The Best Interactive Picture Books
The concept of an interactive picture book is a simple one - increase engagement by making the reader a part of the story. It’s a brilliant plan, because we all know how important engagement is for kids. In theory it’s going to make the whole story time experience more fun and memorable. And with a little luck they may fall more in love with book as a result.
I suppose not all books can be that way though. I think it’s important for interactive picture books to be few and far between - lest they lose their magic. A large part of the appeal is that they flip expectations on their head and make kids say “hold up a second here - is this book talking to me?”. It wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if every book you read to your kids was breaking the fourth wall left and right.
So what is it exactly that makes a book interactive? The first thing that pops into your head is probably poking or shaking the book - or even your basic lift-the-flaps. But I’d argue that an interactive book is basically anything that gets you out of your passive listening mode. You see, I think I stretched the rules a little bit with this list of interactive books. There are certainly a couple of books that aren’t traditional interactive books - but I think they really make you a part of the story just the same.
If the fourth wall is broken and the narrator starts talking to you, that’s interactivity to me. If a book invites you to add to the story or tell your own story, that’s certainly interactivity too. And, yes, of course, if the book asks you to slap it or begs you not to turn the page - that’s interactivity in the most classical sense. The important thing is that kids are going to feel involved and story time is going to be an experience.
I really like interactive picture books. And it’s funny to me because we have way too many picture books in our house (who am I kidding that’s impossible), but very few interactive books in comparison. But, even so, it’s the interactive ones that have given me some of my favorite read aloud memories with my children.
Don’t get me wrong, the classic passive listening experience isn’t going anywhere. I wouldn’t trade my favorite normal fantasy and adventure picture books for anything in the world. But I’d also never give up my memories of my kids’ giggles and their eyes lighting up while becoming a part of the story in the books on this list together.
Disclosure: All thoughts and opinions are our own. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links that will lead you to view the books on Bookshop.org and Amazon.
Twenty Questions
Written by Mac Barnett and Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Certainly the newest book on this list, having just been released this last month, Twenty Questions is an instant classic in the genre as far as I’m concerned. Talk about a powerful collaboration, am I right? We’re huge fans of both Barnett and Robinson, and it’s a true pleasure to experience what they’ve come up with together.
The book is quite literally a book of questions to spark a bit of lively conversation with your kids. The hilarious part of the concept is that the questions are open-ended - I mean extremely open-ended. Part of the humor is that the questions are so specific and random it’s simply impossible to know the answer. Kids might have an opinion and will happily voice their ideas - but they’ll have to turn their imaginations into overdrive because there simply are no correct answers.
How in the world am I supposed to answer “how many animals do you NOT see in this picture, because they’re hiding from the tiger?” Any way you want, and that’s what makes this book so great.
Mix It Up!
Written and Illustrated by Herve Tullet
I think it’s basically impossible to have a list of interactive picture books without including the works of Herve Tullet - like Mix It Up! and Press Here. The books are so ubiquitous at this point, they’re likely the first ones that pop into your mind when you think of interactive books. And I suppose that could potentially be a good thing or a bad thing.
But I’d hazard to guess that if you dislike these books for any reason, it’s probably because you had to read them to your toddler one millions times because they loved it so much. The concept is solid, and kids simply love it. I can’t argue with the fact that I have lots of lasting memories reading this one with my very happy and engaged little ones. And If I had to choose a favorite of Tullet’s interactive books, it has to be Mix It Up! - where kids get to pretend to mix up colors and place their little hand print inside the book.
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
I may be stretching the rules a little bit with this title, but it’s undoubtedly interactive - even if not quite the same way as the other books on this list. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is designed as a series of story starters - highlighted by beautiful and ominous images that only Van Allsburg could create. The images are also accompanied by a small blurb to get your imaginations going.
Your friendly local school librarian will likely be well-aware of the fact that this book serves as a fantastic lesson opportunity for storytelling. And you and your children can take your time pouring over these pages and fleshing out the stories as you see them. This book is at the very heart of interactivity, and I simply can’t think of a better example of a book that does a better job inspiring kids to speak up and use their imaginations.
