The Best Kids' Activity Books in Summer 2024

Beat the heat and summer boredom.

kids activity books

Activity books have been loved by both kids and parents for generations! Filled with puzzles, quizzes, drawing prompts, or instructions for hands-on activities like making ice cream or discovering back yard bugs, activity books are always a great answer to “What should we do next?”

Whether you're looking for something to do on days it's too hot to go outside, or need a fun way to keep math and reading skills sharp, these activity books are guaranteed to keep summer boredom at bay.

This list fulfills a prompt in our 2024 Kids Summer Reading Challenge! Learn more and join here.

Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids

Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids

By Christina Schul

Perfect for ages 5-10, this engineering activity book is filled with projects kids can do themselves. Using common household objects like toothpicks and paper cups, these activities will get your child interested in how things work, and show them that science is everywhere.

125 More Learn to Read Activities

125 More Learn to Read Activities

By Rae Pritchett

If your child is still learning to read on their own, this is the ideal activity book for them! Filled with exercises that get more challenging as the book progresses, this book is designed to make reading fun.

Perfectly Simple Ice Cream

Perfectly Simple Ice Cream

By Anthony Tassinello

We can't think of a better activity for a hot summer day than homemade ice cream! This book shows you how to make perfect scoops of ice cream, sherbert, frozen yogurt and more—all you need is an ice cream machine and a little patience.

The Backyard Bug Book for Kids

The Backyard Bug Book for Kids

By Lauren Davidson

Incredible insects are all around us—you just have to keep your eyes peeled! Take a trip to the back yard or your local park and help your little one find the bugs featured in this book. Then once you're back home, this activity book will help kids remember what they learned with fun challenges.

Kindergarten Activity Book Unicorns

Kindergarten Activity Book Unicorns

By Hillary Statum�

This unicorn activity book is a magical blend of learning and fun! Featuring 75 cute and colorful activities, kids aged 5-6 can practice numbers, words and more so they're ready for their first day of kindergarten.

awesome science experiments for kids

Awesome Science Experiments for Kids

By Crystal Chatterton

If you have a child who loves to ask how things work, then you need this book! Featuring more than 100 experiments, kids will learn the basics of the scientific method while completing fun projects like making their own magnet-powered car and pencil sundial.