From flip-up flaps and pop-up windows to textures and sounds, there’s an endless variety of interactive books to engage curious little readers.
However, these stories aren’t just novelties. By encouraging your child to touch and explore the pages, you’re boosting their independence, hand-eye coordination, and understanding of cause and effect.
You are reading: Interactive books for babies
These books are not only designed to be poked and prodded, but they also lend themselves very well to repeated reading (a hobby of any young child) because your little one’s level of engagement grows over time.
Your heart will swell with pride to see your little one finally lift a flap or press the button you once had to activate yourself.
1. I Thought I Saw A Lion! by Lydia Nichols. £5.99 (board book), Templar
every child loves hide-and-seek, and in this elegant but silly book, they’ll hunt down a cunning lion lurking around town.
are you in the library? maybe he’s in the costume shop? or at the hairdresser? simply press and pull the easy-to-operate sliders for comical reveals of the cheeky big cat hiding under the hair dryer or trying on a period costume.
Illustrations by Lydia Nichols, whose doodles regularly appear on Google, are absolutely terrific, so much so that you’ll want to invest in the many other editions as well. buy on amazon
2. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill. £6.99 (board book), Puffin
The story that introduced generations of children to the place of mischievous puppies is a classic so classic it’s often forgotten how groundbreaking it was in 1980. Creator Eric Hill fought to get this first flap-up book published. , but once it did, it was an instant bestseller.
Your child will be desperate to help Spot’s mother, Sally, search for him at tea time, searching under rugs, inside grandfather clocks and behind doors, to encounter a variety of animals. which are normally seen in the zoo. it’s a great way to introduce the concept of locations and positions as well, not to mention a lot of fun. buy on amazon
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3. Are You There Little Tiger? by Sam Taplin, illustrated by Essi Kimpimaki. £5.99 (board book), Usborne
Search and explore the jungle as you hunt for the tiger cub, which is hidden within this book from Usborne’s Little Peep Through series.
The sturdy pages contain clever cutouts that trick young readers into thinking the elusive animal is just a turn away, but each time it’s another cute creature, like a monkey, bear or chameleon.
There are textured surfaces to snag curious fingers and the holes are perfect for peeking through. Also look for elephant, unicorn and rabbit versions, plus a reindeer for Christmas. buy on amazon
4. Listen To The Farm by Marion Billet. £6.99 (board book), Nosy Crow
What this colorful book lacks in plot, it makes up for in volume. But while most noisy toys and books are very irritating, to say the least, this one avoids the annoyance by using real-life sounds.
Marion Billet’s six charming illustrations of different farm animals are accompanied by a simple line of text that invites the reader to press a sound sensor and listen to the horse neighing or the pigs playing in the mud.
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It’s easy to operate, which means your baby will soon learn how to activate the noises on their own and can be turned off if needed. there are also many other themes in the range, such as the jungle, Christmas songs and birds. buy on amazon
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5. That’s Not My Puppy by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells. £6.99 (board book), Usborne
It has been over 20 years since this first edition of this delicate book series was published and there are now over 55 titles to choose from.
Easy sensory reads with their repetitive language, bold illustrations, and thick pages make the perfect first books for babies and just as enjoyable for curious toddlers.
Be sure to look out for the little white mouse who narrates, the only character to appear in every issue (and on every page!). buy on amazon
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6. Where’s Baby Chick? by Ingela P. Arrhenius. £6.99 (board book), Nosy Crow
ingela p. the arrhenius cache range where? the books are a stroke of genius: artwork as colorful as a pack of mini eggs paired with a cast of cute characters, all hidden behind tactile (and virtually indestructible) felt flaps.
And after finding chicks, bunnies, lambs, and kittens in this spring-themed version, there’s a sweet surprise at the end. No, it’s not a chocolate egg, it’s a mirror so your child can play hide-and-seek with himself. buy on amazon
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7. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. £6.99 (board books), Macmillan
There are lots of laughs and surprises with this fantastic 80s flip-open book, one of the originals of the genre.
rod campbell cleverly uses the flaps as drawers and boxes, revealing an array of weird and wonderful animals from the zoo in an attempt to find the perfect pet.
Both children have been excited to read this as babies, becoming enthusiastic box openers as their motor skills have developed. a classic that every shelf needs. buy on amazon
what we’re reading: dear zoo by rod campbell
8. Don’t Tickle The Hippo. £12.99 (board books), Usborne
This tactile sound book combines the joys of usborne, not my series, with lots of fun animal noises, as your child makes parrots squawk and bears growl by touching their fur and feathers.
It’s been a huge success for both the baby bookworm and her little brother, and it’s a real treat to watch them enjoy the story together at bedtime. a perfect gift for babies and preschoolers and the range already has a couple more titles to choose from. buy on amazon
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9. Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, What Can You See? by Jo Lodge. £6.99 (board book), Campbell
This clever slider book features a tiny fly traveling through the pages, buzzing past different animals until it reaches a sticky end.
The text is a soft rhyme that is cleverly educational, referring to the different senses that are combined with an equivalent sliding action.
Your child will have a blast wiggling the cat’s eyes and wiggling the donkey’s ears (especially since the slide-in holes are nice and chunky), and he’ll let out an evil laugh when the fox bites his mouth! buy on amazon
10. Let’s Eat by Jane Foster. £9.99 (board book), Templar
This interactive version of textile designer Jane Foster’s brilliant first concept books is a delight. let’s eat combines its bold Scandinavian and 1960s-influenced illustrations with clever interactive elements.
There are flaps to lift, wheels to turn, and sliders to push, as the book takes your child through the day’s different meals.
Our copy is devoured with delight by the baby bookworm, who loves buttering toast, peeling the banana and pouring milk. bonus points for healthy food choices too! buy on amazon
our full review of let’s eat! by jane foster
11. Poppy and Sam and the Bunny by Sam Taplin. £7.99 (board book), Usborne
Residents of Apple Tree Farm, Poppy and Sam are like Alice in Wonderland in this adventure, following the trail of a mysterious bunny that hops through a field of sheep one morning.
Babies will love this interactive board book, with an opening bunny finger puppet that you can manipulate to eat the carrots, sneeze on the flowers, and snuggle with his family at the end.
There are also lots of educational elements, like a yellow duck to see on each page and animal noises to imitate. buy on amazon
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12. Bizzy Bear: Deepsea Diver by Benji Davies. £5.99 (board book), Nosy Crow
Grab your wetsuit and jump aboard the submarine with Bizzy Bear for an underwater adventure. In this simple story from bestselling author Benji Davies, our captain and his animal crew sail through schools of fish, past hair-raising shipwrecks, and come across a giant clam full of treasure.
It all comes to life with push and pull sliders, making your child a part of the events and rewarding them with some exciting surprises. they will also love to join the catchy and repetitive text. buy on amazon
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