Get Moving! 12 Books Designed to Make Kids Move

Reading doesn’t have to be a quiet, couch-centered activity.

For a little one who is bursting with energy and can barely sit still for a page or two, these twelve books are ideal — they practically insist that kiddos get up and move around.

Prepare for lots of bouncing, jumping, and clapping … and some very happy little readers.

Play Outside with Me

by Kat Chen, illustrated by Lorraine Nam

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Encourage your little one to get outside and play in the fresh air with this interactive board book. Designed to work like a playdate-in-a-book, young children can engage in conversation and get inspiration for a trip to the park.

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Dancing Feet!

by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown

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Each page shows a set of footprints and the reader tries to guess which animal they belong to before turning the page to find out. Perfect for reading to little ones as they creep, thump, and tiptoe alongside the cast of animals.

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Let's Put That Away! My First Book of Organizing

by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, illustrated by Hsinping Pan

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Who says cleaning up is a chore? This brightly illustrated board book from The Home Edit for Kids puts the fun into tidying up. Each page presents children with tasks like picking up toys and putting away toiletries. Follow the directions on the pages for a cleaner home while having fun!

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You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses

by Tae-Eun Yoo

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Who knew yoga for preschoolers could be this fun? The animal poses, along with animal actions and sounds, make this book a good mix of exuberant and relaxing.

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Let's Make Music (An All Are Welcome Board Book)

by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman

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Dance, clap, and tap along with this celebration of music from the creative team behind All Are Welcome. Get out any musical instruments you have (or make some) so children can move all parts of their bodies. Onomatopoeia and colorful artwork make this book a delight to read.

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Clap Your Hands

by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

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Join a menagerie of rambunctious animals who roar, growl, crawl, and slither their way through this rhyming book.

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ABC and You and Me

by Corinna Luyken

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Learn the alphabet by bending and twisting your body into the shape of the letters with this unique board book. Readers of all ages will enjoy stretching their limbs as they follow the directions to make each letter.

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Tiny Bear Can, Too!

by Yusuke Yonezu

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Tiny Bear wiggles, jumps, twists, and kicks his legs like his animal friends in this adorable board book. Little readers will love lifting the flaps and doing each action alongside Tiny Bear and the other forest creatures.

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Can You Do This?

by Megan Roy

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Each page in this vibrant picture book asks children to perform a skill like touching their toes, taking giant steps, and spinning in a circle. It’s the perfect book to read when kiddos need to get their wiggles out.

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High Five

by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

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Get your slapping hand ready because it will get plenty of use with this hilarious book by the author of Dragons Love Tacos. Young readers will stretch their hands and practice their high-fives with a series of silly challenges designed to make them laugh. It’s an excellent book to read to a group or one-on-one.

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I Am Wriggly

by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Robert Starling

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Bouncy rhyme and colorful illustrations will draw children in as they follow the rabbit’s movement cues. From wiggling their ears to jiggling in their chairs, young readers will move every part of their bodies. With any luck, they will get all their wiggles out by the time you turn the last page.

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Go and Get with Rex

by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

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Burn some energy and learn the alphabet with this fun and silly game. The characters in the story count to three, then run to get something that starts with a particular letter. Children will have so much fun playing along that they won’t realize they’re learning their letters at the same time.

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