When I’m Not Looking
Written and Illustrated by Farren Phillips
When I’m Not Looking is a wonderful book that asks you to be a part of the fun in more ways than one. There simply aren’t many picture books out there that ask you to draw in the book yourself, but this one does. There are also search and finds on many of the pages - which works well because the art is full of lots of background details. And this is all on top of the 4th wall being broken and having a conversation with the narrator.
The big question the narrator has, and the reason for the book’s title, is what is her pet duck doing when she’s not looking. She’s very suspicious of her pet duck, and she invites you to come up with possible explanations as well. But she has some ideas of her own. Perhaps the duck is licking all of the eggs, or wearing her best pants, or robbing a bank. I think it’s pretty spectacular that kids are encouraged to fill in blanks and even draw pictures inside this book. Not only is it funny and handsome, but it’s pretty magnificently original too.
Are You Scared Darth Vader?
Written and Illustrated by Adam Rex
This book is absolutely hilarious - one of the very best funny picture books in our entire home library. The concept is completely ridiculous, which I suppose is a good part of the humor, and it’s executed with such perfection. The narrator is basically simply trying to scare Darth Vader himself. Using a series of classic frights - like witches and ghosts and werewolves - the narrator tries to scare Darth Vader.
Towards the end of the book though is where the interactivity with the readers begins. It turns out that Darth Vader is not a big fan of children - and there just so happens to be a child reading this book (probably). And Darth Vader only shows real fear once he realizes he’s about to be frozen inside the book like in carbonite. That’s when he starts pleading with you not to turn the page and close the book. This book is a crack up and kids will get a hoot out of being the ones to scare Darth Vader after everything else failed.
High Five
Written by Adam Rubin and Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
If I was to choose a personal favorite interactive picture book - based on both the quality of the book and the joy of the memories it created - it would have to be High Five. It’s an interactive high five competition, and both of my kids really loved to read it. I especially have wonderful memories of reading and playing with my son many years ago when it first came out.
The design of the book is fantastic - with a great cast of characters that have entered into this ultimate high five competition. Somehow it manages a bit of original and memorable world-building and creativity to go along with the interactivity. You also get a very inspiring bit of training from a nice, furry friend before you’re thrown into the big tournament against the likes of Gigantic the Bear and Shifty the Lizard. There’s even a nice big trophy at the end. Not only is it fun and hilarious, but the book even manages to build a little self-confidence in your high five abilities as well.
High Five is also the only book on this list that received it’s very own featured article!
The Monster at the End of this Book
Written by Jon Stone and Illustrated by Michael Smollin
My daughter would choose this book as her favorite book on this list 100 out of 100 times. She’s obsessed with it and still cracks up every time I read it to her. It’s also one of the very best known interactive picture books out there, and for good reason too. It’s a Sesame Street themed book - featuring lovable, furry old Grover himself. And Grover most certainly breaks the 4th wall early and often.
Grover starts talking to you, the reader, right from the very beginning, and very quickly starts to beg you not to turn the pages. You see, he saw the title of the book, and he’s terrified of getting to the end of the book where there is going to be a monster. He tries to fortify the pages and beg and plead with you, but you keep turning those pages - much to his dismay! My daughter rolls with laughter and talks back to Grover - and I’ll remember that for the rest of my life. And I’d be willing to bet that’s the same experience most families have. There’s a good reason this is a beloved book.
The Book with No Pictures
Written by B.J. Novak
Speaking of books that get the kids rolling with laughter, The Book with No Pictures is a surefire hit. B.J. Novak had quite the stroke of genius when he came up with this one. The idea is simple, force Mom or Dad to make fools of themselves. That’s basically it! And just try to find me a kid out there who wouldn’t enjoy that.
The concept is that once you start reading the book, you have to read all of the words. The book even starts with a warning, “If a kid is trying to make you read this book, they are playing a trick on you.” That alone in a sense breaks the 4th wall. The kid and the book are in on this trick together - and the adult has fallen prey to their inside joke!
The book is basically a silly dialogue that makes it sound like the adult has a split personality arguing with themselves. It doesn’t exactly ask the kids to do anything other than sit in the corner giggling hysterically, but it does brag on how smart the kid is for tricking their parents to read the book in the first place. It definitely feels like we’re interacting in a new way - and will undoubtedly get Mom or Dad practicing their funny voices.
What’s your family’s favorite interactive picture book? Is there one you think we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
