Picture books are magical tools for engaging young children, but interactive picture books take that magic a step further. By inviting children to touch, press, shake, or even make sounds, these books make reading an active experience—one that builds early literacy skills in a natural, playful way.
As a librarian visiting classrooms for March is Reading Month, I’ve seen firsthand how interactive books captivate even the most restless preschoolers. These books transform reading from a passive activity into a hands-on adventure, sparking curiosity and reinforcing key early literacy practices like talking, playing, and reading together.
What Makes an Interactive Picture Book Special?
Unlike traditional picture books, interactive books encourage children to physically engage with the story. Books like Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson and Press Here by Hervé Tullet prompt kids to tap, tilt, shake, and press pages, creating a sense of cause-and-effect that feels like magic.
But interactivity isn’t limited to touch—it also includes books that invite children to move, think, or make noise. My book Down on the Farm follows this approach by encouraging children to sing along to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus while making different farm animal sounds. As kids oink like pigs, moo like cows, or cluck like chickens, they’re not only having fun but also practicing phonological awareness, an important pre-reading skill. Plus, the book prompts children to think of other animals that might live on a farm, adding an extra layer of engagement and critical thinking.
Why Teachers and Parents Love Them
For teachers, interactive books are a game-changer in the classroom. They keep kids engaged, promote group participation, and encourage children to follow instructions. Parents also love these books because they turn storytime into an immersive experience—one where their child isn’t just listening but actively helping the story unfold.
Beyond entertainment, these books support:
- Vocabulary Growth: When kids respond to prompts like “Tap the star!” or “Blow the cloud away” in Touch the Brightest Star or mimic farm animals in Down on the Farm, they’re strengthening their language skills.
- Critical Thinking: Children learn cause-and-effect as they see their actions change what happens on the next page or as they predict which farm animals might appear next.
- A Love of Reading: Kids are more likely to request repeat readings of books that feel like a game, which builds early literacy skills through repetition.
Bringing Interactive Books Into Your Routine
Incorporating interactive picture books into daily reading time is simple:
- At home: Choose interactive books for bedtime or playtime, letting your child take the lead in touching, making sounds, or responding to the book’s prompts.
- In the classroom: Use them for group read-alouds, encouraging students to take turns interacting with the pages or making sounds together.
- During library visits: Introduce these books in storytime to model engagement strategies for parents and caregivers.
Interactive books turn reading into an adventure, keeping children engaged while reinforcing early literacy skills. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or librarian, adding these books to your collection is a surefire way to make storytime more dynamic and memorable. If you need a list to get started, check these out:
- Press Here – Hervé Tullet
- A playful book that invites kids to press, shake, and tilt the pages to create fun visual effects.
- Mix It Up! – Hervé Tullet
- Encourages kids to “mix” colors with their hands, making it a fantastic introduction to color theory.
- Touch the Brightest Star – Christie Matheson
- A gentle bedtime book where children tap, wave, and even blink to help nighttime settle in.
- Tap the Magic Tree – Christie Matheson
- A seasonal book where children tap, shake, and blow on the pages to help a tree grow and change.
- Don’t Push the Button! – Bill Cotter
- A silly story where kids can’t resist pressing a button—even though they’re told not to!
- There’s a Monster in Your Book – Tom Fletcher
- Kids are encouraged to shake, tilt, and blow on the book to help get a mischievous monster out.
- Who Done It? – Olivier Tallec
- A fun seek-and-find book where kids must answer questions about the characters by carefully observing the illustrations.
- From Head to Toe – Eric Carle
- Encourages movement as kids are asked to mimic animal actions, like stomping, clapping, and bending.
- Can You Make a Scary Face? – Jan Thomas
- Gets kids laughing as they follow along with silly prompts to stand, dance, and make faces.
- Barnyard Dance! – Sandra Boynton
- A rhythmic, musical book that invites kids to clap, stomp, and dance along with farm animals.
- Down on the Farm – Cassie Veselovsky
- A singable story that encourages kids to make animal sounds and think of other animals that could live on a farm.
- Wiggle – Doreen Cronin
- A fun movement book that encourages kids to wiggle along with the story.
- Do Not Lick This Book – Idan Ben-Barak & Julian Frost
- A clever and educational book about germs that invites kids to "touch" and explore the microscopic world.
- Shake the Tree! – Chiara Vignocchi, Paolo Chiarinotti & Silvia Borando
- Kids are asked to shake the book to see what happens next in this engaging, cause-and-effect story.
- I Say OOH, You Say AAH – John Kane
- An interactive call-and-response book that keeps kids engaged with fun, silly prompts.
- This Book Is Magic – Ashley Evanson
- A playful book where kids wave their hands, say magic words, and make “magic” happen on the page.
- The Button Book – Sally Nicholls & Bethan Woollvin
- Each button in this book triggers a different action—clapping, singing, making funny noises—keeping kids actively engaged.
- What’s Next, Baby Bear? – Jane Foster
- Encourages little ones to guess what happens next and engage with the charming illustrations.
- How to Catch a Star – Oliver Jeffers
- A beautifully illustrated book that invites kids to imagine and dream alongside the main character’s adventure.
- Find Fergus – Mike Boldt
- A seek-and-find book that starts easy but gets more challenging as Fergus the bear tries (and fails) to hide.
This list includes books that get kids talking, moving, thinking, and participating in the story—making reading time more fun and educational.
