As a kid and an adult, I LOVE pop-up books. I think everyone does, right? What a way to make reading fun! In this article, I’m going to share my favorite 7 pop up books for kids. The best part? Every pop-up book listed here is available for purchase through Amazon, making ordering your pop up book easy-peasy.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure page for details.
You’ll notice a couple things about the books in this list:
- Every pop-up book has beautiful illustrations. I love pretty, thoughtful and detailed illustrations, so a majority of the books in this top pop up book list contain really well-done illustrations.
- Every pop-up book focuses on nature, animals, and/or the natural world. As is our M-O at Happy Little Tadpole, we like to share toys and books centered around nature, which is why you will find that instead of featuring more silly or fictitious books (which are still great! Don’t get me wrong), we feature books that are more factual, and help children learn a thing or two about various animal species, animal habitats, or the way the world works.
At what age should pop-up books be gifted to children?
A quick note about when kids are old enough for pop-up books: I once gifted my nephew a beautiful pirate pop-up book. I gifted it to my nephew when he was two. BIG mistake. Through this mistake, I learned that two-year-olds are a little bit too young to play with pop-up books unsupervised. Pop-up books are delicate. They need to be handled with care. I think that in order to give a two-year-old a pop-up book they won’t destroy very quickly, it must be read by an adult and put away in high places until that little wee one learns how to handle pop-up books with care. I recommend gifting pop-up books to children ages 3 and up. Note that there is lots of wiggle room here – more simple pop up books might be perfect for children ages 2-3, while more complex pop up books might be better suited for children ages 4-6 or even 7-10. It’s really up to your discretion.
Tip: Click on the Happy Little Tadpole Book link to view our book listing that shares more information about the book and takes a look inside the book at least one pop-up page so you can see what the pop-ups in the book look like.
So, without further adieu, here is my list (in no certain order) of the best informative nature and animal pop-up books for kids available for purchase on Amazon.com.
1. Bugs: A Pop-up Journey into the World of Insects, Spiders and Creepy-crawlies
Written by George C. McGavin and illustrated by Jim Kay
Book summary: Take a look inside the life of the large variety of arthropods with stunning, larger than life pop-ups of scorpions, cockroaches, and more in this expertly crafted 12-page hardcover pop-up book. Perfect for the kid in your life that finds bugs interesting, and wants to learn more about them. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s Bugs: Pop Up Book page or View on Amazon.
More Bugs Book Information:
Number of Pages: 12
Book Size: 9.4 x 1 x 10.6 inches
Recommended age: 7-10
Price: Under 20$
2. Tropical Fish: Pop-Up
By David Hawcock
Book summary: Tropical Fish is a hardcover pop-up book by David Hawcock that features 20 pages of interesting, otherworldly tropical fish that reside in our oceans. This book takes children on a captivating journey through its pages with big pop-ups of fish, accompanied by interesting information about underwater life. *Note: Out of all of the books in this list, this one probably contains the least information. It was chosen mainly for the incredible pop-up displays, and less for the copy. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s Tropical Fish: Pop-Up Book or View on Amazon.
More Tropical Fish Book Information
Number of Pages: 20
Book Size: 7.4 x 1.5 x 7.5 inches
Recommended age: Not specified. Would recommend parental advisement for younger children.
Price: Under $10
3. How the Weather Works: Pop Up Book
By Christiane Dorion
Book summary: How the Weather Works: Pop-Up Book is a 20-page hardcover pop-up book that explores the how and why questions children about weather. This 20-page pop-up book is a great way to show children how wind forms, what condensation is, how strong hurricanes are through interactive pop-ups, flaps, wheels, and more. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s How the Weather Works: Pop-Up Book Page or View on Amazon.
More How the Weather Works Book Information:
Number of Pages: 20
Book Size: 10.3 x 0.9 x 11.1 inches
Recommended age: Children ages 7-10
Price: Under $20
4. Welcome to the Neighborwood
By Shawn Sheehy
Welcome to the Neighborwood is a hardcover pop up book that reads more like a story than some of the other books in this nature-centric pop-up book list. This book takes a close look at the architectural masterpieces created in nature, including everything from spider webs to hummingbird nests and in the end, how they connect with one another by living in the same ecosystem. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s Welcome to the Neighborwood: Pop-Up Book Page or View on Amazon.
More Welcome to the Neighborwood Book Information:
Number of Pages: 18
Recommended age: 4-8 years.
Book size: 9 x 1.6 x 9.8 inches
Price: Under $30
5. Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up
By Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up is a beautifully crafted dinosaur pop-up book with attention to detail. Detailed pop-ups, information about the dinosaurs shown, their relatives, and the eras they lived in. The little extras in this pop-up book – like the mini “books” within it, will hardly go unnoticed. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up Book Page or View on Amazon.
More Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs Book Information:
Number of Pages: 12
Recommended age: 5-9 years.
Book size: 8 x 2.5 x 10 inches
Price: Under $35
Note: This book is part of a series. The other books in the series are also in the shop. They feature Prehistoric Sharks and Sea Creatures, and Prehistoric Mega Beasts.
6. The Wide-Mouthed Frog A Pop-Up Book
Written by Keith Faulkner, Illustrated by Jonathan Lambert
The Wide-Mouthed Frog A Pop-Up Book is a 12-page pop-up storybook that features a talkative wide-mouthed frog that takes children on a journey through the circle of life as he meets different animals and learns what they eat. The textured illustrations are really fun and the pop outs are exceptional throughout this beautiful pop-up book. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s The Wide-Mouthed Frog A Pop-Up Book Listing or View on Amazon.
More The Wide Mouthed Frog Book Information:
Number of Pages: 12
Recommended age: 2-6 years.
Book size: 10.1 x 0.6 x 10.1 inches
Price: Under $15
7. In the Butterfly Garden Pop-Up Book
By Philippe Ug
In the Butterfly Garden pop-up book is a beautifully constructed, modernly illustrated pop-up book that tells a simple story of growth, life, and change. We think it would be a great pop-up for younger children. Take a peek inside the book on Happy Little Tadpole’s In the Butterfly Garden Pop-Up Book Listing or View on Amazon.
More In The Butterfly Garden Book Information:
Number of Pages: 16
Recommended age: 4-8 years.
Book size: 6.5 x 0.6 x 8.8 inches
Price: Under $20
View more exceptional children’s books (both of the pop-up and non-pop-up variety) in our full Books Collection. Thanks for reading! To learn about new blog articles, gifting ideas, and curated toys, be sure to follow us on Instagram or like our Facebook page.
