25 Interactive Books for Hands-On Reading

Vanessa M.:  The Monster at the End of This Book (starring lovable, furry Grover) is a classic, funny book that will have your kids giggling and asking to read again. Grover learns that there is a monster at the end of the book, and is so afraid he begs readers NOT TO TURN THE PAGE! Of course, kids love defying Grover's instructions and the silly, surprise ending never gets old.

Hannah Scott:  One of my biggest issues with textured board books is the lack of variety from page to page. The Touchy-Feely books by Usborne do not have that problem! In this story, each puppy is "not mine" because the texture is off -- "too hairy," "too fluffy," "too shaggy," etc. This board book is also exceptionally high-quality with super thick pages that are resistant to any bending. Win!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Press Here by Herve Tullet is a simple but masterful and well-loved interactive children's book. Tullet's use of colored dots take children on a journey where the dots change from page to page, beginning with one small yellow dot until there are very large dots overflowing off the page.

Kids will love how they cause dots to increase in numbers, become bigger, change sequence, move around the page and more all with the press of a finger, tilting of the book and other imaginative ways of interaction. Not only will kids have fun, they will learn colors, patterns and sizes.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  For young children, Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt is an ideal introduction to interactive books because children learn to copy actions that are done in the book by two young children. It allows babies and toddlers to feel the softness of a bunny, play peek-a-boo, pretend to smell flowers, feel a scratchy beard, read a mini book about bunnies and even wave goodbye.

This simple yet educational book is perfect for little hands with growing minds for exploration, sensory development, mimicking the actions of others and development of language and word meanings.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet is a colorful book that simulates paints, the mixing of colors to create new colors, interactively combining colors, tapping on dots and shifting the book to create new and wonderful (and sometimes fun, messy looking) masterpieces.

This book teaches children the effect colors have on one another, how combining two individual colors can create a brand new color and counting. It teaches that art is subjective and creative and there is no right or wrong. Tip: Try out color combining with real paints after you read so kids can explore on their own.

Vanessa M.:  Where's Spot? by Eric Hill is a classic interactive book for babies and toddlers that is a favorite in our family! The lift-the-flap pages keep tiny readers interested and interacting with the story as Spot's Mom, Sally, looks for Spot. "Is he behind the door?" Sally asks. Little ones will be surprised to find a big brown bear eating honey behind the door! Keep looking, you're sure to find Spot!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  What happens when you push the button? You'll find out in Bill Cotter's funny, interactive book about Larry, a monster who changes colors, designs and multiplies when the button is pressed. The monster is even prone to tickling!

This book will entertain children as they laugh at the number of monsters they can create and colors they can change, all with the tap of the red button!

Hannah Scott:  Help a hungry mouse on his quest to find some food around the house (while avoiding Mr. and Mrs. B and the cat!) in this book by Richard Fowler. The mouse is included with the book as a cardboard character, and you and your child can slip him through the slots on each page to travel to the scene on the following page. It's clever, fun, and practices hand-eye coordination with little ones. I call that a win! My 22-month-old LOVES it!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Let's Play! by Herve Tullet combines interactive silly fun for a journey of the yellow dot across the pages in all directions while playing games with the other colored dots. The dots even play hide and seek and follow straight to squiggly lines and through a dark cave with the interactive pressing of dots by the reader.

This book is great fun for children while exploring colors, movement and games. It will keep your child involved in the story from start to finish and create squeals of delight as the dots move around the pages.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  This fun, interactive book by Christie Matheson will have children changing the magic tree from season to season with each page by tapping, giving the book a gentle shake and even blowing on some Autumn leaves. The book teaches young children some of the differences the seasons offer such as apples in Fall and blooming flowers in Spring.

Tap the Magic Tree is a book that will spark curiosity about science and the seasons as well as delight kids with each flip of the page. Children will relish the changes a tree goes through seasonally and will become more aware of nature.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Incorporating owls, deer and fireflies in addition to stars and a comet, Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson will have your child tapping, saying good night, tracing stars, and waving across the page to create nighttime magic.

Your child will be mesmerized at tracing the big and little dipper, lighting up a firefly, patting a deer goodnight and watching a comet soar through the night sky. This book is not only interactive, but an ideal bedtime story. The story even gets quiet at the end with the nighttime sky and your child just may close his or her eyes too.

This interactive book by Christie Matheson will have kids clapping for sunshine, tapping for rain, searching for worms and snails all with the goal of making a seed grow into a flower. The book demonstrates the beauty of nature with flowers, birds, bees and butterflies.

Plant the Tiny Seed not only teaches children how seeds grow into flowers and plants with water and sunlight, but it lets children explore counting and colors as well. Tip: there is a ladybug on each page that your child can find hiding in different spots.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Say Zoop! by Herve Tullet engages children with sounds, both loud and soft, as related to size and colors of dots. It will give your child free reign to be imaginative to create their own unique sounds and interpret musical pitches and rhythms based on how the dots are drawn on the page. Tullet guides the reader with sound suggestions, however, the child can interact with the story on their own without losing the page to page illustrations.

This book teaches young children to be creative and allows them the opportunity to be involved on their own, as well as the contrast of sounds.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  In This book just ate my dog! by Richard Byrne, Bella's dog and her friend Ben get trapped in the book and need the reader's help to save them. Kids get involved by shaking the book so the dog and Ben come back and everyone is together again.

This book is entertaining with funny illustrations and kids will interact with the story to help Bella get her dog and Ben back. Kids will walk away with a satisfied feeling that they helped complete the story.

Kristy Pepping:  Red Lace, Yellow Lace was recommended to me by my daughter's soon-to-be elementary school. She will be starting kindergarten next year and one of the skills her future teacher would like her to have over the summer is tying her own shoes. This book is great! We just read it last night and it comes with easy step-by-step instructions for tying shoes. Plus since the laces are color-coded, it makes it easier for little minds to understand the process. I think my daughter will easily pick up this skill with this book!