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Best Interactive Books for Kids of 2023

Updated
These books will help you form a bond with your child while educating them.

Reading is a critical skill, but it can also be incredibly fun for children to do — if they are engaged in the right way.

So, if you want your child to learn how to read, how do you know which books are going to teach them efficiently while also keeping them entertained?

Our list of the best interactive books for kids will help you find some winners.

Our Top Picks

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Image
Model
Product Comparison Table
Features

Product Image of the Press Here
Best for Pure Imagination
Press Here
  • Encourages imagination
  • Creative & hands-on play
  • Suitable for preschoolers
Product Image of the Look Inside Our World
Best for Higher Education
Look Inside Our World
  • Lift-the-flap book
  • Teaches geology & geography
  • Simple descriptions
Product Image of the Alphabet
Best for Language Education
Alphabet
  • Demonstrate action words
  • Twenty-three textures
  • Full-color alphabet poster
Product Image of the The Big Sticker Book of Birds
Best for Animal Lovers
The Big Sticker Book of Birds
  • Sticker activity book
  • Teaches ornithology
  • Has games & puzzles
Product Image of the Narnia Coloring Book
Best for Little Artists
Narnia Coloring Book
  • Includes story books
  • Filled with detailed maps
  • Suitable for older kids
Product Image of the How Are You Feeling Today?
Helps Kids Express Feelings
How Are You Feeling Today?
  • Fun coloring book
  • Teaches about emotions
  • Healthy coping strategies
Product Image of the The Book With No Pictures
Best for Reading Skills
The Book With No Pictures
  • Funny read-aloud book
  • Inspire laughs & conversations
  • Kid-friendly comedy
Product Image of the Open Very Carefully
Best for Parents
Open Very Carefully
  • Playful illustrations
  • Exciting & engaging story
  • Promotes thinking
Product Image of the Gallop!
Best of (Non-Computer) Tech
Gallop!
  • Fascinating animation
  • Promotes mental stimulation
  • Rhythmic text
Product Image of the VTech Baby Nursery Rhymes Book
Best for Babies
VTech Baby Nursery Rhymes Book
  • Fun sound effects
  • Light up buttons
  • Promotes early reading

Review Methodology: At Mom Loves Best, we utilize hands-on experience, rigorous research, and professional assessments to provide you with the most reliable information about the best interactive books. We compare, analyze, and rank each book based on key decision-making factors such as educational value, engagement level, design choices, and durability. Our evaluation incorporates first-hand evidence and quantitative measurements to give you a clear understanding of each book’s performance. With our careful examination, we strive to help you identify that one book which stands apart from its competitors, meeting your child’s reading needs perfectly. Trust our findings as we aim to guide you towards an interactive reading experience that your child will love.



The Best Interactive Kids Books of 2023

Here are 15 entertaining and educational interactive books for kids.

Press Here

Best for Pure Imagination

Press Here by Herve Tullet is a wonderful book. It invites children to press the yellow blob on the cover, then turn the page and see what happens.

Children touch, blow, or shake the blobs within, and then flip the page over to see how they have changed.

It’s a print book — it’s no technological marvel and doesn’t have bells and whistles. It’s an incredibly simple idea, developed into something brilliant.

It’s interactive, great for groups, and teaches children about cause and effect. Even adults will find themselves immersed.

Community Feedback

As a parent, I found this book to be a delightful and interactive read-aloud experience for young kids. My child was captivated by the simple illustrations and the feeling of magic as they followed the directions, such as touching the dots and shaking the book. This book not only sparked laughter and joy but also encouraged my child to develop an interest in reading. I've noticed that this book has a similar effect on other children as well, making it a great gift for new parents. While it might be a bit too long for very young toddlers, it remains a fun and engaging book that fosters imagination and a love for reading in children.

Look Inside Our World

Best for Higher Education Made Simple

Our world is a beautiful yet complex place. If your knowledge is a little lacking (I admit I’ve forgotten some lessons from school), or you have trouble explaining geographical concepts to your small child, this book can help.

Look Inside Our World breaks down what our planet is and how it’s formed. It uses beautiful illustrations and flaps for interactivity in a way that children can understand and enjoy.

The publisher, Usborne, also offers interactive books for topics such as space, the human body, and seas and oceans. You can pick and choose the subjects you want your child to learn.

Community Feedback

I'm thrilled with this educational book from the Usborne company, as it has become one of my kids' top picks in our homeschool collection. The flaps and illustrations make it engaging for my little ones, who are learning so much from it. However, I must mention that some of the flaps can be delicate, as one came off and needed to be taped back. This book is suitable for children as young as 2, depending on their level of curiosity, and can hold their interest for a number of years. My 4-year-old adores it and proudly shows it off to visitors.

