Travel-Friendly Activity Books To Keep Kids Busy
Any parent who’s traveled with young children knows that wherever you’re going, the right activity book can buy you precious screen-free quiet time. These travel-friendly activity books are compact and appealing, and they require nothing but a writing utensil and a curious kiddo. Bon voyage!
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Add to BookshelfWishy Washy (Water Reveal Edition)
by Tabitha Paige, M.S., CCC-SLP
Water reveal books are a travel win-win: All the fun of painting with no wet mess! Simply fill the water pen with a bit of water and let little ones “paint” the black-and-white pages to reveal vibrant colors. Once the pictures dry and the colors fade, repeat the process!
Ages 3-5
Add to BookshelfSpiral Bound
$17.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Little Foodies Reusable Sticker Play Set
by Blue Star Press
Let kids play with their food long before you stop for lunch! Reusable fast-food-themed stickers, inspired by Whataburger, peel and stick again and again. The fold-out glossy play scenes encourage independent play or support storytelling with a travel buddy.
Ages 3-5
Add to BookshelfSticker Book
$12.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Bluey: Super Stickers
by Penguin Young Readers Licenses
The only thing better than a Bluey book is adding a selection of over 400 stickers that little hands can easily peel and press. The pages are based on favorite episodes, so they’ll engage little fans with no stress and no mess — the best way to travel!
Ages 3-5
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$12.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Ocean: A Peek-Through Activity Book: With over 200 stickers
by Britta Teckentrup
The titles in the gorgeous Peek-Through Picture Book nonfiction series now have activity book companions! This aquatic option is perfect for packing on a beach vacation. With mazes, puzzles, stickers, and coloring pages, little travelers will have many fun choices.
Ages 3-7
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$12.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Silly Sticker Stories: Travel
created by Highlights
A sticker book that celebrates travel is just the ticket for a fun trip. Kids can solve a whopping 28 Hidden Pictures puzzles, and then use stickers to fill in the blanks of silly stories. The illustrations are filled with amusing animal tourists that will keep everyone laughing.
Ages 6-9
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Color-In Stickers and Puzzles! Silly Snackimals
created by Highlights
The Highlights Fun to Go series wins top points for travel-friendliness. Skip the pencil case and other art supplies; this small pad includes a crayon with six different colors. It also has stickers and coloring sheets with funny snack-animal creatures. Kids will be so busy decorating “avo-cat-os” and “pug-tatoes,” they won’t even think to ask, “Are we there yet?”
Ages 6-9
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$7.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Crazy Codes
created by Highlights
All the titles in the Highlights Puzzle Pads series are perfect for slipping into a travel backpack. This book of code puzzles entices kids to solve a variety of cryptic messages. They’ll be so intent on cracking each code that the travel hours will fly by.
Ages 6-9
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$5.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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YOU Decide YOUR Adventure
by Bear Grylls
Kids and nostalgic adults will love the fast-paced decision-making in this choose-your-adventure wilderness survival title. If you make different choices, the story changes. It’s like packing one book but bringing ten!
Ages 7-9
Add to BookshelfHardcover
$19.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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All-American Mad Libs
by Mickie Matheis and Mad Libs
There’s no better road-trip activity than a Mad Libs book, and this patriotic edition salutes the nation’s 250th birthday. Kids can create hilarious stories by asking their travel-mates to supply nouns, verbs, and other words to fill in the blanks. Or, they can complete the stories on their own. Each slim Mad Libs book provides hours of entertainment.
Ages 8-12
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$6.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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The Ultimate Maze Challenge!
by Zeitgeist
There’s nothing more satisfying than finding your way through a tricky maze. This collection of mazes progresses from simple to extra-tough. Experienced maze-navigators can test themselves with timed pages, pattern challenges, and number puzzles.
Ages 8-12
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$11.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Cool Crosswords for Kids
by Sam Bellotto Jr.
Introduce elementary school kids to the classic travel boredom-buster: The crossword puzzle. These puzzles are organized around themes that relate to kids’ experiences. The clues are tricky enough to make them think, but still feel solvable.
Ages 8-12
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$5.99Buy from Other Retailers:
