When you want to keep your kids busy, these puzzle books filled with mazes, brain teasers, stickers and other activities are exactly what you need!
Puzzle books and activities keep the kids busy on the road, in the air, and during all those in between waiting times that crop up when you least expect it. You can always play some of these screen-free games for the car, or listen to one of the choices on my list of the best audiobooks for family road trips, but when you need some quiet time, these best books puzzles are your best bet.
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The best part is that no matter what your child's age or interest, there is a puzzle or activity book to suit their interest. So whether it's word searches, logic puzzles and brain teasers, math games or mazes, or that all important sticker album, check out some of our best puzzle book recommendations below!
Table of contents
Preschool Puzzle and Activity Books
These activity book choices are perfect to keep kids ages 3-5 busy while on the go. For more fun, check out the preschool selections on my list of Seek and Find Books for Kids.
First 100 Sticker Books (Series)
Preschoolers love stickers. There are a ton of these types of sticker books and they come so many different themes you can always find a book to suit your child's current obsession, from animals, to trucks to everything in between.
Best Hidden Pictures Puzzles EVER (Highlights Hidden Pictures)
You can't go wrong with Highlights!! The classic hidden picture puzzles are fascinating for preschoolers and the types of seek and find puzzles is a bit mind-boggling, to be honest. You may not even realize all the learning that is taking place: observation skills and attention to detail, plus building self-confidence when each puzzle is completed. Bonus: there are a zillion themed books to choose from.
Ages 6 and Up
I tried to find activity and puzzle books for lower elementary aged kids that don't require advanced reading skills, so choose according to your child's comfort level.
National Geographic Sticker Books (series from National Geographic Kids)
Who says big kids don't like stickers? The best thing about these books is that your kids can avoid the summer slide, learn a few new facts as well as indulge their need to place tiny bits of sticky paper on illustrated pages. National Geographic sticker books come in lots of themes, including oceans, space and dinosaurs, to name just a few.
Extreme Dot to Dots
Find it: Amazon
When he was younger, my oldest child loved these so much! And I even did them myself when I needed a little down time. They even come in sticker form, which are actually great for 5 and 6 year olds, and 3-D versions!
Super Mazes in Space by Loic Mehee
Find it: Amazon
I like this one because it is different from other maze books in that it both incorporates a story and is three-dimensional. I love the creative use of lift-the-flaps, cutouts, spinners and more interactive features that kids use to move through the mazes as they read the book. Great fun!
Need more help for a road trip? Try these waiting games that will keep your kids off screens!
Ages 8 and Up
Mid-upper elementary school-aged children and tweens will love the challenges that these puzzle books present to them!
Spy School Entrance Exam: A Spy School Book of Devious Word Searches, Clever Crosswords, Sly Sudoku, and Other Top Secret Puzzles! by Jeff Chen, based on the books by Stuart Gibbs
Do your kids love the Spy School series? Then they will adore this book of puzzles designed to get them ready to enroll. Clever and witty narratives are interspersed with the puzzles.
Mad Libs (series)
You knew I was going to suggest these, didn't you? After all, I have professed my obsession for this hilarious literacy enhancing game many, many times. Mad Libs have been our loyal dinner companion, travel partners and all-around general boredom buster these many years. The best part is that themed Mad Libs abound! Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, holiday, extra-Goofy, dogs, mad scientists, and MORE!
The Everything Kids' Puzzle Book: Mazes, Word Games, Puzzles & More! Hours of Fun! by Jennifer A Ericsson and Beth L. Blair
Like the title says, this book has everything. It's a great puzzle book choice for kids who like a huge variety of puzzles, and perfect for a long airplane ride or to take on a vacation when you know there will be a lot of down time for the kids to get antsy.
Perplexors Logic Puzzle Books (series from Mindware)
Find it: Amazon
My oldest son loved, loved, loved these workbooks when he was younger. They weren't the biggest hit with my youngest, who's not always keen on logic-focused work but I highly recommend them for kids to build their thinking skills. If your kid enjoys puzzles they will love these books–and grown-ups will, too! The narrative logic puzzles come in several different levels as well as grid puzzles that require math skills.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: A Puzzle Adventure by Aleksandra Artymowska
You've never seen a puzzle book this gorgeous! There are seek and find puzzles, mazes and more: all featuring intricate illustrations featuring brilliant creatures and adventures inspired by Jules Verne's classic novel. Hot tip: there is also an 80 Days around the World version!
Origami and Poetry: Inspired by Nature by Clover Robin
Find it: Amazon
Origami is definitely its own type of puzzle and this is a great book to give to crafty kids who prefers to make something with their hands rather than pick up a pencil to solve puzzles in workbooks. Each poem has a corresponding origami animal to make. Includes 50 sheets of origami paper to make thirteen animals. Plus, you are introducing your kids to the magic of poetry, always a good thing!
MORE: To extend the literacy-origami connection, you kids will love making these easy origami finger puppets or origami heart bookmarks.
Sevi says
My kiddo really loves numbers and has been enjoying sudoku (age 6).
Stephen Stanley says
Do you want to review my series of Puzzle Books? Well worth a look .Google PUZZLE BODY or PUZZLE PLANETS or PUZZLE ANIMALS, PUZZLE WORLDS, PUZZLE HEROES etc. Cheers, Stephen Stanley
Leslie Guhl says
These look like fun!
Leslie Guhl says
With the headline of "puzzle" my thoughts went to Encyclopedia Brown, and the Choose Your Own Adventure books.
Stephen Stanley says
Not familiar with choose your own adventures, but more like WHERE'S WALDO, as the books contain a dozen large double page spreads, but with more to discover.