Buc-ee's Scratch and Reveal Book

Quiet is the most valuable thing a parent can buy for a long car ride, and this little book delivers it.

Kids scratch away the black surface and colors appear underneath, which never stops being satisfying, even for grown-ups. Shoppers search for it as the Buc-ee's scratch art book, the Buc-ee's scratch and design, or the Buc-ee's scratch off book.

Why we like it: no markers to uncap, no paint, no mess in the car seat. That makes it a great pick for church, restaurants, waiting rooms and long drives, and the spiral binding keeps it from falling apart in the back seat. Honest notes: 12 sheets go faster than you'd expect with a motivated artist, so ration them on a long trip or bring two. Scratch art leaves little black flakes, so a lap towel helps. And the pen is exactly the kind of thing kids lose, so keep an eye on where it ends up.