Alphabet

Best for Early Language Education

This multi-concept book by Matthew Van Fleet uses an astounding range of interactive experiences (flaps, tabs, scratch-and-sniff, and more) to teach children words.

Alphabet is excellent for preschool kids, as it helps them learn about opposites, synonyms, action words, and other critical language for their future education. It’s also fun and colorful, so children won’t feel like they’re learning.

Community Feedback

Great interactive book for young children, as it not only teaches the alphabet but also introduces various animals, some of which are lesser-known. This book provides a variety of textures, colors, and moveable panels that engage little hands and keep them entertained for hours. The included alphabet poster adds an extra layer of learning and fun.

The Big Sticker Book of Birds

Best for Animal Lovers

All the kids I know love stickers. And I’m sure parents will love these stickers that teach their child about ornithology.

Showcasing many of our beautiful and unusual feathered friends, The Big Sticker Book of Birds is an activity book that is educational too.

It doesn’t end with stickers either. The book also has games and puzzles for you and your child to enjoy together.

The author, Yuval Zommer, has created sticker books for other animal groups too, including insects and ocean creatures. So, if birds aren’t your child’s favorite animals, you have other options.

Community Feedback

I recently gifted this book to my young bird-loving grandchildren, and they absolutely adore it. The illustrations have accurate coloring, but some of the birds are depicted with a peculiar feature - two eyes on the side of their head, which I found bizarre. Nonetheless, this book has been a delightful and educational addition for my grandkids to explore their passion for birding.

The Chronicles of Narnia Coloring Book

Best for Little Artists

Have you read The Chronicles of Narnia yourself and would love to share the story with your child? Do you want your child to step into the world of fantasy? Or do you simply want to improve your child’s reading through a story that has proved enthralling and enduring?

The Chronicles of Narnia Coloring Book uses classic illustrations from the seven Narnia stories to draw your child into a stunning fantasy realm.

While they color — an activity most children love — you can read the story along with them. Help your child develop a passion for both art and reading with this attractive coloring book.

Community Feedback

This Chronicles of Narnia coloring book provides a creative and nostalgic way to engage with the beloved stories. The designs are based on Pauline Baynes' original illustrations, giving a charming vintage feel, but some may find the shading and crosshatching challenging for traditional coloring methods. The paper is heavyweight and prevents colors from bleeding through, making it suitable for various coloring mediums. While some users may be disappointed with the repetitive designs and lack of variety, it is a fun addition for Narnia fans who enjoy coloring and reminiscing about their favorite stories.

How Are You Feeling Today?

Best for Helping Kids Express Feelings

This is potentially a book of great significance. There may be times when you feel like you don’t understand your child, or your child doesn’t know how to express how they feel. That’s what this book is for.

How Are You Feeling Today? by Molly Potter is aimed at helping children cope with their emotions. But it’s disguised as another fun and colorful book on your shelf.

In the book, your child finds the emotion they are feeling, and then they can discuss it with you and express what they are going through.

Community Feedback

I'm impressed with this book's ability to help kids identify, discuss, and process their emotions in a healthy manner. Reading it together with my child has been an enjoyable experience, and they often request to read it repeatedly. This book serves as an excellent resource for parents and fits well within the SPHE/PSHE curriculum. The engaging content and illustrations make it a valuable tool for starting conversations about emotions and coping strategies.

The Book With No Pictures

Best for Reading Skills

It sounds bizarre for a children’s book, but this book has no pictures.

So, how could it possibly hold a child’s attention? Well, the idea is that you have to say what is written on the page out loud. A lot of it is quite silly — words like BLURF.

Children will not only want you to read it so they can hear you say funny words, but they will undoubtedly want to read it themselves.

Community Feedback

This book provides a fun and engaging reading experience for children, especially between the ages of 2 and 8. My kids and I enjoyed the hilarious moments and inside jokes, as I read the book to them with funny voices and sound effects. They found it entertaining and asked me to read it again, with my youngest still loving it at age 6. The key to making this book a hit with young children is to fully embrace the silliness and let loose while reading it aloud.

Open Very Carefully

Best for Parents Who Need a Little Guidance

Nick Bromley and Nicola O’Byrne have delivered a book with a bite. If you’re not sure how to make a book exciting for your kids, then this is the one for you. It pretty much guides you the whole way.

