10+ Best Activity Books for 9-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Looking for the perfect way to keep your 9-year-old engaged and learning? You've come to the right place! Our curated selection of activity books for 9-year-olds is packed with exciting and educational options that promise to captivate their curious minds. Whether your child loves puzzles, crafts, or a bit of adventure, we've got something that will light up their day. Keep reading to discover our favorite picks!

Fun Activity Books for 9-Year-Olds

• Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Creativity
  • Synopsis: This innovative book encourages kids to engage in creative destruction, with prompts that invite them to do things like color outside the lines, poke holes in pages, and other unconventional activities.
  • Why we recommend this book: It fosters creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, making it a fun way for kids to express themselves without the pressure of perfection.
  • Perfect for: Creative spirits and any child who loves interactive and hands-on activities.

• The Kid's Awesome Activity Book by Mike Lowery
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Games, Puzzles
  • Synopsis: Filled with games, puzzles, and stickers, this book offers a variety of fun challenges that can keep children entertained for hours.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's packed with engaging activities that stimulate the mind and encourage problem-solving skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy puzzles, games, and creative challenges.

• Brain Games for Clever Kids by Gareth Moore, illustrated by Chris Dickason
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Brain Teasers
  • Synopsis: This book contains a plethora of brain-tingling puzzles, mazes, and logic tests that challenge the mind and enhance problem-solving skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps sharpen cognitive skills through fun and engaging brain teasers suitable for this age group.
  • Perfect for: Young puzzle enthusiasts and logical thinkers.

• National Geographic Kids Why?: Over 1,111 Answers to Everything by Crispin Boyer
  • Genre(s): Non-fiction, Educational, Science
  • Synopsis: This book provides clear answers to a wide range of questions on topics such as animals, science, and history, all presented in an engaging and accessible format.
  • Why we recommend this book: It satisfies curious minds and fosters a love for learning with fun facts and interesting explanations.
  • Perfect for: Inquisitive kids who love to learn about the world around them.

• The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book offers easy and exciting experiments that can be done using everyday household items, teaching fundamental scientific concepts in a practical and fun way.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes science accessible and enjoyable, encouraging a hands-on approach to learning that is perfect for young experimenters.
  • Perfect for: Budding scientists and any child who enjoys making discoveries through experiments.

Educational Activity Books for 9-Year-Olds

• Math Riddles for Smart Kids by M. Prefontaine
  • Genre(s): Math, Puzzles
  • Synopsis: A collection of challenging math riddles and brain teasers designed to enhance arithmetic skills and problem-solving abilities.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Mathematical skills, logical thinking, problem-solving skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a fun and engaging way to sharpen math skills and encourages kids to think outside the box.
  • Perfect for: Young mathematicians and puzzle lovers.

• Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids by Christina Schul
  • Genre(s): Engineering, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: Features over 50 exciting projects and challenges that introduce children to the basics of engineering.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Engineering principles, creativity, critical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides hands-on activities that promote interest in engineering through playful yet educational projects.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring engineers and creative builders.

• The Everything Kids' Geography Book by Jane P. Gardner
  • Genre(s): Geography, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book takes young readers on a journey around the world, exploring different cultures, landscapes, and geographical concepts.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Geographic knowledge, cultural awareness, map reading skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It expands horizons by providing a comprehensive introduction to world geography in an interactive format.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers and travelers at heart.

• The Big Book of Reading Comprehension Activities by Hannah Braun
  • Genre(s): Reading, Educational
  • Synopsis: Offers a series of fun and educational reading comprehension activities designed to improve critical thinking and understanding.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Reading comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances reading skills through engaging and varied exercises tailored to developing readers.
  • Perfect for: Young readers looking to boost their comprehension and analytical skills.

• Art Lab for Kids by Susan Schwake
  • Genre(s): Art, Educational
  • Synopsis: Provides 52 creative art projects for children to explore different mediums and techniques.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Artistic skills, creativity, fine motor skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages artistic expression and creativity through hands-on projects that are accessible and fun.
  • Perfect for: Young artists and creative thinkers.

