10+ Best Activity Books for 8-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Looking for the perfect way to keep your 8-year-old engaged and learning? You're in the right spot! Our roundup of activity books for 8-year-olds offers a variety of fun, educational options that promise to keep their minds active and their creativity flowing. Keep reading to discover our top picks for the best activity books that cater specifically to the interests and developmental needs of 8-year-olds. Whether they love puzzles, crafts, or a bit of adventure, there's something here for every curious young mind!

Fun Activity Books for 8-Year-Olds

• Wipe Clean: My Big Activity Workbook by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This workbook includes a variety of activities such as puzzles, number exercises, and letter writing practices designed to improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and basic literacy and numeracy.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to be engaging and fun, encouraging repeated practice with its wipe-clean pages. This helps in reinforcing learning in a playful manner.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy interactive learning and parents looking for educational reinforcement at home.

• The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book provides easy-to-follow instructions for experiments that can be done with common household items, covering various aspects of science from biology to chemistry.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes science accessible and fun, sparking curiosity about how things work and promoting a love of learning and experimentation.
  • Perfect for: Young scientists and curious minds eager to explore the world through experiments.

• Brain Games for Clever Kids by Gareth Moore, illustrated by Chris Dickason
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Logic Games
  • Synopsis: This book is filled with brain teasers, puzzles, and challenges designed to stimulate the intellectual skills of children.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a variety of puzzles that challenge the mind and improve problem-solving skills, all while being entertaining.
  • Perfect for: Puzzle lovers and kids who enjoy challenges that test their logic and reasoning skills.

• National Geographic Kids Why?: Over 1,111 Answers to Everything by Crispin Boyer
  • Genre(s): Reference, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book answers a wide range of questions on topics from science to history, satisfying the curiosity of young minds with engaging facts and illustrations.
  • Why we recommend this book: It feeds the natural curiosity of children with fun facts and interesting explanations, enhancing their general knowledge in an enjoyable way.
  • Perfect for: Inquisitive kids who have endless questions about the world around them.

• My First Cookbook: Fun recipes to cook together... with as much mixing, rolling, scrunching, and squishing as possible! by David Atherton, illustrated by Rachel Stubbs
  • Genre(s): Cooking, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: Aimed at young chefs, this cookbook features simple, child-friendly recipes along with tips on cooking basics and kitchen safety.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages children to explore cooking, teaches them valuable life skills, and promotes fun family bonding activities.
  • Perfect for: Young aspiring chefs and families who enjoy cooking and eating together.

Educational Activity Books for 8-Year-Olds

• The Kids’ Book of Crosswords 1 by Gareth Moore
  • Genre(s): Puzzles, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book is packed with crossword puzzles of varying difficulty, designed specifically for children to help improve their vocabulary and spelling skills.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary, spelling, logical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great way to challenge a child's mind while helping them learn new words and improve their spelling in a fun and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love word games and parents looking for educational activities that promote literacy.

• Math Lab for Kids: Fun, Hands-On Activities for Learning with Shapes, Puzzles, and Games by Rebecca Rapoport and J.A. Yoder
  • Genre(s): Mathematics, Educational
  • Synopsis: This interactive book offers a series of fun and engaging activities that introduce children to mathematical concepts through hands-on learning.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Mathematical concepts, problem-solving, critical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes learning math enjoyable and accessible, encouraging children to explore mathematical ideas through creative projects and puzzles.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who enjoy math or need a more engaging approach to learning mathematical concepts.

• Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids: 50+ Exciting STEAM Projects to Design and Build by Christina Schul
  • Genre(s): Engineering, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: Kids can dive into the world of engineering with over 50 STEAM projects that range from building a bridge to creating a marble run.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Engineering principles, creativity, problem-solving
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a hands-on approach to learning engineering concepts, fostering creativity and critical thinking through building and design challenges.
  • Perfect for: Young builders and creators, as well as any child interested in how things work and are constructed.

• The Curious Kid's Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-On Activities for Ages 4-8 by Asia Citro
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book encourages children to develop a love for science with more than 100 activities that promote exploring, observing, and asking questions.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Scientific thinking, observation skills, experimentation
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages children in the scientific process through fun and inventive experiments that challenge them to think like scientists.
  • Perfect for: Curious kids who enjoy discovering and understanding the science behind how the world works.

• Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media by Susan Schwake
  • Genre(s): Art, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book offers 52 fun and creative art projects in various media, each designed to inspire artistic expression and exploration.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Artistic skills, creativity, motor skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a wide range of artistic activities that encourage children to experiment with different materials and techniques in a structured yet creative way.
  • Perfect for: Budding artists and any child interested in exploring different forms of artistic expression.

Challenging Activity Books for 8-Year-Olds

• Extreme Spot the Difference: Cities of the World by Tim Dedopulos
  • Genre(s): Puzzle, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book challenges readers to find subtle differences in two seemingly identical pictures of major world cities.
  • Why this book is challenging: It requires keen observation skills and attention to detail, making it more advanced than typical spot-the-difference puzzles.
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances visual perception skills and provides a fun way to improve focus and concentration.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love puzzles and have a keen eye for detail.

• The Kid's Awesome Activity Book by Mike Lowery
  • Genre(s): Crafts, Puzzles, Games
  • Synopsis: This activity book is packed with games, puzzles, doodles, and more, all designed to spark creativity and imagination.
  • Why this book is challenging: The activities require creative thinking and problem-solving, going beyond simple coloring or drawing.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages creativity and provides a diverse range of activities to keep engaged.
  • Perfect for: Creative kids who enjoy a variety of challenges from drawing to solving puzzles.

• Logic Puzzles for Clever Kids: Fun brain games for ages 4 & up by Molly Lynch
  • Genre(s): Logic, Games
  • Synopsis: This book contains a collection of logic puzzles that range from pattern recognition to more complex puzzles involving mathematical reasoning.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces basic logical and mathematical concepts that require critical thinking and advanced problem-solving skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop important cognitive skills such as reasoning, logic, and concentration.
  • Perfect for: Young thinkers who enjoy testing their problem-solving and logical reasoning skills.

• Super Mazes in Space! by Rolf Heimann
  • Genre(s): Mazes, Puzzle
  • Synopsis: This book takes children on an interstellar adventure through space-themed mazes, each increasing in complexity.
  • Why this book is challenging: The mazes are designed to be intricate and complex, suitable for advanced problem solvers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes spatial awareness and strategic planning while providing a fun and thematic way to challenge the mind.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love space exploration and enjoy the thrill of solving mazes.

• Math Riddles for Smart Kids: Math Riddles and Brain Teasers that Kids and Families Will Love by M Prefontaine
  • Genre(s): Mathematics, Puzzles
  • Synopsis: A collection of math riddles and puzzles designed to entertain and educate, challenging children to think outside the box.
  • Why this book is challenging: The riddles involve complex mathematical concepts presented in a playful manner, requiring more than just basic arithmetic skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes math fun and engaging, helping to improve mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy math and love challenges that require clever thinking and creativity.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 8-year-old develop great reading habits, incorporating fun and engaging exercises into their routine can make a huge difference. Here's a list of exercises designed specifically for activity books that are perfect for this age group. These exercises not only make reading fun but also enhance comprehension and retention skills.

• Create a Book Club
  • What it is: Form a small group to read and discuss books.
  • How it helps: Encourages social interaction and verbal expression.
  • Tips: Choose books that all members will enjoy and encourage each child to speak up during discussions.

• Design a Bookmark
  • What it is: Craft personalized bookmarks related to the themes of the books being read.
  • How it helps: Makes the reading process more enjoyable and personalized.
  • Tips: Use materials like markers, stickers, and ribbons to decorate the bookmarks.

• Story Map Creation
  • What it is: Draw or outline the main events of a story on a piece of paper.
  • How it helps: Helps with understanding the structure and sequence of events in the story.
  • Tips: Include key characters, settings, and major plot points in the map.

• Character Diary Entry
  • What it is: Write diary entries from the perspective of a character in the book.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of character motivations and feelings.
  • Tips: Encourage imagination in how the character would express their thoughts and emotions.

• Reading Timer Challenge
  • What it is: Set a timer and challenge them to read as much as they can in that period.
  • How it helps: Builds reading speed and focus.
  • Tips: Start with short periods and gradually increase the time as their stamina improves.

• Question Exchange
  • What it is: Come up with questions about the book and exchange them with friends or family members.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and critical thinking.
  • Tips: Encourage creative and open-ended questions that spark discussion.

• Illustrate the Story
  • What it is: Draw scenes or characters from the book.
  • How it helps: Enhances creativity and helps with visual memory of the story.
  • Tips: Use a variety of art supplies to make the activity more engaging.

Incorporating these exercises into your child's reading routine will not only make reading more interactive and fun but also help develop a lifelong love for books. Give them a try and watch your little reader flourish!