10+ Best Activity Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to keep your little one engaged and learning? Look no further than activity books for 5-year-olds! These books are packed with fun and educational activities that are just right for their age. Whether you're looking for puzzles, coloring, or a bit of early learning, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover our top picks for the best activity books for 5-year-olds that promise to entertain and educate in equal measure!

Fun Activity Books for 5-Year-Olds

• My First Big Book of Coloring by Little Bee Books
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Coloring Book
  • Synopsis: This book is packed with large and simple illustrations perfect for little hands to color. It includes a variety of themes from animals to seasons.
  • Why we recommend this book: Coloring can help improve motor skills, stimulate creativity, and provide a relaxing activity that young children can enjoy.
  • Perfect for: Young artists and children who enjoy hands-on activities.

• Wipe Clean: Early Learning Activity Book by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This spiral-bound book features pages that can be wiped clean and used again, filled with activities that teach basic skills like writing, counting, and drawing.
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s reusable and helps young learners practice essential early educational skills in an interactive way.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are beginning to learn their letters, numbers, and shapes.

• The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book provides simple, easy-to-follow instructions for science experiments that can be done with everyday household items.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes science fun and accessible, encouraging curiosity and a love of learning.
  • Perfect for: Curious youngsters who love to explore how things work.

• School Zone - Big Preschool Workbook by School Zone, Joan Hoffman, and Ph.D. Shannon M. Mullally
  • Genre(s): Educational, Workbook
  • Synopsis: This comprehensive workbook covers a range of subjects from reading readiness to early math and includes colorful illustrations.
  • Why we recommend this book: It prepares children for school with a variety of exercises that are both fun and educational.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers getting ready for kindergarten.

• The Big Fun Kindergarten Workbook by Highlights
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: A collection of activities designed to teach and entertain, including puzzles, math challenges, and simple writing exercises.
  • Why we recommend this book: It blends learning with fun through games and puzzles that engage children while teaching key concepts.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are about to enter kindergarten or those who enjoy learning through play.

Educational Activity Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Brain Games for Clever Kids by Gareth Moore, illustrated by Chris Dickason
  • Genre(s): Puzzle Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book is filled with a variety of brain-teasing games, including puzzles, riddles, and logic tests for young minds.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, critical thinking, memory, and concentration
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a fun and challenging way for children to sharpen their mental faculties and stay engaged.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love challenges and games that make them think.

• My First Learn-to-Write Workbook by Crystal Radke
  • Genre(s): Educational, Workbook
  • Synopsis: This workbook offers a step-by-step guide to writing letters and numbers and includes plenty of space for practice.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Handwriting, letter recognition, fine motor skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses simple exercises that make learning to write fun and easy for young children.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are starting to learn how to write.

• The Critical Thinking Toddler Workbook by Becky Gardner
  • Genre(s): Educational, Workbook
  • Synopsis: Designed to develop early critical thinking skills, this book includes a variety of activities like matching, sorting, and finding patterns.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Critical thinking, pattern recognition, analytical skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces young children to complex thinking skills in an easy and enjoyable format.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are beginning to explore more advanced concepts and ideas.

• Kindergarten Logic by Linda Bertola
  • Genre(s): Educational, Logic, Workbook
  • Synopsis: This book helps children develop logical thinking skills through fun and interactive puzzles and games.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Logical reasoning, problem-solving, attention to detail
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes learning logic exciting and accessible, helping kids develop essential reasoning abilities.
  • Perfect for: Youngsters who enjoy solving puzzles and learning through interactive activities.

• Math Basics 1 by Barbara Bando Irvin, Ph.D.
  • Genre(s): Educational, Math Workbook
  • Synopsis: This workbook covers fundamental math concepts like counting, addition, and subtraction through engaging activities.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Basic math skills, number sense, early arithmetic
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a solid foundation in math with activities designed to make learning enjoyable.
  • Perfect for: Children beginning to learn basic mathematical concepts.

