Whether you’re just looking for activity books for kids to keep them entertained at home during the summer or searching for things to do on a long car ride, every activity book on this list has been a hit in our family!
A few weeks ago, we did a road trip to Las Vegas and we have two more long drives coming up during the summer.
I’ve been on the lookout for things to do on a long car ride (because eventually my children get sick of playing on the tablets) and one of my favorite things to pack in their backpacks are activity books for kids.
An activity book is also a big hit on summer afternoons when my children need something to keep them entertained.
Whether you’re traveling or staying home, these ten activity books are some of our very favorites and have been well-loved over the past few years.
I hope you’ll love them too!
Our favorite activity books for kids
Paint by Sticker
You knew these kids sticker books would be on here, since I raved about them here. I am OBSESSED with these and so are my girls. All four of my girls (from ages 10 -3) love these and can do them without help. I love that it’s completely self-contained (no markers or crayons or any other supplies needed) and that it keeps them busy for hours. I can’t recommend these more highly. The kid versions are better for my 3 and 5 year olds, while the adult versions are more fun for my older girls.
The Kid’s Awesome Activity Book: Games! Puzzles! Mazes! And More!
When this activity book first came out, my girls couldn’t get enough of it – any time it was quiet at our house, I can almost guarantee they were huddled on the couch together working on a puzzle or game or maze in this giant activity book. It’s by the same author who writes Doodle Adventures where there is a storyline that you add your own drawings and doodles to.
Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late
When you think “activity books for kids,” you may not immediately think math, but we bought this for Ella for her birthday a couple of years ago, and it’s such a fun concept. Each page has some sort of simple story and then math questions ranging from very basic to more complicated. Basically story problems in a really fun format. From our 3 year old who can manage the easy counting problems to our almost fifth-grader, it’s a huge hit and fun for dinnertime conversation, when you’re hunting for things to do on a long car ride, or as math practice before bed. There are four books in the series.
We Are in an ART-ivity Book!
Our family loves Elephant and Piggie, so of course an Elephant and Piggie activity book was a no-brainer. There are games and art prompts and it’s just as fantastic as you’d expect. My girls loved it so much they used it to create a huge art exhibit in Ella’s room and then charged Bart and me admission to come view the art. It was awesome.
QUERKLES: COLOR BY NUMBER
These are SO spectacular. When you open the book, it all just looks like a bunch of blobs, but as you start coloring, an animal image emerges like magic. These activity books have gotten SO much use in our house this year.
Summer Brain Quest
I grew up on Brain Quest and I was delighted when Ani’s preschool teacher sent each child home a few years ago with the Summer Brain quest activity books for kids. They’re packed with full-color illustrations, stickers, a progress map and all sorts of fun activities that are also educational. It’s basically the perfect cross between an activity book and an educational workbook.
Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Animals
I first discovered Ed Emberley as a school librarian when his books were checked out on a daily basis by my students and then my sister-in-law gave us a few of his books for Christmas and they have been HUGELY popular. If my girls are getting restless, pulling out some paper, markers and these books keeps everyone happy for a good long time. (And even happier if I turn on a podcast for them to listen to while they draw – our favorites are this one and this one).
TRIANIMALS Color by Numbers Book
I love these beautiful color by number books – it’s so fun to add the color and then see a gorgeous animal appear. My older girls are obsessed with these and spend hours on these activity books while they listen to audiobooks.
Water Wow Painting Books
These are the BEST simple activity books for kids, especially toddlers or preschoolers who might have more trouble with an activity book that involves reading. All you do is fill up the included paintbrush with water and then you can paint on the pages and it magically turns colorful. Then it dries and a few minutes later, you can do it all again. I bought these for my girls at Christmas and they get used nearly daily even six months later (they don’t last forever and ours are probably getting due for a replacement, but at less than $5 each, I’m okay with that).
Highlights Hidden Picture Books
My girls are obsessed with hidden picture activity books for kids and this is the best deal I’ve ever seen on them. The pack of four Hidden Picture books are already discounted and then you can take an ADDITIONAL 40% off with the code HLHP40. Plus there is free shipping which makes this a major score.
And if you’d like a printable copy of this list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!
Any activity books for kids I missed? Let me know if you have other favorites! I’ll be blessing your name around the nine hour mark of our drives.
If you liked this post about activity books for kids, you might also enjoy these posts:
- Printable Road Trip Bingo Cards
- 20+ activities for kids to do while they listen to audiobooks
- My favorite drawing books for kids
Photos by Christie Knight
We took your recommendation about the Water Wow books (I think it was from another post), and it SAVED our sanity on a long road trip! Thank you!! We told our girls they could use them only in the car, and they are actually asking to go on another road trip. HA!
P.S. My girls love the Elephant and Piggie art-ivity book, and the paint by stickers. Both were your suggestions. 🙂 I get the best gift ideas from you!
We bought this one from Costco a few years ago and it’s still a big hit with my 5 year old. My Big Seek-and-Find Book: with wipe-clean pen! https://www.amazon.com/dp/031252224X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0BQkBb0SXWSV2
He also loves dot to dots. We bought this one for less than $5 Dot-to-Dot Count to 100 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806984694/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bDQkBbAWS8BPQ
Great list. I’m going to try the paint by sticker books now – genius! I just got a compilation book of Mad Libs greatest hits from Amazon and my boys are loving it as much as I’d hoped (and it was only $5 or $6). My older guys are 8 and 6, but even if we remind my 3 year old what “noun” means, he can contribute while a big brother writes – and some are names or body parts and other things he doesn’t need help with.
My girls have been playing Mad Libs non-stop with Alexa – it’s so fun!
My son (and if I’m being honest me too lol) love the paint by sticker book. I was watching your instastories and you mentioned them,being in the chick fil a kids meals. That night when we went there for dinner my son tried his and thought it was so cool. He normally used to,trade his toy in for an ice cream,so,you know if,he decided to keep it he liked it haha. My husband works out of town so we have to drive 3 plus hours twice a week and that book keeps,him entertained (I bought 3 copies!) And is way better than just playing a movie for him.
I’m so happy to hear it!
Yes! We always trade too, but these were worth keeping!
Could you do a post of Activity Books for Grown Ups? Would love to see your ideas!
Oh, that’s a fun idea!
I actually just bought one of the Paint by Sticker books for adults and I am excited to use it!
Yay! They’re so fun!
Anything from Usborne is a sanity saver for us. I always pack a bag with several of their sticker books, wipe cleans, lift the flaps, and a big activity book. They are all amazing! We also use the Water Wow books but my son tires of them fairly quickly these days but they can still buy us about 10 minutes:) Both of my sons, 12 and 5, both love any kind of Seek and Find too!
We learned about paint by stickers this year, and I think they’re so so fun!
I agree! Just the coolest idea ever.
Usborne covers all my needs. I’ve never been disappointed with the many activity books I have from them.
I found a small-sized activity book in the $3 section last summer at Target (5×8 maybe and spiral bound). It has a large variety of activities on bright colored paper. It was perfect for my 7/8 year old! I know you like Target, so check it out next time.
Thank you!