10+ Best Activity Books for 4-5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to keep your little ones engaged and learning? Look no further! Our roundup of the best activity books for 4-5-year-olds is packed with exciting options that promise to entertain and educate your preschooler. Whether you're looking for creative puzzles, fun projects, or educational games, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover our top picks for activity books that are sure to captivate your child's imagination and curiosity.

Fun Activity Books for 4-5-Year-Olds

• My First Big Book of Coloring by Little Bee Books
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Coloring Book
  • Synopsis: This book is packed with a wide variety of fun, simple, and engaging coloring pages suitable for young children.
  • Why we recommend this book: Coloring helps enhance motor skills, improves focus, and stimulates creativity in young children.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love drawing and coloring, and parents looking for a creative way to engage their children.

• The Big Fun Kindergarten Workbook by Highlights
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: A comprehensive workbook designed to cover all the essential skills kindergarteners need, from ABCs and 123s to early reading and math skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines learning with fun through games and puzzles that keep children engaged and eager to learn.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who are starting school and need a fun way to reinforce their learning at home.

• Wipe Clean: Early Learning Activity Book by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book includes a variety of activities such as tracing letters, learning numbers, and early spelling skills, all on wipe-clean pages that can be used over and over.
  • Why we recommend this book: The reusable nature of the book ensures repeated practice and helps build confidence in young learners.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are beginning to learn basic concepts and enjoy interactive activities.

• My First Toddler Coloring Book by Tanya Emelyanova
  • Genre(s): Coloring Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: Tailored for toddlers, this coloring book introduces basic themes like shapes, numbers, and letters through simple, large pictures perfect for small hands.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes early learning and the development of fine motor skills through coloring.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are starting to explore with art supplies and parents who want to introduce educational concepts in a playful manner.

• School Zone - Big Preschool Workbook by School Zone Publishing
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This workbook is filled with engaging exercises that cover everything from colors and shapes to letters and counting.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to capture the attention of young minds and stimulate early learning with colorful illustrations and fun activities.
  • Perfect for: Preschool children who are eager to learn and parents seeking a comprehensive resource to help prepare their kids for school.

Educational Activity Books for 4-5-Year-Olds

• Let's Cut Paper! by Kumon Publishing
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book teaches children how to use scissors safely and effectively, progressing from simple one-stroke cuts to more complex and creative shapes and patterns.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, patience and focus
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to help children master the use of scissors, which is a crucial skill for school activities and arts and crafts.
  • Perfect for: Young kids who are developing their fine motor skills and parents who want to ensure safety and proficiency with scissors.

• My First Book of Tracing by Kumon Publishing
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This workbook provides a series of tracing exercises that help children improve their control of pencils and crayons, preparing them for writing letters and numbers.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Pencil control, pre-writing skills, fine motor development
  • Why we recommend this book: It gradually builds children's confidence in their writing abilities, starting with simple lines and progressing to more complex shapes and characters.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are just starting to learn how to write and parents looking for a structured approach to develop writing skills.

• Preschool Math at Home by Jennifer M. Bay-Williams
  • Genre(s): Educational, Math
  • Synopsis: This book introduces basic math concepts such as counting, simple addition and subtraction, and recognizing shapes through fun and engaging activities.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Basic math skills, number recognition, early problem-solving
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes learning math fun and accessible, using everyday objects and simple activities that parents and children can do together.
  • Perfect for: Young children beginning to explore math concepts and parents who want to support their child's early mathematical learning at home.

• Paint by Sticker Kids: Zoo Animals by Workman Publishing
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Sticker Book
  • Synopsis: Children can create ten vibrant, full-color "paintings" of zoo animals by placing stickers onto outlined areas.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Fine motor skills, pattern recognition, creativity
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a unique, mess-free painting experience and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful with stickers.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love animals and stickers, and parents looking for a creative activity that doesn’t require cleanup.

• Kindergarten Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg, illustrated by Mark Chambers
  • Genre(s): Educational, Poetry
  • Synopsis: This book is a collection of fun poems about all the big moments that come with kindergarten—from riding the bus for the first time to the 100th day of school.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Reading comprehension, emotional readiness for school, social skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses the excitement and fears associated with starting school through relatable, humorous poems that encourage reading and discussion.
  • Perfect for: Children about to start kindergarten and parents seeking to ease the transition with engaging, thematic content.