Challenging Activity Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Explorations in Geometry by David A. Adler, illustrated by Edward Miller
  • Genre(s): Educational, Geometry, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book introduces complex geometric concepts through engaging activities and visual puzzles.
  • Why this book is challenging: It covers advanced topics like symmetry, angles, and shapes, which are typically introduced at higher educational levels.
  • Why we recommend this book: It simplifies complex ideas with clear illustrations and interactive elements, making geometry accessible and fun.
  • Perfect for: Young learners with an interest in math and puzzles, and those ready to explore beyond basic shapes.

• Smart Kids: Space for Kids Who Really Love Space! by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Space, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book takes young readers on a journey through the universe, exploring planets, stars, and galaxies with activities and quizzes.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces detailed scientific concepts and vocabulary about space that are usually not covered until older age groups.
  • Why we recommend this book: It fuels curiosity about the universe with stunning visuals and hands-on activities that deepen understanding of complex topics.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring astronauts and young scientists passionate about space and exploration.

• The Kid's Awesome Activity Book by Mike Lowery
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Creative, Puzzle Book
  • Synopsis: Filled with games, puzzles, and doodle spaces, this book encourages creativity and problem-solving through a variety of challenging activities.
  • Why this book is challenging: It includes puzzles and tasks that require advanced thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's packed with fun and uniquely engaging activities that keep children entertained while they learn and create.
  • Perfect for: Creative kids who love drawing, solving puzzles, and thinking out of the box.

• Amazing Visual Math by DK
  • Genre(s): Educational, Math, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: Covering topics from fractions to geometry, this interactive book uses fold-out pages and hands-on activities to teach math concepts visually.
  • Why this nbook is challenging: It introduces and explains intermediate mathematical concepts through visual representation, which requires spatial and logical reasoning.
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages visual learners with interactive elements that make learning math both fun and memorable.
  • Perfect for: Visual learners and children who thrive on interactive learning and hands-on activities in mathematics.

• Can You Solve My Problems? A Casebook of Ingenious, Perplexing and Totally Satisfying Puzzles by Alex Bellos
  • Genre(s): Puzzle Book, Logic, Educational
  • Synopsis: This collection features a variety of brain teasers and logic puzzles designed to challenge and entertain.
  • Why this book is challenging: The puzzles range from simple to complex, requiring logical thinking, pattern recognition, and strategic planning.
  • Why we recommend this book: It sharpens young minds with stimulating and diverse puzzles that improve critical thinking skills.
  • Perfect for: Puzzle enthusiasts and children who enjoy testing their problem-solving skills with increasingly challenging scenarios.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 5-year-old develop good reading habits, activity books can be a fantastic tool. Here are some fun and educational exercises that are perfect for little learners. These activities not only make reading enjoyable but also enhance their comprehension and retention skills.

• Picture Story Analysis
  • What it is: Look at a picture and tell a story based on what you see.
  • How it helps: Encourages imagination and helps in understanding narrative structure.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions to guide the child's storytelling.

• Match the Sentence
  • What it is: Match sentences to corresponding pictures.
  • How it helps: Enhances reading comprehension and vocabulary.
  • Tips: Start with simple sentences and gradually increase complexity.

• Character Role Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from a book with your child taking on the role of a character.
  • How it helps: Improves understanding of character emotions and actions.
  • Tips: Use props or costumes for a more engaging experience.

• Story Sequencing Cards
  • What it is: Rearrange cards that depict scenes from a story into the correct sequence.
  • How it helps: Helps with understanding the beginning, middle, and end of stories.
  • Tips: Discuss each scene and its importance in the story as you arrange.

• Read and Draw
  • What it is: Read a short passage and then draw a scene based on the description.
  • How it helps: Reinforces visual imagery and comprehension.
  • Tips: Encourage creativity; there are no wrong answers in how they choose to illustrate.

• Alphabet Treasure Hunt
  • What it is: Find objects around the house that start with each letter of the alphabet.
  • How it helps: Reinforces letter recognition and phonetic sounds.
  • Tips: Make it a fun competition to see who can complete the alphabet first.

These activities are not just educational, but also a great way to spend quality time with your child. By incorporating these exercises into your daily routine, you're setting the stage for a lifelong love of reading. Remember, the key is to keep it fun and engaging! Happy reading!