29 Awesome Activity Books for Kids

Are you looking for loads of fun activities for the kids that won’t cost you a bundle of cash? Check out these 29 Neat, Budget-Friendly Activity Books for Kids.

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Pencil and Paper Fun

Hidden Pictures Discovery– Good hidden picture finding fun for the younger crowd (Ages 5 and up).

Star Wars Doodles-The kiddos can add their doodles to scenes from galaxies far away (Ages 6 and up).

The Everything Kids’ Puzzle Book-Mazes, word games, hidden pictures, match up and more (Ages 7-12).

Highlights Hidden Pictures® Favorite Discovery Puzzles-The best of Highlights for Children’s hidden pictures from over the years (Ages 7-11).

National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas: Maps, Games, Activities, and More-Tons of geography goodness in one place (Ages 8-12).

Ultimate Dot to Dot: Extreme Puzzle Challenge-When a simple dot to dot will not do.  These over the top dot to dot puzzles will put the counting and connecting skills to the test (Ages 10 and up).

Science Fun
The Curious Kid’s Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-On Activities-100 plus hands on experiments with age appropriate explanations. Kids will be learning and having fun at the same time (Age 4-8).

The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book-This high school biology teacher author offers dozens of kid-tested science experiments related to biology, chemistry, outer space, and more (Ages 8-12).

Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from Around the House-Simple, fun, and inexpensive science experiments that can be done right at home (Ages 8-12).

Science Experiments You Can Eat-Fascinating and tasty! My kind of science experiments (Ages 8-12).

Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less-For those in your life with a short attention span (Ages 8-12).

The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientists-From giant air cannons to homemade lightning, the kids will be totally mesmerized. And your cool points will be through the roof (Ages 10-13).

Adventure Ahead
Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors-Work with your toddles up through preschoolers to give them creative experiments that will grow their minds.

I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature-Great suggestions for the toddler and young elementary set.

My First Book of Knots: A Beginner’s Picture Guide-Learn to tie knots that can be used for all sorts of outdoor activities including camping, fishing, and sailing (Ages 7-10).

101 Things to Do Outside: Loads of fantastically fun reasons to get up, get out, and get active!-Learn to make bark rubbings, build a hammock, plant a boot garden, send messages with flashlights, and lots of other cool stuff (Ages 8-12)

Easy Carpentry Projects for Children-15 different projects to do with wood and hand tools (Ages 8-14).

Spy Science: 40 Secret-Sleuthing, Code-Cracking, Spy-Catching Activities for Kids-Make invisible ink, spy sunglasses, secret alarms, and so much more! (Ages 9-12).

Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up-So many good things to keep them entertained in the great outdoors (Ages 9-13).

Arts and Crafts Amazing 

Art Lab for Little Kids: 52 Playful Projects for Preschoolers-Great art projects geared for the 4-6 year old set.

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make-Young crafters can make blankets, dolls, pillows, and much more (Ages 5 and up).

Star Wars Origami: 36 Amazing Paper-folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away-Nothing like a little intergalactic crafting fun to make the day go well (Ages 5-18).

Zentangle for Kids-Help your budding artists create beautiful pictures and creations that they can turn into gifts (Ages 7 and up).

How to Make a Movie in 10 Easy Lessons: Learn how to write, direct, and edit your own film without a Hollywood budget-Use a cellphone or tablet camera to shoot and then go through the steps of the movie production process (Ages 8-14).

Cooking Crazy 

Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat!)-Let the kids get some experience in the kitchen while having lots of fun. Mashed potato clouds anyone? (Ages 6-12)

Cook It in a Cup!: Quick Meals and Treats Kids Can Cook in Silicone Cups-Includes 29 healthy recipes that can be cooked in baking cups (Ages 6-14).

The International Cookbook for Kids-60 recipes that kids can cook from around the world (Ages 12-17).

Gardening Goodness

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children-Plant a theme garden together with your kids and enjoy watching it grow all season long (Ages 4-10).

Gardening Projects for Kids: Fantastic ideas for making things, growing plants and flowers, and attracting wildlife to the garden-The title pretty much sums it up. Filled with fun activities (Ages 8-12).

For more kids’ fun:

12 Cheap Fizzing, Popping, and Erupting Kids’ Science Experiments

14 Plus Ideas for Cheap Sidewalk Fun 

9 Mesmerizing Glow in the Dark Activities