Are you looking for activity books for kids? Here are the very best!
What are your feelings about long trips with kids? We’ve taken a few, and I’ve got to say that we can have a (mostly) enjoyable journey if we remember one thing.
Be prepared.
A number of years ago, we drove 16 hours to Virginia Beach.
Five years ago, we traveled by plane from America to Hong Kong.
And we’ll soon be taking a 19-hour road trip down to Texas. With six kiddos ages 1-9. And no DVD player.
But I’m not worried! Because I’ve got a secret weapon.
They’re called activity books. And they’re gold.
When Dover Publications, a leading publisher of children’s books, asked me to review their educational activity books, I jumped at the chance. Here are our top picks!
(Disclosure: I received these books at no cost and was compensated for my time in writing this review. As always, all opinions are my own. And you should know that I love the books so much I’m going to be adding to our collection! They’re just too good to resist.)
The best activity books for kids
My plan is to wrap these books and distribute them at snack time every couple of hours. This should break up our trip, keep the kids’ excitement high, and make the hours fly by.
All About Marvelous Me, by Becky J. Radtke
This is a brilliant journal for kids ages 6-10. My fourth grader is going to love filling in the blanks, drawing pictures, journaling, and completing checklists all about her. From where she was born to checking off her favorite ice cream flavors, this will keep her busy for a while! Get it here.
Animal Hidden Pictures, by Cheryl Nathan
Do your kids love hidden pictures as much as mine do? If I give my kids a new pack of crayons and a hidden pictures book, I can trust that they’ll be happily occupied for at least another 30 miles. This is one of many hidden picture books from Dover, and one of the tougher ones. Find it here (click “view all”).
My First Human Body Book, by Donald. M. Silver & Patricia J. Wynne
This is an educational coloring book with beautiful illustrations and fascinating facts. My Eight will enjoy learning how his body works while coloring with a set of bold markers. Get it here.
My Super Hero Mini-Journal, by Diana Zourelias
My first grader is on a superhero kick, so he’s going to love this mini-book (about 4″ x 6″). It’s got over 60 activities in which he can record super powers, secret identity, and more. Find it here (click “view all”).
My Car Trip Mini-Journal, by Diana Zourelias
This mini-journal is perfect for my second grader, who will enjoy doing the huge variety of activities while creating a family keepsake about our trip. I love it! Find it here (click “view all”).
Fairy Tale Hidden Picture Book, by Anna Pomaska
The cool thing about this hidden picture book is its vintage appeal, plus a full page fairy tale retelling for each hidden picture activity. I like this one so much I’m tempted to keep it for myself. But I think my Nine would appreciate it even more 😉 Find it here (click “view all”).
Hidden Pictures, by Anna Pomaska
Finding activity books for my preschooler is tough, as he gets frustrated and gives up easily. That’s why this book is perfect. It’s a beginner hidden picture book, just right for ages 3-6. Find it here (click “view all”).
What’s Wrong? by Anna Pomaska
Here’s another winner for preschoolers. I can’t wait to hear my Four’s giggles when he finds the silly elements on each page. Get it here.
Seek, Sketch and Color – Animals, by Susan Shaw-Russell
I love these Seek, Sketch, and Color books. Kids color elaborate designs while finding a particular animal. Then they can practice drawing it on the blank adjoining page. I’m saving this one for my Nine. Find it here (click “view all”).
Big Book of Mazes & Labyrinths, by Walter Shepherd
Are any of your kids into mazes? My Eight has always been math-minded and enjoys designing his own mazes.I know he’ll appreciate the mazes and labyrinths in this book. They’re fun, but not too complicated to frustrate him when the ride gets bumpy. Get it for ages 5-8. Find it here (click “view all”).
How to Draw Funny Faces, by Barbara Soloff Levy
Drawing books are a little tricky for car rides, as kids need a flat, still surface for the more challenging books. That’s why I grabbed this silly drawing book for my Six. I think he’ll enjoy the tutorials without worrying about getting the pictures exactly right. They are funny faces, after all. Find it here (click “view all”).
