Top 14 Activity Books For Kids Updated 04 /2024

They are great for kids because they are often both fun and educational in some way. For long car rides, screen-free entertainment while eating out, or even just to have around the house in case of a rainy day, an activity book can be a good thing.

However, it can be hard to find one that is both age and developmentally appropriate for a child because there are so many options out there. To help you, we've put together a list of some of the best kids' activity books on the market.

Best Overall: Paint By Stickers: Under the Sea

This activity book has 10 pages of complex designs that are "painted" with stickers. It looks a lot like a paint-by-number design, but with stickers. Each of the pictures in this book is of something that is in the water or an animal.

The book comes with stickers that go with each page. When all of the stickers are on the picture, it looks like it's a painting. The stickers in this book can be fun for most kids, but the best results come from kids who are at least 5 years old.

Best for 2 & 3 Year Olds: Wipe Clean: Giant Activity Book

The best thing about this activity book is that kids can play with it over and over again because it has a whiteboard marker and cleans up after each use. Colors, counting, words, and animals are some of the things it teaches about in the early stages of learning. It's for kids between the ages of 2 and 4. You get the book with 112 pages and a dry-erase pen.

Pages: 112 | Age: 2 to 4 years old | Skills: Math, writing, and counting

Best for 4 & 5 Year Olds: Big Preschool Workbook.

Pre-K kids who are getting ready for elementary school will like this activity book because it is both fun and educational at the same time. More than 300 different activities are on there in math and counting, critical thinking, letters and reading, shapes, and more, so it's good for a lot of different things.

All of the pages are bright and colorful and easy to tear out, which is good because the book is so thick. There are activities for kids between the ages of 3 and 5.

320 pages | Age: 3 to 5 | Skills: Reading, math, writing

Best for Kindergarten: Kindergarten Big Fun Workbook

All of the activities in this book are educational and meet kindergarten standards in the United States. However, the book isn't boring because there are puzzles, games, art pages, and more in it. It talks about sight words, colors, patterns, phonics, sorting, basic math, and a lot more.

Over 250 pages are in the book. It has content for kids who are about to start kindergarten through the summer before they start first grade, so it's a good choice for kids.

There are 256 pages in this book. It's best for kids who can read and do math.

Best for Elementary School: Summer Brain Quest

After finishing first grade, kids can use this activity book to get ready for second grade all summer long. It has more than 150 pages of activities in math, history, reading, science, and writing that they can do. A "Summer Map" and a lot of fun stickers are also included in the book. This way, kids can keep track of their work as they get closer and closer to the second grade.

These "outside quests" aren't just for kids to do in the book. They're also a good way for them to get outside and play while also learning.

In this book, there are 160 pages. It's best for kids who are 6 to 7 years old.

Best for Writing: My First Learn to Write Workbook

This book is good for kids who are 3 years old and up because it has more than 80 pages of letter and shape tracing. It's great for kids who are learning how to write with a pen or pencil in their hand. It will help them learn the different curves and lines of shapes and the alphabet as they practice.

There are 84 pages in this book. It's for kids who are 3 and up. Writing and fine motor skills are needed to be able to do this.

Best for Arts & Crafts: Origami for Kids: 20 Projects to Make Plus

If you like Origami, you don't have to be young to enjoy making it. This book is for kids between the ages of 5 and 7. Pages in this book show you how to make animals, cars, boats, fans, and many other fun things. Origami folding paper and QR codes are also included in the book, so kids can get video tutorials if the book guide just isn't enough for them to learn how to fold the paper.

There are 176 pages in this book. It's for kids who are 5 to 7 years old. Fine motor skills are needed to do this

Best for Reading: Wipe Clean: Learning Sight Words

This book not only helps kids learn their sight words, but it also helps them learn how to write them out with tracing activities. Because the book comes with a dry-erase marker, the kids can do something and then clean it up. They can do it again if they want to, too. Dozens and dozens of pages of words that kids will learn to read and write. They'll also learn how to use them in everyday language.

It's great for kids who are between 4 and 7.

This is a book with 56 pages. It's best for kids between the ages of 4 and 7. They'll need to read and write.

Best for Math: STEM Starters for Kids Math Activity Book

Those who like math and science will have a lot of fun with this activity book, which has 32 pages of math problems, science games, and other interesting things to learn about. It's for kids between the ages of 6 and 10. It's a good mix of fun, engagement, and challenge, so even though it's a shorter book, kids will still enjoy it.

Not for kids under 10 years old: There are 32 pages. Math, reading, and writing are the skills you need.

Final Verdict

The Paint by Stickers Under the Sea activity book is our favorite because it can be used for so many different things. All kids love stickers, so even though an older child would be better able to follow the book's main goal, a younger child would still enjoy coloring and decorating the pages with the stickers as they see fit.

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