This was a regular old storybook until a crocodile got inside and started wreaking havoc. Children will love the unexpected twists and turns, and the overall chaos of the story as the crocodile chomps down on letters and sentences, trying to make his escape.

This book was the winner of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2014.

Community Feedback

I recently shared this interactive book with my 4-year-old grandson, and it quickly became a favorite. The story is engaging and filled with anticipation as we try to help the crocodile escape from the pages. Shaking and tilting the book as directed added a fun, hands-on element that kept him excited and interested. Although the book's ending could have been stronger, the overall experience was delightful. One word of caution: the crocodile escape hole might need reinforcement, as little fingers tend to explore it quite a bit.

Gallop!

Best of (Non-Computer) Technology

Have you heard of scanimation? It involves a form of optical illusion used to trick the eye into seeing movement.

Gallop! by Rufus Seder takes full advantage of this technique to create a book of motion for your kids to enjoy.

You get the cool effect of seeing animals appear to move as you turn the page. And children may well want to jump up and copy the way the animals move for themselves, which is sure to entertain the entire family.

If you have a baby who’s too small to jump around, they’ll still benefit from the mental stimulation of these “moving” images.

Community Feedback

Excellent, this book has captivated not only my young grandchildren but also their parents and myself. The scanimation truly brings the illustrations to life, engaging the children with the moving images. This book, along with its counterparts "Waddle" and "Swing," is constructed from durable, glossy board material, making it perfect for little hands and easy to clean. Its simple text and large, easy-to-read font make it ideal for beginner readers or those just starting to recognize letters and words.

VTech Baby Nursery Rhymes Book

Best for Babies

We’re going quite a bit younger here — so young that we’re not yet considering reading skills at all. But it’s nice to include something for the littlest of little ones.

Vtech Nursery Rhymes Book pretty much explains itself — but it’s enhanced with lights, sounds, and music to make itself extra appealing to babies. It’s also colorful and full of pretty pictures for your baby’s eyes.

This book will help your baby develop language and dexterity skills.

Community Feedback

This book has been a delightful addition to our collection, as my 18-month-old granddaughter thoroughly enjoys it. It's heartwarming to hear her sing along with the content, and it's clear that she's engaged and entertained. The quality of the book is impressive, making it durable enough for a toddler's enthusiastic hands. It's not only fun, but also educational, which is a bonus for both parents and grandparents.

Unicorn Handwriting Practice

Best for Pink and Pretty Lovers

Unicorns have made quite the comeback in recent years, as those glittery unicorn drinks and muffins from Starbucks tell us. Odds are, you have a child at home who would love this book right from the cover.

Unicorn Handwriting Practice by Little Learner Workbooks teaches your child how to write their ABCs, including upper and lowercase — helping your child to achieve the right letter formation.

Writing is excellent for hand-eye coordination and helps with the pen control skills that your child will need for school.

Pretty, pink, and educational — have fun scribbling away.

Community Feedback

These unicorn-themed handwriting practice books are not only durable and thick, but they also serve as a fun and engaging tool for children learning to write. Each page contains an abundance of practice lines with dotted letters, allowing kids to trace letters line by line. My granddaughter, who is just 3 years old, absolutely adores this book and has made significant progress in her writing skills. The charming illustrations of unicorns and happy faces provide a cheerful atmosphere, motivating young learners to complete their practice before coloring the pictures. Some users may find the inclusion of "Y is for Yoga" a bit odd, but overall, the book maintains simplicity and a clean design. If your child needs to work on their handwriting and has a love for unicorns, this book is a fantastic choice.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Best of Basics

Let’s start with a classic, a children’s book by Eric Carle. It’s based on such a simple idea that I’m sure children’s authors around the world are kicking themselves for not having come up with it. It’s the story of a little caterpillar who eats and eats until he can’t eat anymore.

Published in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a picture book with some basic interactive elements. Children can put their fingers through the holes in the food the caterpillar has eaten. It may seem simple, but there’s a reason this book has sold over 50 million copies (1).

Community Feedback

I've enjoyed sharing this classic children's book with my little ones, thanks to its bright illustrations and board book format that's perfect for small hands. As a speech therapist, I can attest to the educational value of the engaging storyline, which has become a staple in our daily reading sessions. This book has been a favorite for baby shower gifts and even inspired me to pair it with a Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt. What sets it apart is the captivating artwork that keeps kids hooked and excited to turn each page. Reading this book has become a cherished bonding activity in our family, fostering a love for literature in our children.

The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook

Best for Fantasy-Loving Kids

They have selected your child. They have an egg, and an invitation to become a Dragon Keeper. Who wouldn’t want a dragon?

