Books make some of the best gifts, but these features make them AWESOME! Start a love for reading during the new year with books that have special features kids love.
My daughters love books, but their favorites all have something in common: compelling content or special features! Maybe you remember a special book that you never got bored of?
I had one. It was The Jolly Postman. It had all of the fair-tale characters I loved, but also featured little envelopes on each page with a letter inside. I read it over, and over and still like to read it to this day.
Top 5 Favorite Book Features
Remembering the joy that I got from reading that book made me think, if every book was like that children would never hate to read. So here are 5 unique things that you’ll want to look for the next time you buy books.
Books that Hide Secrets
Kids love to find things. Combine that in a book and you have unlimited learning and reading opportunities! Usborne has an amazing collection of books with things hidden inside waiting to be revealed.
Shine – A – Light Books
All of these books feature pages with hidden images within the page. How can you see them? Shine a flashlight on the page and reveal what’s inside! I love these books because they are mostly educational and teach children about nature; plants, habitats and animals!
Lift the Flap Books
The usual hide-and-seek style books with a great educational twist! They are all about the world around us and reveal answers to questions that everyone has.
Classic Stories
Stories that have been around for hundreds of years, they have important messages and teach something about life. These stories can be memorized easily by children and they always captivate their audience.
Illustrated Bible Stories
This cloth-bound collection of Bible stories is perfect to read allowed to young children (4yrs+) or for older children to read independently. Stunning, full-page illustrations bring stories from the Old and New Testament vividly to life, and a comprehensive ‘Who’s who in the Bible’ helps children remember the characters and stories.
Aesop’s Fables
One of my daughters favorite books! She’s read the Town Mouse and Country Mouse at least 10 times. This version is filled with over 30 stories, enchantingly illustrated and retold, these stories are the perfect introduction to Aesop and will be enjoyed for years to come.
Stories from Shakespeare
The thought of reading Shakespeare’s original works to a child might be daunting, but this book makes it easy. Featuring six of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, this beautiful book is a must-have!
Activity Books
Hands-on fun and literacy are combined in these special activity books. Children use their minds to observe, problem solve and create while reading at the same time.
Craft Books
Not just any crafts! The 100 Paper Planes book features tear-out pages and directions to make 100 different paper plane designs. And there are lots more crafting books that are just like it with activities ranging from Birthday Cards to Optical Illusions!
Sticker Books
These sticker books are just like little puzzles. Each one comes with about 200 stickers and information all different topics; trains, planes, trucks, the alphabet, and more! Some are just for fun and others help children learn, but your children don’t need to just use the stickers in the books. Allow them to create their own books and pictures!
Puzzle and Activity Books
Solve puzzles, skillfully observe, and enjoy reading with these puzzle and activity books. The Usborne Picture Puzzle Book in particular is a perfect start to more advanced brain teasers and puzzles.
Books with Sound
Add a little music or sound effects and an old story comes alive! Children love to use both their sense of sight and sound to read.
My First Keyboard Book
This is a perfect introduction to learning how to play piano. It teaches hand eye coordination, intro to music reading, and colors! The notes move up and down for the pitch changes so children start recognizing that basic notation.
Little Children’s Bedtime Music Book
An adorable bedtime ritual that your children will treasure in their minds long after the book is worn. The adorable baby animals will give your children sweet dreams as they get tucked in.
Collections and Series
When you love a character in a story or you really like a particular author, having more of the same books keeps your children’s interest. With book series and collections the story continues and your child’s love of reading does too.
Take a look inside some of the books here:
Ellen Landreth says
What about the Little House books. They have wonderful ones called My First Little House Readers. (I think that is what they are called.)
Janine says
I think that would go under both the Classics and Series categories. I couldn’t fit all my favorite books into just one post so this is just about Special features of books that kids love 🙂
ShannonS says
My boys love anything to do with space – so Big Book of Stars and Planets would be the book for them!
MaryAnn says
My son would like Return to the Lost World
Dana says
The My First Keyboard book would be great for my son!
Soo says
The Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare sounds so fun! I love Shakespeare’s plays, and getting to share that early w/ my kids sound be great!
nick devaux says
Goat in a Boat!
Gale says
The Slot Together Castle “Book” is so cool.
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Susan says
My son would like Construction site lift & look book
Wehaf says
My niece would love the First Encyclopedia of Space!
chris says
my niece would like the how big was a dinosaur book.
Kim Reid says
We would really like Llamas in Pajamas, looks like great fun!
Nancy says
Our granddaughter would enjoy the Big and Little Boxed Set of books.
Sunnie says
The step by step drawing people book looks like my kids would like it a lot!
Angella L says
I would want to get the My Colors box book set by Kane Miller for my best friend who is getting ready to have her 1st son.
Janet W. says
My grandsons would like the First Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs book.
Lori Simpson says
I love Usborne books especially would love the Bible one. I have enjoyed the access that they have on the internet with most of them Thank You for setting this up
Connie Tillman says
I really like the Llamas in Pajamas book – it looks like it would be a great way for my son to start reading.
angie ukena says
My daughter would like Step-By-Step Drawing People
Becca Rivera says
My daughter loves craft books and any science book 🙂
Maureen Ruble says
My children would love The Magic Painting book.
Ani W says
Do nice, Be kind, spread happy and any of the drawing books!
Deanne Patterson says
My sons would have great fun reading the fun and educational books Dinosaurs Starter Collection (4).
Dianna Thomas says
I would choose Do Nice,Be Kind, Spread Happy and Llamas in Pajamas both would be great to have
Esperanza Gailliard says
Oh let me tell you, my son would love the Return To Lost World book as well as many others. The puzzle books he would love too. We are just bookaholics here! 😀
Becky Dempsey says
There are a lot of the books my kids would love. But Picture Puzzle Book caught my eye.
Laura J says
Oh he would also really love the Shark in the Park book!
Madalyn Haire says
My kids would love the full edition of the Children’s Encyclopedia Illustrated…
Kathy Balman says
Famous artists
Megan says
I can’t wait to pick out some new books…hopefully for free! 🙂 Thanks!
Maureen Butcher says
Since I read to my granddaughter at bedtime, I like Llamas In Pajamas.
Stacy F. says
My little one is OBSESSED with stickuhhs. Stickers, so easy enough, for a great activity book she’d love any of the sticker books!
Alina Hahn says
How Deep is the Sea? because I love penguins 🙂
Dennis Konkel says
Llamas in pajamas
Theresa Little says
I think my daughter would really love the Choose Your Happy Ever books. They look like something she would really enjoy. My older son would enjoy the Write Your Own Comic Book. My younger son would love any of the first sticker books.