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The best activity books for kids (plus a giveaway!)

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Are you looking for activity books for kids? Here are the very best!

Grab some of these activity books for kids for your next long trip! You'll find activity books for preschoolers through age 10.

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.

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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.

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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”).

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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.

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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”).

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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”).

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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”).

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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”).

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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.

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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”).

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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”).

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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”).

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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.

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It’s a giveaway!

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Reader Interactions

81 Comments

  4. Brittany

    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!

    Reply to this comment

  26. Jena

    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!

    Reply to this comment

  28. Pamela

    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.

    Reply to this comment

  34. Denise Goodin

    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!

    Reply to this comment

  40. Jen

    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!

    Reply to this comment

  49. Dina

    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.

    Reply to this comment

  56. Yocheved Bailey

    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!!!

    Reply to this comment

  68. Cassie Gibietis

    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!!!!!

    Reply to this comment

  70. MK

    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.

    Reply to this comment

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