So, what now?

Well, they have to learn how to take care of their new baby dragon. That’s where The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook by Kate Haworth and Monica Armino comes in.

This book brings together various interactive components to offer a lovely humorous book that should hold the attention of your child. If you happen to be a bit of a fantasy geek yourself, you may like that the author has packed in plenty of references to real-life dragon mythology.

Community Feedback

This interactive and humorous book, The Dragon Keeper's Handbook by Kate Haworth and Monica Armino, truly captivated my child's attention. As a parent, I appreciated the numerous references to real-life dragon mythology, which added an extra layer of excitement for me too. My child enjoyed learning how to care for their new baby dragon, which the book cleverly guides them through. The combination of engaging content and hands-on activities made this an enjoyable read for both of us.

Can You Make a Scary Face?

Best for Silly Fun

If you want your kids to get a little wiggly and show off their drama skills, Can You Make a Scary Face? might be a great pick for you.

Jan Thomas’s picture book features a demanding ladybug who will instruct your child to do things such as make scary faces, dance, laugh, or jump.

This is an entertaining book for multiple children or classrooms. It will get them to burn up a bit of their extra energy. Simple, yet super exciting for kids, grab this book when you just want to have some silly fun and do a little physical activity.

Community Feedback

I recently came across this interactive book for preschoolers and couldn't resist sharing my experience. The bold, bright illustrations immediately caught my attention, and the engaging content had my young ones excited to follow along with the silly instructions. Although it doesn't focus on teaching morals, it definitely succeeds in entertaining and connecting with kids. As a former children's librarian, I can attest to the book's success during group readings, but it may not be the best fit for quiet library settings or bedtime routines. Despite some minor setbacks, this book provides a unique, fun experience that encourages kids to use their imagination and actively participate in the story.

The Yellow Balloon

Best Just for the Pictures

We’re going light on the reading again — this book by Charlotte Dematons has no words. Instead, it has beautiful watercolor images depicting a range of time-periods and a touch of fantasy, too.

Child and parent follow a yellow balloon through the book as it navigates through different countries and eras. The pictures are incredibly detailed, and you can spot a million little stories within them.

This is a super book for stimulating your child’s imagination, as you can easily invent your own stories together by looking at what is happening in the pictures.

Community Feedback

I recently picked up this beautifully illustrated book and found it to be an excellent gift for young children. The highly detailed paintings tell stories without words, sparking creativity and discovery in both kids and adults alike. My own child loves pointing out different elements, like the yellow balloon, which has been a great way to teach them about the world. The open-ended nature of the book allows for endless storytelling and exploration, making it enjoyable for all ages.

Why Interactive Books Are Best for Children

Today, children spend lots of time with technology and watching TV.

Youngsters staring at screens for hours a day is something that concerns many adults. Expert research says this screen time may be damaging to a young child’s development (2).

Technology has also become a popular device for parents as an occupier of children’s attention, a sort of one-eyed babysitter.

Many pre-tech adults have fond memories of their parents reading to them as kids. Reading together creates a strong bond between parent and child (3). And interactive books can be even better.

What Is Interactive Book Reading?

Interactive books involve touching, lifting flaps, listening to sounds, or searching for things, which helps teach pre-reading skills.

They develop a child’s imagination and creativity, improve critical thinking and, vitally for many parents, hold a child’s attention better than traditional books.

Benefits of Interactive Reading Books

Setting aside the educational element just for a moment, using interactive books can enhance the pure pleasure of reading.

Reading is fun — it transports us to other worlds, helps us to relax, and shuts out the noise around us. Don’t you want your children to experience the joy of books?

Build this positive association early, and they will.

If you want your child to learn critical reading skills while boosting their overall brain power — interactive books are the way to go.


The Final Chapter

All of these books are well-reviewed and popular. Whether your child is shy, adventurous, loves fantasy, likes to sit still, or prefers to jump around, there’s at least one book on this list that will hook them.

Remember, reading is an essential skill in our modern world. You can help your child by teaching them in a fun way that also strengthens other skills such as their creativity, imagination, or hand-eye coordination.

So, put away the tablet and turn off the TV. Allocate some time each day to sit down with your child and read. You can start by giving some of these books a try.

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Headshot of Shannon Serpette

Edited by

Shannon Serpette

Shannon Serpette is an award-winning writer and editor, who regularly contributes to various newspapers, magazines, and websites. Shannon has been featured on Insider, Fatherly, SheKnows, and other high profile publications. As a mother of two, she loves to write about parenting issues and is dedicated to educating other parents at every stage of their child's development.