10+ Best Activity Books for 11-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Looking for the perfect way to keep your tween engaged and entertained? Look no further than our curated selection of Activity Books for 11-Year-Olds! These books are packed with fun, educational activities that are perfectly suited to their interests and developmental stage. Whether your child loves puzzles, crafts, or brain teasers, there's something in this list that's sure to capture their imagination and keep them busy for hours. Keep reading to discover our favorite picks!

Fun Activity Books for 11-Year-Olds

• Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Creativity
  • Synopsis: This interactive book encourages readers to engage in creative destruction, filling pages with unique and expressive messes.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes creativity and thinking outside the box, perfect for nurturing an 11-year-old's imaginative skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love hands-on activities and are not afraid to get messy.

• The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A. with 50 fact-filled maps! by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sol Linero
  • Genre(s): Educational, Geography
  • Synopsis: This book features maps, facts, and trivia about each of the 50 states in the U.S., providing an engaging geographical journey.
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances geographical knowledge and cultural understanding, making learning fun and interactive.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers who have an interest in learning more about different places.

• Brain Games for Clever Kids by Gareth Moore
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Problem Solving
  • Synopsis: This book contains a variety of brain teasers, puzzles, and challenges designed to sharpen the minds of young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop problem-solving skills and cognitive abilities through fun and challenging games.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy challenges and sharpening their minds with puzzles and games.

• The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book offers easy and accessible science experiments that can be done with everyday materials, covering various scientific principles.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes science accessible and fun, encouraging experimentation and learning through hands-on activities.
  • Perfect for: Young scientists who love experimenting and learning how things work.

• The Drawing Book for Kids: 365 Daily Things to Draw, Step by Step by Woo! Jr. Kids Activities
  • Genre(s): Art, Instructional
  • Synopsis: This book provides simple step-by-step instructions for drawing a variety of subjects, one for each day of the year.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages daily creativity and improves drawing skills in a fun, structured way.
  • Perfect for: Budding artists who want to practice and improve their drawing skills regularly.

Educational Activity Books for 11-Year-Olds

• Math Lab for Kids by Rebecca Rapoport and J.A. Yoder
  • Genre(s): Mathematics, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book presents fun and engaging experiments and activities designed to make math interesting and accessible.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Mathematical concepts, problem-solving, logical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It turns abstract mathematical concepts into fun, hands-on projects that will engage young minds.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy experimenting with numbers and those who need a little nudge to see the fun side of math.

• Atlas of Adventures by Rachel Williams, illustrated by Lucy Letherland
  • Genre(s): Geography, Adventure, Cultural Studies
  • Synopsis: This illustrated atlas takes children on a journey around the world, exploring continents and discovering the cultures, animals, and activities unique to each region.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Geographic knowledge, cultural awareness, curiosity about the world
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a rich visual experience filled with educational content that sparks curiosity about different cultures and places.
  • Perfect for: Young adventurers eager to learn about the world and its diverse cultures.

• Coding Projects in Scratch by Jon Woodcock
  • Genre(s): Technology, Educational
  • Synopsis: This guide teaches kids how to use Scratch, a beginner-friendly programming language, to create their own games, animations, and more.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Coding skills, logical thinking, creativity
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces fundamental programming concepts in an accessible and fun way, encouraging digital creativity and problem-solving.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring young programmers and any kid interested in technology and creating their own digital projects.

• The Curious Kid's Science Book by Asia Citro
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: The book offers a variety of science experiments and activities that encourage children to develop their own scientific inquiries and experiments.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Scientific method, critical thinking, experimentation
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes a hands-on approach to learning science, encouraging curiosity and independent thinking.
  • Perfect for: Curious minds that thrive on asking "why?" and "how?" about the world around them.

• Outdoor Science Lab for Kids by Liz Lee Heinecke
  • Genre(s): Science, Outdoor Activities
  • Synopsis: This book features 52 family-friendly experiments for the great outdoors, teaching scientific principles in a fun, practical way.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Observation skills, scientific concepts, appreciation for nature
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the joy of being outdoors with the educational experience of conducting scientific experiments.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love the outdoors and are eager to learn more about the natural world through active, hands-on science.

