"I think it is the golden age of board books," said Meg Howe, owner of Alice, Ever After Books, Buffalo, N.Y., at an education session on the rise of board and activity books during Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Ill.
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| Tegan Tegani, Zsamé Morgan, Meg Howe, Rae Ann Parker | |
On the panel with Howe were Zsamé Morgan, owner of Babycake's Book Stack, in Minnesota's Twin Cities, and Rae Ann Parker, children's & YA book buyer at Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tenn. Tegan Tigani, children's book buyer at Queen Anne Book Company in Seattle, Wash., moderated the discussion.
In recent years the panelists have experienced rising sales of both board books and activity books, with Parker reporting that her store saw an "exponential rise" in the sale of activity books during the pandemic. Considering the factors that might be responsible, Morgan pointed out that board and activity books often have a lower price point that picture books. There is also an ongoing "analog movement" that seems fueled both by nostalgia and by people being over-screened, with Howe adding that there are "so many families" who are "just over it."
Board book adaptations of picture books have become increasingly popular, with Morgan noting that along with having a lower price point, they are easier to read and easier to give to a child. Howe mentioned that she now uses the "lap edition" of board books whenever the store does a storytime, as the pages are sturdier and the pictures are bigger. Touching on the durability of board books, Tigani noted that they are less likely to be damaged upon arrival.
On the subject of bestselling categories, the panelists agreed that locally themed books do very well, with Parker saying "anything Tennessee-related" goes quickly. Howe said the city of Buffalo "loves nothing more" than talking about Buffalo, and Morgan said she stocks plenty of books about Prince. Holiday-themed board books are "perennial," Tigani said, and "touch and feel" titles are also popular, though the unusual textures and sizes can make shelving slightly tricky.
Board books in Spanish and other languages are seeing brisk sales, with Morgan saying that dual-language titles tend to sell better than single-language titles. Howe called Barefoot Books a great source for books in different languages. Licensed board and activity books, featuring characters from properties like Bluey, Paw Patrol, or Peppa Pig, can serve as a "great gateway" for getting families into bookstores, Tigani said.
Regarding activity books specifically, Parker said how-to-draw books and "anything art related" were must-haves, with Tigani mentioning "really great" seek-and-find books, particularly an Agatha Christie seek-and-find book. Howe, meanwhile, said she was "obsessed" with a seek-and-find series called All Around Bustletown by Rotraut Susanne Berner.
The panelists noted that activity books can pose some challenges, particularly when it comes to displaying them, as they fall over easily and often don't have titles on their spines. Morgan said she keeps activity books and coloring books in their own sections. The panelists agreed that while something like a magazine spinner would be ideal, finding space for one can be challenging.
When the discussion turned to making their spaces accessible and child-friendly, Howe brought up something her store has called the "maybe later shelf," which is located behind the front desk. If there is an item a child wants but the parent or guardian does not want to buy, the child can write their name on a sticky note of a color of their choice, put it on the item, and leave the item on the shelf. The shelf has "thwarted many a tantrum," Howe said, and parents often make it quite clear whether they intend to come back for the item eventually or if the staff can re-shelve it right away.
To give families more accessible options without fully going to used books, Howe and her team created a "barter for a book" shelf, which features titles that came damaged as well as books that staff members have donated. Instead of paying full price, customers can choose one of several options, including telling a joke or simply paying what they can.
Morgan said she sets up a free coloring table whenever her mobile bookstore makes a stop. There are crayons for kids to use as well as the coloring sheets provided by publishers.
The panelists also discussed the notion some parents have that activity books aren't really books and reading them doesn't count as real reading. Morgan emphasized that "any reading actively supports literacy," and recalled that she used to read the liner notes on cassette tapes when she was a child. Even cookbooks, Morgan said, promote family literacy and can help math skills, while Howe mentioned a line of family cookbooks from America's Test Kitchen.
Parker said she encounters similar pushback sometimes with graphic novels, and it becomes necessary for booksellers to explain to parents that "graphic novels count." Activity and board books, Tigani emphasized, are "gateways to reading." --Alex Mutter