Challenging Activity Books for 9-Year-Olds

• Extreme Dot to Dot: Spectacular Places by MindWare
  • Genre(s): Puzzle, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book offers intricately designed dot-to-dot puzzles that form detailed images of the world's most famous landmarks.
  • Why this book is challenging: The puzzles can have over a thousand dots each, requiring concentration and meticulousness, which are advanced for this age group.
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances concentration and provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completion, while also offering a fun way to learn about world geography.
  • Perfect for: Puzzle enthusiasts and young geographers.

• The Mysterious Benedict Society Puzzle Book by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Mystery, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: Based on the popular book series, this puzzle book offers a variety of challenging brain teasers and riddles that tie into the adventures of the Mysterious Benedict Society.
  • Why this book is challenging: It includes complex puzzles and codes that require logical thinking and problem-solving skills beyond simple puzzles.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving in a fun, narrative context.
  • Perfect for: Fans of the series and young detectives who love cracking codes.

• Math Lab for Kids: Fun, Hands-On Activities for Learning with Shapes, Puzzles, and Games by Rebecca Rapoport and J.A. Yoder
  • Genre(s): Math, Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book provides a series of fun, hands-on activities that introduce children to mathematical concepts through shapes, puzzles, and games.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces complex mathematical concepts in a playful manner, which requires abstract thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes math fun and accessible, encouraging a love for the subject through interactive and engaging activities.
  • Perfect for: Young mathematicians and creative thinkers.

• The Greatest Dot-to-Dot Book in the World: Book 1 by David Kalvitis
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book is a collection of sophisticated dot-to-dot puzzles designed to create detailed images when completed.
  • Why this book is challenging: The puzzles are designed to be complex and intricate, requiring more advanced cognitive skills to solve.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a unique challenge that helps improve concentration and fine motor skills, while also providing a relaxing activity.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy detailed and challenging activities.

• Super Scratch Programming Adventure! Learn to Program by Making Cool Games by The LEAD Project
  • Genre(s): Programming, Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This interactive book teaches kids how to use Scratch, a programming language, to create their own games.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces children to coding, a skill typically taught at older ages, requiring logical thinking and problem-solving.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages computational thinking and creativity, providing a strong foundation in coding through a fun and interactive medium.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring young programmers and tech enthusiasts.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking for ways to help your 9-year-old develop great reading habits, activity books are a fantastic tool. They're not just fun, but also incredibly beneficial for cognitive and language development. Below are some engaging exercises that can be included in activity books designed for this age group. These exercises are crafted to make reading a habit and improve comprehension skills, all while keeping it fun!

• Create a Book Club
  • What it is: Form a small group to read and discuss books.
  • How it helps: Encourages social interaction and verbal expression of thoughts.
  • Tips: Choose books that are age-appropriate and interesting for all members.

• Design a Storyboard
  • What it is: Draw panels to summarize a book or chapter.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding and retention of the story.
  • Tips: Use a mix of pictures and words to make the storyboard engaging and informative.

• Character Diary Entries
  • What it is: Write diary entries from the perspective of a character in the book.
  • How it helps: Develops empathy and deeper understanding of characters.
  • Tips: Encourage your child to express how they think the character feels during different events.

• Book Scavenger Hunt
  • What it is: Create a list of items or themes to find within a book.
  • How it helps: Makes reading an interactive and exploratory activity.
  • Tips: Keep the list varied—include objects, words, and thematic elements.

• Read and Perform
  • What it is: Act out scenes from the book with family or friends.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and makes reading a dynamic activity.
  • Tips: Use simple props and costumes to make the performance more exciting.

• Vocabulary Building
  • What it is: Identify new words and use them in sentences.
  • How it helps: Enhances vocabulary and context understanding.
  • Tips: Encourage the use of a dictionary or a thesaurus to find meanings and synonyms.

• Question and Answer Exchange
  • What it is: Write questions about the story and swap with a friend to answer.
  • How it helps: Stimulates critical thinking and recall abilities.
  • Tips: Make sure the questions cover different aspects of the book, such as plot, characters, and settings.

By incorporating these exercises into your child’s reading routine, you're not just helping them become better readers, but also fostering a love for books that can last a lifetime. Each activity is designed to be fun and educational, striking the perfect balance for effective learning. So, grab an activity book and let the adventures begin!