10+ Best Pop Up Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect reading adventure that will captivate your little one's imagination? Look no further! Pop-up books for 5-year-olds are a fantastic way to combine the joy of reading with interactive, tactile fun that keeps children engaged and eager to turn every page. In this blog, we'll dive into a variety of delightful pop-up books that promise to enchant and educate. Keep reading to discover our top picks that are sure to be a hit with your preschooler!

Fun Pop Up Books for 5-Year-Olds

• The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Emotional Learning
  • Synopsis: This interactive pop-up book helps children understand their feelings through the story of a colorful monster who experiences a range of emotions.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great tool for emotional development, helping children name and understand different feelings in a fun and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are learning to express their emotions and parents who want to aid in their child's emotional education.

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Robert Sabuda
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Classic
  • Synopsis: This pop-up version of the classic tale takes readers on a journey with Alice through Wonderland, featuring stunning pop-up visuals.
  • Why we recommend this book: The intricate pop-ups and faithful adaptation of the story make it an engaging read that captures the whimsy and surprise of Carroll's original work.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love fantasy and adventure, as well as collectors of unique children's books.

• The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner, illustrated by Jonathan Lambert
  • Genre(s): Animal Fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: A bold frog goes on a journey meeting different creatures and asking them what they like to eat, until he meets a creature whose diet intimidates him.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's humorous and has a simple, repetitive text that's perfect for reading aloud. The pop-up features add a delightful surprise element.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy animal stories and interactive reading sessions.

• Pop-Up Peekaboo! Farm by DK Publishing
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This book features fun farm-themed pop-ups behind flaps. Young children learn about farm animals and their sounds as they lift the flaps.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages interactive play and learning, which can help develop motor skills and animal recognition.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who enjoy playing peekaboo and are curious about animals.

• The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
  • Genre(s): Holiday, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: The Jolly Postman delivers letters to various fairy-tale characters with lots of hidden surprises and pop-ups along the way.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the joy of Christmas with the excitement of receiving mail and interactive elements, making reading a playful experience.
  • Perfect for: Children who love Christmas and fairy tales, and those who enjoy interactive and festive stories.

Educational Pop Up Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Pop-Up Planet: The Solar System in 3-D by Heather Brown
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book takes children on a journey through the solar system with stunning 3D pop-ups of each planet.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Astronomy basics, spatial thinking, and reading comprehension.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes learning about space exciting and visually engaging, helping to spark curiosity about science and the universe.
  • Perfect for: Young space enthusiasts and kids interested in science and exploration.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Pop-Up Playmat by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Interactive Book, Early Learning
  • Synopsis: This book transforms into a playmat with pop-up features, following the iconic caterpillar as it eats its way through various foods before becoming a butterfly.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Counting, days of the week, life cycles of butterflies, and motor skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines reading with play, enhancing both cognitive and physical development through interactive learning.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy tactile play and learning basic concepts through storytelling.

• Pop-Up Jungle by Ingela P. Arrhenius
  • Genre(s): Animal Fiction, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This vibrant pop-up book introduces children to various jungle animals with bold illustrations and simple text.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, vocabulary expansion, and sensory skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its simple yet engaging pop-up design is perfect for little hands, making it a fun way to learn about different jungle creatures.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and young children who love animals and interactive books.

• Pop-Up Fairy Tales: Little Red Riding Hood by Susanna Davidson, illustrated by Rachael Saunders
  • Genre(s): Fairy Tale, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This classic fairy tale is brought to life with intricate pop-ups and engaging storytelling.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Reading comprehension, narrative skills, and familiarity with classic literature.
  • Why we recommend this book: The pop-up elements add a magical touch to the storytelling, making it a captivating read for young children.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy fairy tales and parents looking for a fun way to introduce classic stories.

• The Honeybee & the Robber: A Moving/Picture Book by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Nature, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: Follow a honeybee as it encounters various challenges, including a hungry bear, in this interactive book with moving pictures.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding of nature, animal behavior, and problem-solving.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines Eric Carle's signature art style with engaging mechanics that mimic the honeybee’s movements, providing both entertainment and educational value.
  • Perfect for: Young children interested in nature and animal stories, and fans of Eric Carle’s artwork.