How to Draw Funny Monsters, by Barbara Soloff Levy
Here’s another drawing book for the road. My kids will love drawing these hilarious monsters by following simple, step-by-step diagrams. Find it here (click “view all”).
Save 25% on Dover’s children’s books!
Dover is offering a special coupon code just for The Measured Mom readers! Get 25% off your entire purchase with the coupon code WHBX. Offer ends on December 31, 2016. Shop here.
It’s a giveaway!
© 2016, Anna G. All rights reserved.
Christie wieme says
Animal hidden pictures
Brittany says
My kids love the Whats’s wrong books! This collection would be great for my 3 boys on our upcoming trip to Florida for Christmas!
stacey says
Love these books. These books would be great to entertain my boys while commuting each day to school
Brittany says
I also love activity books for my oldest, as we take a 16 hour road/ferry trip to my inlaws every summer in newfoundland. We don’t have a dvd player either so lots of activities are a must! Mine would most enjoy the hidden picture books!
Michelle says
My daughter would love the human body book!
Jennifer says
the Human body book
Cassandra M. says
The funny faces drawing book 🙂
Lee Ann says
My kids would like the How To Draw Funny Faces book. I’m sure they’d try doing the faces as well. LOL.
Katherine says
My kids love activity books! They would probably like the human body one or funny monsters.
Amanda Smith says
My kid would love the Fairytale Hidden Pictures Coloring Book!
Katrina says
My son would love the hidden pictures coloring & fun book!
Patty says
This This is This is an amazing giveaway! Goodluck to everyone that enters! Even me 😉
Kristy says
The human body book!
Tesia says
We love hidden picture books in our family! I was just going to look at Dover for maze books for gifts what perfect timing. Thank you so much Anna for sharing!
Lindsey says
Mazes and funny faces!
Susan says
What’s wrong books would be my students’ favorite – they love to see someone/something else be wrong!
Charity says
Animal hidden pictures looks fun!
Erin Kern says
My son loves mazes and seek and finds and there are a whole bunch that you suggested, how wonderful!
Janeen says
Love the maze book
A says
My kids would love Fairy Tales Hidden PIctures, the superhero book and the Body book!
Natasha says
These look like great activity books! I think my kids would like the hidden pictures books.
Lindsay says
These look great, thank you for sharing!
M says
All About Marvelous Me
Tiffany says
My son will LOVE the Human Body Book and the How to Draw Funny Monsters book. My daughter would enjoy the Hidden Pictures activity book.
Beth Adams says
We like Dover’s coloring books too, especially the birds one.
Jena says
I like the All About Me journal book for my oldest, but my younger daughter would enjoy the coloring and hidden picture books. We have some of those from Highlights and they keep her busy for hours!
Anne-Marie S. says
My daughter would love the hidden picture books and the maze book.
Pamela says
The Hidden Pictures and the What’s Wrong books have always been favorites with our kids and grandkids. We travel far with our grandchildren so they get to spend quality time with us. One grandchild is ten hours away. We would love to win these books for them to enjoy on our trips. Thanks for the opportunity.
Donna says
The Hidden Animal pictures!
Arlene Arp says
I am a teacher and a tutor and anyone of these would be a great Christmas present for my kids.
Nikki says
My 3.5 will enjoy the hidden pictures book
Sandra says
The Super Hero Journal and the Human Body Book!
Joyce Strite says
My 4 yr. old would love the hidden pictures books and the drawing ones. She is an artist!
Denise Goodin says
I think my preschooler would love the hidden pictures coloring and puzzle fun book and the what’s wrong book! I know they’d most definitely be helpful on our next road trip to see family for the holidays!
Carol says
Animal Hidden Pictures would be a hit!
Tina says
How to Draw Funny Faces
Andrina Goetz says
My daughter would love the book on how to draw funny faces. She is interested in Art and drawing.
Stacy says
Hi! I think my kids would enjoy the human body & the funny faces books the most.
