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

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

The Bedtime Bunny Hunt

by Beatrix Potter

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Tuck Me In!

by Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

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

by Eric Carle

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Open the Garage Door

by Christopher Santoro

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

We Say Hello

by Salina Yoon

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Find Spot at the Library

by Eric Hill

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

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

by DK

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Elmo's Big Lift-and-Look Book (Sesame Street)

by Anna Ross, illustrated by Joe Mathieu

Buy from:

Little Elmo fans will love this sturdy interactive board book. Join the Sesame Street gang around the neighborhood and lift the flaps to learn about numbers, shapes, letters, and more. Colorful illustrations and charming characters make it the perfect book for babies and toddlers.

Buy from:

Looking for Mommy

by Becky Davies, illustrated by Anna Doherty

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Hide-and-Seek on the Farm

by Highlights

Buy from:

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

Buy from:

Eyes, Nose, Toes Peekaboo!

by DK

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Llama Llama Hide & Seek

by Anna Dewdney

Buy from:

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.

Buy from:

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2025.