Challenging Pop Up Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Creatures of the Deep: The Pop-Up Book by Ernst Haeckel, illustrated by Maike Biederstädt
  • Genre(s): Science, Nature
  • Synopsis: This book dives into the mysterious world of deep-sea creatures, with detailed pop-ups based on the illustrations of biologist Ernst Haeckel.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features complex scientific concepts and detailed illustrations that require careful observation and comprehension.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a stunning visual exploration of marine biology, encouraging curiosity and learning about less commonly known sea creatures.
  • Perfect for: Young marine biologists and any child fascinated by the mysteries of the ocean.

• The Amazing Pop-Up Grammar Book by Jennie Maizels, illustrated by Kate Petty
  • Genre(s): Educational, Language
  • Synopsis: This interactive book makes learning grammar fun with pop-up spreads about parts of speech, punctuation, and sentence structures.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces advanced language concepts in a playful manner, which are typically not taught at this early age.
  • Why we recommend this book: It transforms potentially dry subject matter into an engaging, interactive learning experience that can enhance linguistic skills early on.
  • Perfect for: Kids who show an early interest in writing and language or those who could benefit from a fun approach to learning grammar.

• Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy by Matthew Reinhart
  • Genre(s): Science Fiction, Film Tie-In
  • Synopsis: This pop-up book brings the Star Wars universe to life with intricate designs and detailed information about the characters and worlds.
  • Why this book is challenging: It contains detailed lore and complex pop-up engineering that goes beyond simple visuals, appealing to both younger fans and collectors.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides an immersive experience that enhances storytelling through dynamic and interactive visuals of the beloved Star Wars galaxy.
  • Perfect for: Young Star Wars fans and children interested in detailed pop-up mechanics.

• ABC3D by Marion Bataille
  • Genre(s): Concept Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This artistically innovative book offers a 3D journey through the alphabet, with each letter transforming as you turn the pages.
  • Why this book is challenging: Its abstract representations and artistic interpretations of the alphabet challenge conventional perceptions and encourage visual thinking.
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a visually stimulating way to learn the alphabet, encouraging creativity and a deeper understanding of graphic design.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers ready to explore the alphabet in a more artistic and advanced manner.

• Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
  • Genre(s): Educational, History
  • Synopsis: This detailed book features more than 35 pop-ups of various dinosaurs, providing facts and figures about these ancient creatures.
  • Why this book is challenging: It offers a detailed look at paleontology that goes beyond simple dinosaur identification, including information about their environments and behaviors.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines educational content with the excitement of large, intricate pop-ups, making learning about dinosaurs engaging and fun.
  • Perfect for: Dinosaur enthusiasts and kids who love learning about the prehistoric world through interactive elements.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're diving into the colorful world of pop-up books with your 5-year-old, you're in for a treat. Not only are these books fun, but they're also fantastic tools for developing early reading habits. Here are some engaging exercises to enhance your little one's reading journey with pop-up books.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Before reading, flip through the book, looking at and talking about the pictures.
  • How it helps: Encourages prediction skills and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions about the pictures to spark curiosity.

• Spot the Rhyme
  • What it is: Identify rhyming words together in the text of the pop-up book.
  • How it helps: Enhances phonemic awareness, which is crucial for early reading development.
  • Tips: Clap out or tap the rhymes to make this exercise both fun and educational.

• Character Voices
  • What it is: Use different voices for different characters when reading aloud.
  • How it helps: Makes the reading session more engaging and helps with understanding character traits.
  • Tips: Let your child choose the voices for characters to increase involvement.

• Story Retelling
  • What it is: After reading, have your child retell the story in their own words.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and memory skills.
  • Tips: Use the pop-up elements as visual cues to aid in the retelling.

• Create Your Own Pop-Up
  • What it is: Together, create a simple pop-up page based on the child's favorite scene from the book.
  • How it helps: Encourages creativity and reinforces story understanding.
  • Tips: Use basic materials like paper, scissors, and glue for easy setup and clean-up.

These exercises are not just about reading; they're about making reading a dynamic and interactive experience. Pop-up books offer a unique opportunity to blend visual stimulation with traditional reading elements, making them perfect for young learners. So, grab a pop-up book and let these exercises turn reading time into an adventure!