each one is so different from the others. We chose them that way to give you a terrific assortment to choose from. There are tons of activity books for children on the market today, but you must find the ones that your individual child will get the most benefit. They differ mostly in the recommended age because of the content. Activity books for five-year-olds are very different than the activity books for three-year-olds in that respect.
Entertainment Value
Highly entertaining are these incredible activity books for toddlers and older. They are packed full of physical and mental challenges and things to do that are ideal for long days at home, car trips, plane travel, doctor’s visits, and away at relatives’ homes. Children will reap hours of enjoyment from the many pages of these books, even the activity books for four-year-olds have plenty of things they can do on their own without parental supervision.
Ease of Use
The many designs of these activity books for kids cover a wide range of things to do from simple to challenging and for the very young to the older child. Parents will have to decide which ones are best for their kids using the given age levels from the authors. One thing that may be easy for some children may not be for others of the same age. All of these books are made to be perfect for the age range suggested, so try out a few to keep your little one happy for trips and away from home.
Activity books for kids are perfect for trips and car rides when there is nothing else to do. Eventually, they will become bored, believe it or not, with tablets and smartphones. Make sure to have some on hand for the next trip you have coming up.
During the summer or when at relatives’ homes, kids can use activity books to kill some extra time. Even the relative’s kids may join in for some extra fun and games to challenge everyone. Summer can drag on if children have nothing to do each day. Activity books can fill in a lot of that time.
Other Factors to Consider
Creativity
When your child sees the imagination that the author used to create these activity books for kids, they will realize the many possibilities of creativity for themselves. By getting to experience what others have already accomplished, they will be able to improve on those thoughts and make their own creations. Even the activity books for three-year-olds and older can inspire the youngest of kids to achieve greatness from fun.
Logic
Activity books for children can jar their mental capacities with the mazes, puzzles, games, quizzes, and challenges that these volumes contain. They are not all physical activities to occupy the mind but do have some thinking activities involved as well. Logic plays a great role even in the simplest of tasks that can benefit the child. There are tons of these incredible logic problems for kids to perform, even in the activity books for toddlers.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: What is the age range for these activity books for kids?
This is really dependent on the child, the recommended ages of the manufacturer, and the participating level of the parents. For a rough estimate for all of the listed books, a good starting range would be about four or five-years-old based on what the activities include. Some of these are great activity books for toddlers, while others are terrific activity books for older children.
q: Do any of them require extra items to do the activities?
No, they do not. Even the ones with the stickers, tape, and stylus have these items included for the child to begin the fun and joy right away.
q: Are these equally attractive and interesting for boys and girls?
Yes, they certainly are great for both sexes of kids. None of them are more for one gender or the other. They can also be enjoyed by several kids of various ages and sexes together for more fun. These activity books for kids are more judged by age rather than sex.
q: Are some of these activity books for kids better for car travel than others?
No, not really. They are all very good for traveling, away from home use, and in the car fun. It just depends on what your child likes best to do (stickers, drawing, puzzles, etc.) and how well they could do the activity while moving in the vehicle or with others.
q: Do any of the preschool activity books have anything other than tape, stickers, and coloring to do?
Yes, many of the activity books have puzzles, games, mazes, and challenges to do besides the physical things that deal with the stickers, tape, and stylus scratching.
q: What are parents saying that did not care for these activity books for their kids?
The most frequent complaint from parents about these activity books is that their kids were not interested in them. Now, this may not be the fault of the book since there are various appropriate age levels for each one. The child may have been too young to understand the concepts or too old and was bored with the simplicity of the ideas.
Sources
- How to Introduce Toddlers and Babies to Books, Online Article ,
- 8 Activity Books for Kids, Online Article ,
- Help Your Child Find Appealing Books, Online Article ,