Win it! Get a DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book! Find out how to enter at the end of this post!
To qualify for Breezy Mama’s pick of top activity books, there was a rigorous review process that, at the very least, had to comply with the following regulations:
1. Did my kids approve?
2. Did it keep their attention long enough for me to get through email AND Facebook?
And perhaps most grueling of all…
3. Did it make them forget to ask if they could watch TV?
Tough, I know, but the following list passed and you will thank me later with an email… because you will now have time to send it…
Todd Parr Create Your Own Planet! Doodle and Draw
As seen in photo at top, this book created an insta-fight between my children… perhaps that should have been #4 in my requirements…hmmm… point being, they were VERY excited about this one. There’s plenty to color in, but also “hundreds of stickers inside.” And if you have a reader, even better, but my non-reading 4 year old spent hours on this one. In fact, I just got it out to flip through it again and he asked if he could have it.
For Amazon’s price of $11.24 (vs.$14.99) – click here!
DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book
Not an activity book per se, but I no longer existed once my 2, 4 and 6 year old got a load of this fabulous find! The details within this masterpiece are all consuming from the actual shining Bat Signal –a.k.a. Batman’s cry for help — to the pop-ups within pop-ups. The genius that is creator Matthew Reinhart is my new fascination. In fact, the only time the kids would turn away was when I borrowed it for a peek.
For Amazon’s price of $26.99 (vs. $29.99) — click here!
Psst… equally captivating for all is Matt Reinhart’s Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy, complete with light sabers that glow! To check it out, click here!
Create Your Own Pop-Up Books
After your kids are inspired by Reinhart pop-ups, have them create their own! With a hard cover, stickers and markers, my budding geniuses (ahem) had a field day creating their very own masterpieces.
For Amazon’s price of $12.81 (vs. $19.95) — click here!
Doodles: A Really Giant Coloring and Doodling Book
Alex sent me this pick as a great option that keeps her son occupied. “It’s great because it makes him use his imagination,” she said. “For example it will have a drawing of a superhero and then have the child draw in what the superhero is saying. Nice, big pages for those who haven’t refined their drawing skills.” The book boasts: “Invites kids of all ages to not only color, but also draw, imagine, and create. Unfinished pictures and intriguing prompts foster children’s powers of visualization, and at nearly 400 pages, this book provides plenty of room to stretch the imagination.”
For Amazon’s price of $13.59 (vs. $19.99) — click here!
Grasshopper Preschool Prep Kit: Snip, Glue and Grow!
Alex also LOVES this option. She got to check it out at the recent ABC (Kids & Babies) trade show and DEMANDED I include it (not really, but she was very enthusiastic about it). She said it was awesome! “Children can play with Grasshopper Tongs, a bubble blower, safety scissors creating craft projects and more.”
For Amazon’s price of $29.95 — click here!
Taro Gomi’s Play All Day: More Than 100 Punch-Out Pieces!
As of “press” time, this book and the following have not yet been reviewed by my research team (a.k.a. either my kids or Alex’s), however, I couldn’t resist adding these as I am excited to check them out, er, um, have the kids check them out. Taro Gomi’s boasts: “Invites children to punch out more than 60 fantastic playthings, including ring-toss games, finger puppets, boxes, picture frames, a zoo’s worth of animals, and more! Packed with Gomi’s fun, accessible artwork and a delightful variety of games and toys, this book will appeal to children of all ages, engaging their imaginations and entertaining them all day long.”
For Amazon’s price of $13.59 (vs. $19.99) — click here!
MoMA Make Art Mistakes: An Inspired Sketchbook for Everyone
Ditto for the above, but I included this one as it says, “With eye-catching interiors and playful activities, this open-ended sketchbook encourages would-be artists of all ages to look at the world around them and take chances expressing what they see. Inspiring and colorful graphic design will unleash the artist in anyone.”
For Amazon’s price of $13.25 (vs. $16.99) — click here!
Win it! The kids and I are so obsessed, I asked the publisher if we could give a copy to YOU! To enter to win a DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book tell us in the comments a favorite activity book (or activity) that your child loves! (Pssst… want to double your chances? Tell us on Facebook, too – click here!)
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Bring out the glamor with
My son loves pretending to fly! He’s a fan of Superman & Buzz Lightyear and is always running around the house with his arms wide ‘whooshing’.
There are three things right now that keep my 4 year old busy. It must be related to Superheroes, Starwars or Legos. These items have taken over our house! If I don’t win the Superheroes Pop-Up book, I’ll probably have to go buy it myself…it’s perfect!
I recently heard from a friend of mine that her son loves Illustory. You can buy the kit, make up your own story, draw the pictures for it and send it in to have the pictures put above the story and they will make it into a real book, bound and everything! i plan to buy it for my daughter who wants to become an author!
We have the Star Wars pop-up and LOVE IT! How great it would be to complete the set with the Super Heros pop-up book too!
My 5 year old loves doing his “work” in just a plain notebook with a pen or marker. Pretty funny, but he’ll just sit there and fill it up. He also stays occupied doing the Puzzle Mania magazines and he LOVES Superheroes and all things Star Wars so it would be awesome to win the pop-up book.
My son loves to run around the house and pretend he’s flying like Superman.
My son, Jake, loves to make books. He creates a story and writes all the words “phonetically” and staples it together. They are a blast to read.
Aside from anything Legos and Star Wars, our boys love connect-the-dots and maze books. Since the pop-up book has already passed the Gladden test, I know my kids would love it!
My grandkids love anything with adventurous hero types. They love to play with their Star Wars swords. Even the 3 year old who has been influenced hugely by his older brother. No baby toys for him! But, reading is a daily ritual for all 3 grandkids. They are enthralled with books.