10+ Best Activity Books for 1-2-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! Our curated guide to the best Activity Books for 1-2-Year-Olds is packed with delightful picks that promise to entertain and educate your toddler. From interactive pages to colorful illustrations, these books are designed to stimulate young minds and foster early learning skills. Keep reading to discover our favorite activity books that are sure to captivate your child's curiosity and make learning fun!

Fun Activity Books for 1-2-Year-Olds

• First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Vocabulary
  • Synopsis: A simple and colorful board book that introduces young children to a variety of everyday words across 100 different objects.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to help toddlers develop their speech and recognition of common objects, enhancing their early vocabulary.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn words and parents looking to engage in interactive reading sessions.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: This engaging lift-the-flap book tells the story of a child who writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet. Each page reveals a different animal hidden behind flaps.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive and fun, encouraging curiosity and surprise with each turn of the page, which keeps young readers engaged.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love animals and interactive reading experiences.

• Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Mystery, Guessing Game
  • Synopsis: This simple, rhythmic, and brightly illustrated book plays with the concept of peekaboo through cut-out windows that hint at what's to come on the next page.
  • Why we recommend this book: It stimulates imagination and prediction skills, while the repetitive and playful text makes it a joy to read aloud.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who enjoy playful, interactive reading sessions that involve guessing and surprises.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This classic book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a wide variety of foodstuffs before pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches days of the week, counting, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all wrapped in beautiful, hand-painted illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are learning to count and enjoy vibrant, engaging stories.

• Press Here by Hervé Tullet
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Concept Book
  • Synopsis: This innovative book invites readers to press dots, shake pages, and tilt the book to embark on a fun, interactive journey with simple instructions on each page.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages active participation and imagination, turning the act of reading into a dynamic activity.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who love interactive play and are learning to follow instructions.

Educational Activity Books for 1-2-Year-Olds

• My First Coloring Book by Cleo S. Baker
  • Genre(s): Coloring Book, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book is filled with simple, large illustrations perfect for little hands to color.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Fine motor skills, color recognition, focus and hand-eye coordination
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great starter coloring book for young children, with thick lines and fun images that help prevent frustration and encourage creativity.
  • Perfect for: Young toddlers just starting to explore with crayons and markers.

• Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel Book, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This tactile book introduces babies to animals through different textures they can feel.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory development, vocabulary, animal recognition
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines engaging textures with simple pictures of animals, enhancing sensory interaction and learning.
  • Perfect for: Babies and young toddlers who enjoy exploring the world through touch.

• Lift-the-Flap First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Vocabulary
  • Synopsis: A continuation of the learning journey, this book features flaps for toddlers to lift and discover 100 essential words.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary expansion, motor skills, cognitive development
  • Why we recommend this book: It builds on vocabulary while adding the fun of discovery through interactive flaps.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are expanding their vocabulary and enjoy interactive reading.

• My First Book of Shapes by Scholastic
  • Genre(s): Concept Book, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This book introduces young children to different shapes through bright illustrations and simple examples.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Shape recognition, basic geometry, comparison skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses clear visuals and accessible examples to make learning shapes an engaging experience for toddlers.
  • Perfect for: Young children beginning to learn about different shapes and basic geometry.

• TouchThinkLearn: Colors by Xavier Deneux
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book offers a hands-on approach to learning colors through raised die-cut pieces nestled in scooped cutouts on opposite pages.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Color identification, sensory skills, cognitive development
  • Why we recommend this book: Its unique physical format encourages tactile exploration and visually reinforces color learning.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are learning colors and enjoy interactive, sensory play.

Challenging Activity Books for 1-2-Year-Olds

• Montessori: Map Work by Bobby George; illustrated by Alyssa Nassner
  • Genre(s): Educational, Geography
  • Synopsis: This book introduces toddlers to the concept of maps through beautifully illustrated, simplified representations of various world regions.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces complex geographic concepts and spatial awareness that are typically beyond standard toddler curriculum.
  • Why we recommend this book: It fosters an early interest in geography and spatial thinking, encouraging curiosity about the world.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who show an interest in maps and exploring different places.

• Color Mixing with the Mouse Paint Puddle Book by Ellen Stoll Walsh
  • Genre(s): Educational, Art
  • Synopsis: Using the story of three mice who mix colors in puddles, this book teaches color creation through primary color mixing.
  • Why this book is challenging: It explores the concept of color mixing, which requires understanding of abstract concepts like blending and transformation.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a playful introduction to art and science, teaching color theory through a simple, engaging narrative.
  • Perfect for: Young artists and any toddler interested in how colors work.

• First 100 Numbers Lift-the-Flap by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Math
  • Synopsis: This book helps toddlers learn counting by lifting flaps to reveal numbers and corresponding quantities.
  • Why this book is challenging: It goes beyond basic counting, encouraging number recognition and the concept of quantity with interactive elements.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes learning numbers engaging and interactive, which aids in deeper comprehension.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn numbers or those who enjoy interactive books.

• Alphaprints: ABC by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Alphabet, Educational
  • Synopsis: This unique board book uses thumbprint designs and fun rhymes to teach the alphabet, where each letter is represented by an object that starts with that letter.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of thumbprint art provides a tactile dimension to learning, which can be more cognitively demanding but also more engaging.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines visual art with literacy skills, making learning the alphabet fun and multisensory.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are learning their letters and enjoy textured, visually stimulating books.

• Busy Day: Chef by Dan Green
  • Genre(s): Role Play, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book allows toddlers to step into the shoes of a chef, guiding them through a day in a busy kitchen with interactive elements.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces basic culinary skills and the concept of following sequential steps, which are advanced cognitive skills for toddlers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages role play and understanding of a profession, fostering early career curiosity and sequential thinking.
  • Perfect for: Young children who show interest in cooking or enjoy role-playing different jobs.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to introduce your little one to the wonderful world of books, activity books designed for 1-2-year-olds can be a fantastic start. Here are some engaging exercises that will not only entertain your toddler but also help develop early reading habits. Let's dive in!

• Picture Pointing
  • What it is: Show your child pictures in the book and point to each as you name them.
  • How it helps: Enhances word association and vocabulary building.
  • Tips: Keep your tone lively and encourage your child to point along with you.

• Story Predictions
  • What it is: Pause during reading to ask your child what they think will happen next.
  • How it helps: Stimulates imagination and understanding of narrative structure.
  • Tips: Use facial expressions and voice modulations to make it more engaging.

• Repeat After Me
  • What it is: Read a short sentence and have your child repeat it after you.
  • How it helps: Aids in memory development and speech skills.
  • Tips: Praise your child for each successful repetition to boost confidence.

• Match the Sound
  • What it is: Make sounds of animals or objects in the book and have your child identify them.
  • How it helps: Improves auditory discrimination and associative learning.
  • Tips: Be animated with the sounds to make it fun and memorable.

• Book Exploration
  • What it is: Allow your child to handle the book, turn pages, and point to things they recognize.
  • How it helps: Encourages motor skills and familiarizes them with the structure of books.
  • Tips: Supervise to ensure gentle handling of pages.

• Simple Questions
  • What it is: Ask simple, direct questions about the pictures or story.
  • How it helps: Enhances comprehension and recall abilities.
  • Tips: Keep questions straightforward and answer-focused to maintain interest.

Incorporating these exercises into your reading routine will not only make book time enjoyable but also fruitful in developing your toddler's early literacy skills. Remember, the key is consistency and enthusiasm, so keep the sessions light, fun, and regular. Happy reading!