Tougher Than Your Toddler: Robust Lift-the-Flap Books

There’s nothing quite like a brand-new, beautiful lift-the-flap book. And there’s nothing quite as sad as a lift-the-flap book that doesn’t have any flaps left. Those babies and toddlers can be destructive!

These 13 books will stand up to grabby little hands (and stay magical) read after read.

FUN FLAPS: All About Me!

by DK

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Big flaps + photos of real babies = a book your baby will obsess over. Tiny fingers can easily lift these flaps themselves while learning about hands, feet, face, and other body parts. A great book for baby shower or first birthday gifts.

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The Bedtime Bunny Hunt

by Beatrix Potter

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Peter Rabbit is getting ready for bed … but he can’t find his favorite stuffed animal! Little helpers — who can empathize with Peter — will love lifting up the many flaps in this book to look for Peter’s stuffed bunny. This book is a perfect bedtime read or for any time throughout the day.

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Tuck Me In!

by Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt

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What child wouldn't love getting to be the one who does the tucking in? Invite little readers tuck in the baby animals by turning each blanket-like page to cover each creature up to its chin.

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Eric Carle's Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Other Nursery Rhymes

by Eric Carle

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Dust off your vocal cords! This nursery rhyme collection from the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar can endure all the love your toddler gives it. Five popular nursery rhymes with flaps to lift make it the perfect interactive bedtime story.

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Open the Garage Door

by Christopher Santoro

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Lift the flap to reveal a police car, race car, ice cream truck, and more in this interactive board book for car-crazy kids. Bright, colorful illustrations and plenty of flaps to lift make it a popular choice for toddlers that love vehicles.

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We Say Hello

by Salina Yoon

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This delightful board book teaches children how to say “hello” and “goodbye” in seven different languages! Little learners lift a flap to discover a speech bubble with a familiar phrase translated. Look for the companion book, We Say Good Night, for more greeting and parting phrases.

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Find Spot at the Library

by Eric Hill

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Every child needs a few Spot books on their shelf, and this one is an excellent choice. Spot goes to a costume party at the library, where he reads stories and dresses up as his favorite characters. Tiny readers will love hunting through the pages, lifting flaps, and finding the cute yellow dog.

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My Very Important Lift-the-Flap Book: Vehicles and Things That Go

by DK

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Vehicle-loving toddlers can’t get enough of this sturdy board book. Help your little one learn fun facts about cars, trucks, bikes, boats, trains, and much more as they lift the flaps to reveal information and images. Read the companion book, My Very Important Lift-the-Flap Book: Animals for more fun.

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Inch by Inch: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Leo Lionni's Friends)

by Leo Lionni, illustrated by Jan Gerardi

Introduce your child to the adorable world of Leo Lionni with this sturdy board book. You’ll follow and inch worm through the pages and lift flaps to help him measure his animal friends. Colorful illustrations and charming characters make it the perfect book for babies and toddlers.

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Looking for Mommy

by Becky Davies, illustrated by Anna Doherty

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This book is almost too cute for words! A little bunny wants a hug from its mother and goes searching for her. Readers help the bunny by lifting flaps and revealing forest animals until they find the mother. It’s the perfect book to read with a little one on your lap.

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That's Silly!(TM) at the Zoo

by Highlights

Animals, humor, and over 40 flaps make this silly book a storytime favorite for toddlers. Visit the zoo and reveal one goofy surprise after another with every page turn. Extra-large sturdy pages and colorful illustrations make it ideal for handsy toddlers.

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Eyes, Nose, Toes Peekaboo!

by DK

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Babies love learning about themselves and seeing pictures of other children. This colorful lift-the-flap book features photos of toddlers pointing out and naming their body parts. Tiny readers will practice finding eyes, ears, fingers, and toes with this interactive book.

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Llama Llama Hide & Seek

by Anna Dewdney

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Llama Llama has lost his beloved stuffie and needs your help to find it. Lift the flaps and look under the bed, in the toy bin, and in the dresser drawers to track down the missing toy and find an extra-special surprise at the end.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2024.