It’s my humble opinion that the best gift a child can receive is a book. But let’s face it, kids also want to get toys! Pairing a children’s book with a coordinating toy is a fun and often unexpected way to surprise a child. Choose a theme that appeals to your children’s interests. Do they like sleuthing? Are they interested in geography or crafts? Once you have your theme, it’s easy to find just the right book and activity to create an extra special gift.
Here are seven choices for book-toy sets, and even if they are not the right fit for your child I hope they will inspire you to look for something that fits your child’s currents passion. The gifts below are designed for children ages 5-7. (Note: Affiliate links are included below.)
Book and Toy Gift Sets for Kids
This may be my favorite book-toy combo yet. Detectives in training will enjoy Encyclopedia Brown as either a read aloud or an independent read. Equip tiny but mighty sleuths with their own Pretend & Play Super Sleuth Kit
Klutz Make Your Own Mini Erasers! and Little Red Pen. Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel’s tale of office supplies gone rogue is so funny and a true joy to read aloud. Your child will love listening to the story and then make his or her own creative erasers to act out their own office supply comedies!
Cat Crimes Logic Game and I Hate My Cats: A Love Story. If your family owns a cat they will adore this clever picture book about all the ways cats steal our hearts with their quirky ways. Cat Crimes is a wonderful single person logic game that our cat-loving household cannot get enough of. Players solve feline crimes using deduction methods reminiscent of old-school grid logic puzzles.
Potato Pants and Potato Clock. Potato Pants is a hilarious picture book that my 9 year old loved so much he read it out loud to me. Use the antics of the pants-less potato to encourage your child to engage in science and make their own clock so they can actually get up in time for school. (This book is also excellent for preschoolers. For younger kids the obvious choice is a Mr Potato Head!)
Zoey and Sassafras and a science lab activity set. Intrepid Zoey uses the scientific method to learn how to take care of magical animals in this early chapter book series. If your 5-7 year old isn’t quite ready to read independently, read the book out loud and inspire them to conduct their own scientific experiments with a fun science set.
Extra Yarn is a whimsical picture book about the magical power of knitting! No doubt kids will want to undertake their own yarn bombing project after reading it so enable their imagination with a Yarn Craft Kit.
One of my sons can not get enough of maps; he has spent many an hour studying this National Geographic Kids World Atlas. Take geography it to the next level and pair an atlas with this awesome Globe Puzzleball.
Swirl by Swirl is a fascinating and beautiful look at spirals in nature. Naturally (pun), kids will immediately want to create their own designs with the totally awesome and retro Spirograph Set. (Remember those? We have one and I love it just as much as the kids.)
If I Built a Car, a boisterous picture book written in rhyme about out-of this world design possibilities will certainly inspire your little inventor to create his or her own amazing car with a ZOOBMobile Car Designer Set.
More book themed gift guides:
Match a STEM book with a STEM toy!
Samantha @Stir the Wonder says
oooh! If I built a car! Never heard of that book before but I think my son would love it! Great list!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks, Samantha. Your son will be building fantastical cars after he reads the book.
PramgaticMom says
I really, really love these book and toy combinations!!!
maryanne @ mama smiles says
You write the best gift guides! Love these combinations!
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says
What a fun list. I love the idea of pairing a toy with a book!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks. It’s my favorite way to give a toy.
Blayne says
WHAT AN AMAZING IDEA!! 🙂 Simply brilliant. I am definitely doing this in the future. I also have to check out Extra Yarn!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you, Blayne! Extra Yarn is an awesome book.
Natalie says
Brilliant pairings! I had Encyclopedia Brown in my book list today, but now I am contemplating a kit 🙂
Ruby Zhang says
It’s such a fun way to combine reading with toys. My son has read the series of National Geography for Kids. Next time, I will give him Globe Puzzleball as a gift. Thanks for your great idea.