Interactive Books:
9 Subcategories of Interactive Books
Over Spring Break I was reading an interactive book, Bunny Slopes, to my daughter with my daughter on her Grandma's lap. We got a couple of pages in and she looks over to her Grandma and says "I love this book, this is my favorite, do you love this book?" So what is an interactive book? An interactive book draws readers in and asks them to participate with the story in some way. When books are fun and playful, it strengthens their love for reading which in turn makes learning to read easier for them. Print Motivation is one of the six early literacy skills that have been identified that children must know before they learn to read. In order to promote print motivation one must enjoy books. Interactive books can also: promote independence, hand-eye coordination, understanding that reading is from left to right, fine-motor practice, sensory outlets and other skills like 'good readers make predictions' (what do you think is under this flap? what will happen next?). With all the benefits, here is a list of interactive books to give you book ideas that we enjoy and that you may enjoy as well.
1. Activity Books
Animal Jigsaws Pets A book with Five 12-piece puzzles. Copyright 1999 by Macmillan Children's Books. Ages 3-5. These jigsaw puzzles store easily and travel well. The left side of the pages says some facts about the animals and shows a picture of the puzzle. The right side of the pages holds the jigsaw puzzle. The back of the puzzle pieces have blue triangles, or something similar, to help sort the puzzle pieces if they were to get all dumped out. This book was gifted to us by my mom. We read the pages before we attempted to do the puzzles months later. Our daughter works hard to expand her cognitive skills with these puzzles.
Other books in this subcategory would be sticker books, coloring books, Water Wow! by Melissa and Doug...
2. I Spy Books
The Yellow Balloon by Charlotte Dematons. Copyright 2003 by Front Street/Lemniscaat. Ages 2-8. This is a wordless picture book that we enjoyed reading from the library when our daughter was 2 and 2 months old. Each page we looked for the yellow balloon and talked about what we saw.
An I Spy book that I remember as a child is Where's Waldo.
3. Interactive Children's Picture Books
Bunny Slopes and Hungry Bunny by Claudia Rueda. Copyright 2016 and 2018 by Chronicle Books. Ages 3-5. Help the bunny with twist and turns and shakes of the book and at the end of the book the bunny gives the reader a sweet surprise for all their help.
Don't Push the Button! written and illustrated by Bill Cotter. Copyright 2013 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Ages 3-8. Also check out Don't Push the Button! An Easter Surprise.
Stir Crack Whisk Bake A Little Book about Little Cakes! by America's Test Kitchen. Illustrations by Maddie Frost. Copyright 2019 by Sourcebooks. Board Book. Ages 1-3. This book is so cute! Drag the ingredients, "oops!" spilled some flour, whisk, crack eggs, shake, tilt, countdown from 10, blow, frost and sprinkles. "Today was a special day because we spent it together!" Dad teased one night and called it "Stir Crack Whisk Burn" and now we joke about burning the cupcakes. So much fun!
Also in this subcategory, check out books by Christie Matheson and Herve Tullet.
4. Lift the Flap Books
Goosie & Friends A First Flap Book by Olivier Dunrea. Copyright 2006. Houghton Mifflin Company. Ages 1-3 years.
Peek-a-Who by Nina Laden. Copyright 2000 by Chronicle Press. Board Book. Ages 3 months to 2 year. We checked this one out from the library when she was two. Mirrors are a hit.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. First Published 1982. Board Book. Ages 1-3 years. We read this book together before going to the zoo, when our daughter was one. She loved the book. Check out my 6 Spring Books blogpost.
Where's the LadyBug by Ingela P. Arrhenius. Copyright 2017 by Nosy Crow Ltd. Ages 0-3. Check-out the blogpost I wrote about this book.
What Makes a Rainbow? by Betty Ann Schwartz. Illustrated by Dona Turner. A Magic Ribbon Book. Copyright 2000 by Piggy Toes Press. Ages 2-5. see the blog I wrote last year A Rainbow of Color.
We have another pop-up book on hold for us at the library: The Wide-Mouthed Frog: a Pop-up Book by Keith Faulkner. I remember this book being at several preschools and a preschool teacher saying this was one of her favorite books.
6. Sound Button Books
What Do You Say, Little Blue Truck? By Alice Schertle. Ages 6 months to 3 years. There were words that were colored that matched the button to be pushed to hear the farm sounds.
We also saw books that introduce kids to beautiful music at the Music Instrument Museum Gift Shop. I've also considered buying these listen to classical music books off of Amazon.
7. Slide the Tab Books
Good Morning Buenos Dias by Meritxell Martin and Xavier Salomo. Copyright 2017. Gibbs Smith books. Ages 3 months to 3 years. This book has the bilingual bonus. Big, bright pictures over a white background. We particularly liked the "Good morning, Dad. Buenos Dias, papa" page with the Dad shaving his beard.
8. Touch and Feel Books
A Touch & Feel Book Biscuit's Pet & Play Easter by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Copyright 2008 by HaprerCollins Publishers. Ages 3 months to 3 years. We've really enjoyed the Biscuit series and our daughter has loved to feel and explore this book. It has been a good one for car rides. We found it at our local library book sale.
9. Volvelles Books or Books with Wheels
Sunrise Dance by Serena Gingold Allen and illustrated by Teagan White. Copyright 2021 by Chronicle Books LLC. Ages 0-3 years. The cover page starts with a cute parade of marching band ducks that can be turned around with the sunrise with a wheel feature in the book.
Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis. Illustrated by Laura Cornell. Copyright 1998. Joanna Cutler Books An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ages 2-6 years. The text rhymes and we can relate to the girl with all of her different moods. The content is still over her head with her stopping me to ask, "what does that mean?" But she loves the wheels on the last page that she can turn to change the eyes and mouth to create different moods.
What interactive book stood-out to you? Are there subcategories that you want to explore more of? Obviously some interactive book types may not be on this list and some books combine subcategories. These are books that we are drawn to. Did you find a book that sounds fun to read? Maybe you found a book to capture a squirmy listeners' attention. I think interactive books would make great birthday gifts. What interactive books does your family enjoy? How do you help promote print motivation in young children? What's your favorite subcategory of interactive books? Can you find a different book to read aloud to help mix things up and keep things fun and engaging?
Keep up the great work and enjoy reading!
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