Challenging Activity Books for 11-Year-Olds

• Extreme Dot to Dot: Spectacular Places by Beverly Lawson
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Puzzle
  • Synopsis: This book challenges readers with complex dot-to-dot puzzles that form intricate, beautiful images of famous world landmarks.
  • Why this book is challenging: The puzzles require focus and precision, often involving over a thousand dots per picture, which tests patience and attention to detail.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop concentration and fine motor skills, while also providing a sense of accomplishment upon completion of each complex image.
  • Perfect for: Puzzle enthusiasts and kids who appreciate a good challenge.

• The Kid's Book of Sudoku 1 by Alastair Chisholm
  • Genre(s): Puzzle, Mathematics
  • Synopsis: Filled with sudoku puzzles of varying difficulty, this book offers a structured way to challenge young minds.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces advanced sudoku puzzles that require logical reasoning and strategic thinking, skills that are often challenging for younger children.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's great for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a fun and engaging format.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love numbers and puzzles.

• The Mysterious Benedict Society Puzzle Book by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Puzzle, Mystery
  • Synopsis: This book contains a series of puzzles and riddles that tie into the adventures of the Mysterious Benedict Society series.
  • Why this book is challenging: The puzzles require creative thinking and deduction, pushing readers to think outside the box and solve complex problems.
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances cognitive skills and complements the enjoyment of the Mysterious Benedict Society novels with interactive challenges.
  • Perfect for: Fans of the series and young detectives who love cracking codes and solving mysteries.

• Logic Puzzles for Clever Kids: Fun brain games for ages 4 & up by Molly Lynch
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Logic
  • Synopsis: A collection of logic puzzles designed to sharpen young minds through engaging and challenging brain teasers.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces advanced logic puzzles that require careful thought, planning, and problem-solving skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's perfect for boosting brain power and logical reasoning, which are crucial for academic success and daily decision-making.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy thinking critically and solving complex problems.

• National Geographic Kids Brain Games: The Mind-Blowing Science of Your Amazing Brain by Jennifer Swanson
  • Genre(s): Science, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book explores the science behind brain function with games and puzzles designed to test and improve mental capabilities.
  • Why this book is challenging: It includes experiments and activities that explain complex scientific concepts in a fun, interactive way.
  • Why we recommend this book: It educates about neuroscience in an engaging manner and encourages kids to understand and explore the capabilities of their own brains.
  • Perfect for: Young scientists and anyone curious about how their mind works.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 11-year-old develop good reading habits, activity books can be a fantastic tool. Here are some engaging exercises that not only make reading fun but also enhance comprehension and retention skills. Let's dive in!

• Create a Book Club
  • What it is: Form a small group to read and discuss books.
  • How it helps: Encourages social interaction and critical thinking about texts.
  • Tips: Choose books that all members will enjoy and encourage open discussions.

• Design Book Covers
  • What it is: Redesign the cover of a book after reading it.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of the book’s themes and characters.
  • Tips: Use a variety of materials and methods, like drawing or digital design.

• Summarize Chapters
  • What it is: Write short summaries of each chapter after reading.
  • How it helps: Improves memory and understanding of the narrative.
  • Tips: Keep summaries brief and highlight key points.

• Character Diary Entries
  • What it is: Write diary entries from the perspective of a book's character.
  • How it helps: Develops empathy and deeper understanding of characters.
  • Tips: Choose a character that resonates or intrigues, and write regularly.

• Map the Story
  • What it is: Create a visual map of the story’s events.
  • How it helps: Helps visualize the plot and sequence of events.
  • Tips: Use arrows and symbols to connect major events and themes.

• Predict the Plot
  • What it is: Make predictions about the story before and during reading.
  • How it helps: Engages analytical thinking and anticipation skills.
  • Tips: Write down predictions and check their accuracy as you read.

• Reading Time Rewards
  • What it is: Set up a reward system for meeting reading goals.
  • How it helps: Motivates consistent reading habits.
  • Tips: Keep rewards fun and reading-related, like new books or bookmarks.

These exercises are designed to be both fun and educational, helping your young reader to engage with books on a deeper level. By incorporating these activities into their reading routine, you're not just improving their literacy skills but also fostering a lifelong love for reading. Happy reading!