Summer in the city is fast approaching. And as temperatures continue to rise, you and your family will probably want to stay inside on some days. It’s important to keep little ones cooled off, but how do you keep them entertained while staying indoors? We’ve got you covered with some cool—and reasonably priced—picks for indoor summer toys and books for kids. The best part is, these toys and books foster creativity, imagination and invaluable skills that children need as they grow up. These hot items are educational and will help your child stay cool and entertained all summer long!
Summer Toys and Books for Kids
Mudpuppy Rainbow Friends 4 Layer Wood Puzzle
Kids will play and unplug with this fun puzzle. The four-layer puzzle has 12 wood pieces that help kids put together a beautiful rainbow! Ages: 2 years and older. MSRP: $10.79
Plus Plus Puzzle by Number
This 250-piece puzzle activity combines the artistry of paint-by-number with the satisfaction of a puzzle into a unique creative experience. When your child is done with creating it, display it on a table or hang it up as room decor. No glue or ironing required! Ages: 5-12 years | MSRP: $14.99
CreateOn Coloring with Elmo
Experience the world of Sesame Street as it comes alive with Magna-Tiles Structures and Crayola. Kids will play with so many of their favorite characters, like Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar, Tango, Bert and Ernie and Abby Cadabby. This interactive set has so many fun activities all wrapped up in one. It also helps build early math skills, fine motor skills and even problem-solving skills. Ages: 3-6 years | MSRP: $44.99
Smart Teddy
Here’s a toy adding an extra cuteness factor to our summer toys and books for kids list. He’s a connected soft toy that helps parents teach and engage their kids as well as develop good habits. (Let’s be real—no parent likes telling their kid to brush their teeth for the fortieth night in a row!) Smart Teddy can become a positive, nurturing member of your family. Ages: 3-6 years | MSRP: $179.95
What on Earth Books – How to Teach Grown Ups About Pluto
Pluto has not been a planet since 2006. But this tiny world still inspires people of all ages while sparking controversy. In this delightfully witty book, astronomer Dean Regas teaches kids how to educate their grown-ups about the cutting-edge science of space, most crucially the reason why Pluto is NOT a planet anymore. Ages: 3-7 years | MSRP: $14.99
What on Earth Books – Antarctica: A Melting Continent
Here’s another educational item on our summer toys and books for kids list. This frozen continent is full of incredible stories. Kids will discover incredible wildlife, awe-inspiring landscapes, and adventurous scientists and explorers. Author Karen Romano Young takes the reader on a trip across Antarctica. Hang out with people and animals while learning about how this special place is changing and what it means for our planet. Hang out with some of the coolest creatures on Earth above and below the ice as you meet emperor penguins, killer whales and elephant seals. Ages: 10-14 years | MSRP: $24.00
Want to check out more books? The New York Public Library is giving away 500,000 free books this summer as part of its Summer at the Library initiative!
Mudpuppy Wondrous Jobs Activity Roll
Kids will be on the job as they explore a variety of unique and creative professions with this fun activity. It’s also a non-digital toy that promotes creativity and offers endless hours of fun. It features coloring, mazes, spot-the-difference and more. Five colored pencils are included. Ages: 4-10 years. MSRP: $9.99.
Snow Days Grain-Free Pizza Bites
Ok, this isn’t a toy, but after a few hours of play, kids love to refresh with a snack! Consider these yummy pizza bites that are made with grain-free cassava flour dough and filled with lots of organic ingredients. Healthy and delicious! MSRP: $7.99 per bag
Special Editor’s Pick: Schleich Farm Animals
There are many toy lines out there that help children develop their creativity and imagination—and the Schleich brand is one of them. The company makes an adorable line of toy animals who live different habitats, including Farm World, Wild Life, Dinosaurs and more. Here, we’ll spotlight Schleich’s Farm World, where kids can build their own farm using toy bunnies, horses, pigs and others. The toys are a great way to get kids away from screen time and into play time! Ages: 3-8 years
These bunnies are super adorable! This fun bun group is called the Hippity Hops, the fun-loving Schleich bunnies with colorful ears. Each adorable bunny figurine comes with its own signature ear color, but there’s one thing they all have in common: They’re stinkin’ cute! Available as a four pack. MSRP: $23.99
This wild and wooly friend has a thick, white coat. Curious about llamas? The animal’s wool is soft, warm, and perfect for people with allergies. They are hump-less camels who originated in the South American Andes, and are herbivores. They have a split upper lip and are known for spitting at rivals in order to establish ranking within their herd. Despite this, they are extremely gentle and friendly toward people. Another fun fact is that they are actually different from alpacas. The most noticeable difference is in size. Alpacas are smaller. MSRP: $5.99
Cows are very sensitive animals. Calves are protected by their mothers, who are immediately there for them if they are afraid or if they cry out in hunger. The mothers lick them to calm them down. MSRP: $5.99
A female chicken is called a hen. A male is called a rooster, and a baby is called, of course, a chick! Here, we spotlight the hen. Hens lay between 250-300 eggs per year. Although it may look that way at first, no two eggs are the same. They are of varying size and never have the same color. They can be white, light or even dark brown. Even the small spots and speckles are always a little different. MSRP: $4.99
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