Activity books are ideal for rainy days, car journeys, or for pulling out of the cupboard the moment you hear “I’m bored!” Here are 10 of the best kids books for activities that are guaranteed to keep little hands and minds busy for hours.
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#1. How to Draw 101 Animals
This 48-page How To Draw 101 Animals book is great for any young child wanting to learn how to draw.
It includes simple step-by-step black and white illustrations that make the learning process easy and fun.
Ideal for the budding young artist in the house.
#2. Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book!
Fun and games in the blockbuster “Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book” from award-winning Mo Willems, starring the Pigeon, Duckling, the Bus Driver, the Mad Cow, and… you!
From the creator of the “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” series comes a whole new level of Pigeon hilarity. Will the Pigeon ever get to finish this activity book, or will he spend the whole time running from the Mad Cow?
A nice touch: there are perforated pages throughout for tearing out easily, plus pockets on the front and back covers for storing favourite pictures.
#3. Scribbles: A Really Giant Drawing and Coloring Book
It’s safe to say Scribbles: A Really Giant Drawing and Colouring Book is no ordinary colouring book.
With playful drawings, funny scenarios and fun-to-follow instructions, this book is for doodling, drawing, imagining and thinking, not just colouring in.
“We have had this book for ages in our house because there’s so much for my son to do in it” – Amy
#4. Fashion Angels Fashion Design Portfolio
The Fashion Angels Fashion Design Portfolio includes 40 fashion design sketch pages, 7 stencil sheets and instructions for designing fashion and accessories.
Kids can dress the models in different clothes, shoes, handbags and more. Removable stencil sheets make it easy to create fresh designs on each page, and it’s spiral bound for portability. Suitable for ages 6+.
“My daughter loves her portfolio because she likes making new designs all the time” – Jill
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#5. Bug Drawing Book
Who better to teach kids to draw creepy crawlies than the Icky Bug Man himself, Ralph Masiello?
With simple, step-by-step instructions, this Bug Drawing Book will have kids on their way to drawing bug masterpieces. It also includes extra challenges for more experienced artists, making it a good fit for a range of ages.
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#6. Holiday Sticker Book (Usborne)
The Holiday Sticker Book (Usborne Sticker Books) is a great book for plane or car journeys, with lots of different summer-themed pages and hundreds of stickers guaranteed to keep little fingers and minds busy for a while.
It includes tropical scenes such as a watery visit to Sea World, snorkelling on a coral reef, a safari trip, and a log cabin camp.
“I like the beach page the best with the crab stickers” – Ellie, age 5
#7. Nature Detectives Handbook
An ideal resource for the budding David Attenborough, the Nature Detectives Handbook encourages kids to explore and understand the world around them, from their own garden to woods and nature trails.
It includes fifty wildlife species of trees, birds and amphibians. Each factfile gives identification tips alongside detailed artwork, plus phenological data to help track the changing natural environment. Findings can be recorded online at www.naturedetectives.org, contributing to real scientific research.
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#8. Astronomy and Space Sticker Book (Usborne)
The Usborne Space and Astronomy Sticker Book helps kids discover the wonders of space.
This introduction to astronomy includes over 130 stickers of stars, rockets, planets and more, ready to complete the pages.
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#9. My 1st Hugless Douglas Activity Book
With puzzles to solve, games to play and pictures to colour, the adorable 1st Hugless Douglas Activity Book also comes with over 100 stickers.
Featuring Hugless Douglas and friends from the much-loved series, this good-value activity book is packed with things to do. Kids can draw Douglas, play snap, hunt for hugs, and add to Douglas’s world with the colourful stickers.
“One of our favourite activity books, entertains for hours” – Erin
#10. Create Your Own Zoo Sticker Book
The Create Your Own Zoo Sticker Book contains over 20 pages of beautiful illustrations for children to decorate using the stickers provided.
It includes 6 large pages of reusable stickers with exotic animals such as lions, tigers, flamingos and zoo visitors — a creative activity that encourages kids to build their own scenes and stories.
Perfect for aspiring zoo keepers. Please note: not suitable for children under 3.
FAQs About Kids Activity Books
What age are activity books like these suitable for?
Most of the books above suit children from around age 3 up to early primary school age, though a few — like the sticker books — work well for slightly younger children too. Always check the recommended age on the individual book before buying, as a couple include small pieces or stickers not suitable for under-3s.
Are activity books good for long car journeys or flights?
Yes — sticker books and drawing books are especially handy for travel since they’re compact, need little setup, and can be picked up and put down easily if you’re stopping and starting.
Do activity books help with learning, or are they just for fun?
Both. Drawing and nature books build observation and fine motor skills, sticker books support concentration and storytelling, and puzzle-style activity books encourage problem-solving — all while keeping kids happily entertained.
What should I look for when choosing an activity book for my child?
Think about your child’s interests first (animals, fashion, space, nature), then check the recommended age range and whether it suits how you’ll use it — for example, a book with loose stickers may work better at home than in the car.
Related Articles You Might Enjoy
- Best Books for Kids Aged 8–12 Years
- 10 Great Stories for Kids You Should Have in Your Home
- 5 Great Nature Books for Kids
- 8 Most Excellent Kids Book Ideas by Age
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