10+ Best Activity Books for 1-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to engage your little one's growing mind? Look no further! Our guide to the best activity books for 1-year-olds is packed with top picks that promise to entertain and educate. Whether you're looking for a birthday gift or just a new addition to your daily routine, these books are sure to capture your toddler's attention. Keep reading to discover our favorite activity books for 1-year-olds that are both fun and beneficial for their development.

Fun Activity Books for 1-Year-Olds

• First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Vocabulary
  • Synopsis: This book introduces young children to 100 essential first words and pictures, covering everything from food to animals.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to help babies and toddlers enhance their vocabulary and recognition skills in a fun, engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to speak and identify the world around them.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: A child writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet, leading to a series of lift-the-flap surprises with different animals.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive lift-the-flap style keeps children engaged and helps develop their motor skills.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animals and interactive reading sessions.

• Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This simple, predictable book uses rhymes and colorful illustrations with a peek-a-boo window that hints at what's to come on the next page.
  • Why we recommend this book: The repetitive and rhythmic text makes it easy for little ones to anticipate and interact with the book, fostering a love for reading.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who delight in guessing games and playful surprises.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This classic book follows the journey of a caterpillar eating its way through a variety of foods before finally turning into a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all through beautifully illustrated pages.
  • Perfect for: Young children learning about nature and basic concepts like numbers and time.

• Where's Spot? by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Book
  • Synopsis: Sally searches for her missing puppy, Spot, around the house, finding other animals behind the flaps until Spot is finally found.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive lift-the-flap elements encourage curiosity and hands-on engagement.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who love dogs and enjoy playing hide and seek.

• Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel Book, Sensory Book
  • Synopsis: This tactile book allows babies to explore different textures and sensations as they meet a variety of animals.
  • Why we recommend this book: It stimulates sensory development and helps build early language skills.
  • Perfect for: Infants and toddlers who are beginning to explore the world through touch.

Educational Activity Books for 1-Year-Olds

• My First Color Dominoes: The Game of Color Discovery by Edushape
  • Genre(s): Educational, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This book includes a set of color dominoes that help children learn colors through play.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Color recognition, matching skills, early strategic thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It turns learning colors into a fun and engaging game, enhancing both cognitive and fine motor skills.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are starting to learn about colors and enjoy interactive play.

• TouchThinkLearn: ABC by Xavier Deneux
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This tactile book uses die-cut trails and raised elements to teach the alphabet in a hands-on way.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, sensory development, early literacy skills
  • Why we recommend this book: Its unique tactile features make learning the alphabet an interactive and sensory experience.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are beginning to show interest in letters and reading.

• Baby's Big Busy Book by Karen Katz
  • Genre(s): Educational, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This book captures a baby's day with interactive elements like lift-the-flaps and touch-and-feel textures.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Motor skills, daily routine recognition, vocabulary expansion
  • Why we recommend this book: It's packed with interactive elements that keep little ones engaged and learning about their daily activities.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who enjoy exploring pages that they can manipulate and interact with.

• Indestructibles: Baby, Let's Eat! by Amy Pixton, illustrated by Stephan Lomp
  • Genre(s): Chew Proof, Rip Proof, Nontoxic, Washable, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This book introduces babies to different foods with brightly colored, tear-resistant pages.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Food identification, early reading skills, sensory tolerance
  • Why we recommend this book: It is durable and safe for babies to handle, chew, and tug, making it ideal for introducing concepts of eating and food.
  • Perfect for: Infants and toddlers who are exploring books by touch and taste.

• Listen to the Farm Animals by Marion Billet
  • Genre(s): Sound Book, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This book features sounds from various farm animals, enhancing the reading experience with auditory cues.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal sound recognition, auditory processing, early language skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a multisensory approach to learning, combining auditory stimulation with visual cues.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy animals and are stimulated by sounds.

Challenging Activity Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Colors and Shapes Touch and Feel Picture Cards by DK
  • Genre(s): Educational, Sensory Book
  • Synopsis: This set of touch and feel cards offers a tactile experience to help toddlers learn about colors and shapes through textured panels.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces abstract concepts like shapes and colors, which are more complex for toddlers to grasp, especially when combined with a sensory experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: These cards engage multiple senses, which can accelerate learning and retention in young children.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers developing early shape and color recognition skills.

• Busy Farm: Push, Pull, Slide by Campbell Books, illustrated by Villie Karabatzia
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This interactive book allows toddlers to push, pull, and slide parts of the pages to engage with the story of a busy farm.
  • Why this book is challenging: The mechanics of pushing, pulling, and sliding are advanced motor skills for 1-year-olds, requiring more precision and coordination.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes fine motor skill development and provides a fun, interactive reading experience.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy farm animals and are learning to interact with moving parts.

• First 100 Numbers Lift-the-Flap by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This book features over 100 lift-the-flap elements to teach toddlers about numbers in an engaging way.
  • Why this book is challenging: Managing the fine motor skills to lift flaps and understanding the concept of numbers can be complex for toddlers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes learning numbers interactive and fun, which can help in early math skill development.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn numbers and who enjoy interactive elements.

• Alphaprints: ABC by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This book uses unique fingerprint artwork to illustrate each letter of the alphabet, paired with objects that start with those letters.
  • Why this book is challenging: The abstract art style and the concept of alphabets are intellectually stimulating for toddlers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces the alphabet in a visually unique way, helping to enhance memory and recognition.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are starting to explore alphabets and enjoy artistic illustrations.

• My First Brain Quest: First Words by Workman Publishing
  • Genre(s): Educational, Question and Answer Book
  • Synopsis: This question and answer book challenges toddlers with questions about first words and concepts to stimulate early cognitive development.
  • Why this book is challenging: The Q&A format is advanced for toddlers as it requires understanding and responding to verbal cues.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages critical thinking and comprehension skills from an early age.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are beginning to form words and enjoy interactive learning.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to nurture a budding reader, starting early is key. Activity books are a fantastic resource for 1-year-olds as they begin to explore the world of books. Here are some exercises that can help your little one develop good reading habits from the start:

• Touch and Feel Pages
  • What it is: Use books with different textures on each page.
  • How it helps: Enhances sensory development and links tactile experiences to language.
  • Tips: Guide your child’s hand over the textures as you describe them aloud.

• Picture Pointing
  • What it is: Point and name objects in pictures.
  • How it helps: Builds vocabulary and aids in object recognition.
  • Tips: Keep your tone lively and engaging to maintain their interest.

• Simple Story Retelling
  • What it is: Read short stories and encourage your child to mimic or retell them.
  • How it helps: Improves memory and understanding of narrative structure.
  • Tips: Use expressive gestures and facial expressions to make the story more compelling.

• Sing-Along Books
  • What it is: Use books that can be sung or have musical elements.
  • How it helps: Develops listening skills and rhythm appreciation.
  • Tips: Sing regularly to develop a routine and enhance enjoyment.

• Mirror Books
  • What it is: Utilize books that include a mirror on the page.
  • How it helps: Promotes self-recognition and interactive play.
  • Tips: Make funny faces and see if your child mimics you.

• Lift-the-Flap Books
  • What it is: Books where you can lift flaps to reveal hidden pictures or text.
  • How it helps: Encourages curiosity and motor skills development.
  • Tips: Let your child lift the flap as you read the hidden parts aloud.

Starting with these simple exercises can make reading a fun and integral part of your child's daily routine. Not only will these activities keep them engaged, but they'll also lay the groundwork for lifelong reading habits. Happy reading!