Challenging Activity Books for 4-5-Year-Olds

• Brain Games for Clever Kids by Gareth Moore, illustrated by Chris Dickason
  • Genre(s): Puzzle, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book offers a variety of challenging puzzles including logic tests, Sudoku, crosswords, and word searches designed to stimulate young minds.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces complex problem-solving skills and cognitive tasks that are advanced for the typical developmental stage of 4-5-year-olds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy puzzles and games, and parents who want to challenge their children's cognitive abilities.

• The Kids' Book of Mazes 1 by Gareth Moore
  • Genre(s): Puzzle, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book contains a series of intricately designed mazes that challenge children to find their way through various scenarios and landscapes.
  • Why this book is challenging: The mazes are designed to be progressively difficult, enhancing spatial reasoning and decision-making skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's great for improving concentration and problem-solving abilities while providing hours of entertainment.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers who love finding solutions and navigating challenges.

• Math Riddles for Smart Kids by M. Prefontaine
  • Genre(s): Math, Puzzle
  • Synopsis: This book is filled with challenging math riddles that require more than just basic arithmetic, including logical reasoning and critical thinking.
  • Why this book is challenging: The riddles are designed to push the boundaries of conventional math problems faced by 4-5-year-olds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes math fun and engaging, helping children develop a love for the subject through games and riddles.
  • Perfect for: Young mathematicians who enjoy challenges and parents who want to cultivate their child's numerical abilities.

• Montessori: Letter Work by Bobby George, illustrated by June George
  • Genre(s): Educational, Reading
  • Synopsis: This book applies Montessori learning principles to teach children about letters and sounds through tactile, hands-on activities.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses a self-directed, experiential approach that encourages advanced literacy skills and independent learning.
  • Why we recommend this book: It supports early reading skills in a methodical and engaging way, respecting the pace and interests of each child.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are beginning to show interest in reading and parents who prefer educational philosophies that promote self-reliance and practical skills.

• The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book provides a range of science experiments that can be done at home using everyday materials, covering topics like physics, chemistry, and biology.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces scientific concepts and the scientific method in a way that is understandable yet stimulating for young minds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers hands-on learning experiences that are both educational and fun, sparking curiosity about how the world works.
  • Perfect for: Young scientists in the making and parents who want to foster a love of science through active participation and discovery.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to spark a love for reading in your 4-5-year-old, activity books can be a fantastic tool. Here are some fun and engaging exercises that can help develop good reading habits at an early age. These activities are not only enjoyable but also beneficial in enhancing your child's reading skills.

• Picture Story Creation
  • What it is: Kids use pictures from the book to create their own story.
  • How it helps: Enhances imagination and helps in understanding narrative structure.
  • Tips: Encourage them to explain each picture and what might be happening.

• Match the Sentence
  • What it is: Matching sentences to the correct pictures in the book.
  • How it helps: Improves reading comprehension and vocabulary.
  • Tips: Start with simple sentences and gradually increase difficulty as they improve.

• Read and Color
  • What it is: Reading instructions on what colors to use in a coloring book.
  • How it helps: Links reading with action and reinforces word recognition.
  • Tips: Keep conversations going about the colors and the objects being colored.

• Alphabet Treasure Hunt
  • What it is: Finding objects that start with each letter of the alphabet in the book.
  • How it helps: Strengthens letter recognition and phonetic skills.
  • Tips: Make it exciting by pretending to be on a treasure hunt for every new letter.

• Story Sequencing Cards
  • What it is: Using cards to put the story’s events in order.
  • How it helps: Boosts understanding of the beginning, middle, and end of stories.
  • Tips: After sequencing, ask them to tell the story in their own words.

• Role Play Reading
  • What it is: Acting out the story with parents or friends after reading.
  • How it helps: Enhances comprehension and makes reading a shared, fun activity.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes for more engagement and fun.

• Sound Out Words
  • What it is: Focusing on sounding out simple words in the book.
  • How it helps: Develops phonics skills which are crucial for reading.
  • Tips: Praise efforts to sound out words, even if they’re not perfect.

These exercises are designed to make reading a fun and integral part of your child’s daily routine. By engaging with books through these activities, your little one will not only improve their reading skills but also develop a lifelong love for reading. Happy reading!