Joy says
My little artist would love the “How to Draw Funny Faces” activity book.
Jen says
Oh my goodness, I love the idea of the body book! It can be difficult to teach my nephew about the body without being to graphic. He is 7 and everything leads to questions. I would adore this book to show him. Thank you for having this give away!
Summer D says
I think my girls would be grateful for any of them, but especially the Funny Faces or the Human Body workbook.
Sarah Klier says
These look so fun! With five kids under 10, I am interested in both the preschool books and the more difficult ones.
fatma says
i really like the hidden books .
Heather says
The maze and labyrinth book
Jessica says
The Maze book and funny faces books would be favorites at our house.
Stephanie H says
I have 3 boys, one would be in love with the drawing! This coming summer we have a immediate family wedding that is a long long traveling time away 😣😀
Tressa says
My littles will love the hidden animals and my bigger ones will love the human body book
Rebecca says
Thank you for the giveaway. I think my girls would love the hidden pictures books. They love those activities.
Dina says
These look wonderful! My grandson is only four but we have started playing hidden object games on the computer and tablet recently. I think he would really enjoy the animal hidden object book as well as the what’s wrong book.
Robin C says
Definitely the funny monsters book! What a fun way to incorporate silliness into learning!
Amber White says
These look so fun. I think my young boys would love the hidden picture books as well as the what’she wrong book! The pictures look colorful and engaging!
Leah says
My 6 year old would looove the maze book.
Vanessa Knight says
Would love to win this. With 4 girls this would come in handy 😊 On our 16 hour drive from Colorado to TN.
Rachel Boerner says
My 8 would like the See, Sketch, and Color or the Hidden Pictures. My 7 would like the maze book.
Thanks for another awesome giveaway!
Theresa says
My son will definitely love the Hidden Picture book the best!!!
Yocheved Bailey says
Wow!! These books look like so much fun!! What I love is that they will cater to each of my children. I have sons that love to draw and my daughter loves hidden pictures (actually, my WHOLE family enjoys hidden picture books). Wish us luck!!!
Nicole Jenkins says
All these books are awesome!
Kathy says
I think my students would love to read ‘My First Human Body Book’
Melissa Miller says
All of the books would be loved, but I think How to draw funny monsters would be a big hit.
Melissa says
Love your blog! My daughter loves Hidden Object Puzzles, What’s Wrong Puzzles and Mazes although I think she’d love any of the books in this collection. Thanks for sharing!
judt says
‘The human body book
Angeline Roberts says
My boys would probably like to draw funny monsters 🙂
Ginette M. says
I have a little artist that would love Seek, Sketch, and Color.
Krista Vossler says
The human body book would interest my kids the most! Thanks for the giveaway.
Cathy Rogers says
love all books
sandip malve says
thanks,
Ginette says
They are all interesting… but the hidden picture book would be very interesting
Cassie Gibietis says
My little guy would LOVE Animal Hidden Pictures! Thank you so much for your hard work and sharing of awesome materials on your site! You have made our kindergarten year so much easier!!!!!
Patricia says
I’m always looking for great books to add to our library.
Thank you for all of the great printables you provide!
MK says
I believe each person will enjoy a different book. I love growing the reading choices for all who want to pick up a book and give reading a chance to change the world for them. One book is never enough.
Jennifer says
Love all of these book! We really like “What’s Wrong?”. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Paula Beckman says
Hidden pictures are a big hit with my kids!
Linda says
I think my son would enjoy Animal Hidden Pictures the most.
Lori says
All of these look like so much fun! But I think the most intriguing is the human body book!
lia says
Books are great when we take our grandchildren away on long trips. they are entertaining and informative too!
Erin says
The monster drawing one looks like fun for my son.
Amber says
Awesome variety of books! Looks like perfect Christmas presents for a few godsons, and a few to keep.
Katherine says
My First Human Body Book!
Dawna says
My kids would love the mazes and labryinths.
Dawna says
Oops. I meant labyrinths.
Jen Smith says
Definitely Hidden Pictures!!