The Best Animals Drawing Books for Kids!
If you’re searching for animal drawing books for kids that offer variety, creativity, and real skill-building, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve created a collection of fun and engaging books that teach kids how to draw animals using three unique methods: step-by-step drawing, tracing and coloring, and grid drawing. These techniques each offer something different, allowing young artists to build their confidence and expand their abilities in a way that suits their learning style. If your child loves drawing animals, there’s something in this lineup for every kind of learner.
Let’s break down how each drawing method works and which animal drawing books for kids are available in each style. All of the titles mentioned here are part of a larger group of animal drawing books for kids, designed specifically to help young artists learn through creativity and hands-on fun.
Step-by-Step Drawing with “How to Draw” Books
The “How to Draw” series focuses on building characters one step at a time. These books are ideal for kids who enjoy working through a clear sequence of instructions to create a completed cartoon animal. For animal lovers, there are two books in particular that stand out:
- How to Draw: Cute Cartoon Animals: This book includes 50 original animal characters drawn in a cute, approachable cartoon style. Each page provides a series of steps that gradually build up the full drawing, from basic shapes to final details. Click here for book details.
- How to Draw: Cartoon Cats and Dogs: If your child is especially fond of pets, this book focuses entirely on cats and dogs in a wide range of poses and personalities. It’s a great fit for kids who want to capture the charm of their favorite furry friends. Click here for book details.
The step-by-step method helps kids slow down and notice how drawings come together line by line. It’s especially good for teaching proportion, basic shapes, and character design. These animal drawing books for kids are great entry points for beginners and also work well for older kids looking to refine their drawing technique.
Tracing and Coloring with the “Trace Then Color” Series
Some kids learn best by doing, and tracing is an excellent way to develop muscle memory and fine motor skills. The “Trace Then Color” series allows kids to practice their lines by tracing fun, original illustrations before coloring them in. This method encourages a hands-on connection to each drawing and is especially good for younger children or those who may be intimidated by freehand sketching.
If you’re looking for animal-themed tracing books, check out these options:
- Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals: Filled with fun, simplified animal characters, this book makes it easy to trace and color while reinforcing shape recognition and artistic confidence. Click here for book details.
- Trace Then Color: Baby Animals: This one focuses on baby versions of animals like flamingos, dolphins, pandas, and more. The adorable characters are simple to trace and fun to color, making it a big hit with preschool and early elementary kids. Click here for book details.
- Trace Then Color: Unicorn Animals: A fun and magical twist on traditional animals. This book blends fantasy and reality by combining animals like giraffes, cats, and more with unicorn horns and whimsical touches. Click here for book details.
- Trace Then Color: Cartoon Cats and Dogs: Similar in theme to its “How to Draw” counterpart, this book lets kids trace playful and expressive pet characters in a range of poses. Click here for book details.
The tracing method is great for helping kids build confidence quickly. Since they’re working from established outlines, they get to focus more on control, movement, and eventually, coloring their creations with pride.
Grid Drawing with the “Draw by Grid” Series
Grid drawing is a time-tested technique that trains the eye to observe proportions and spatial relationships. In my “Draw by Grid” books, each drawing is broken down into a grid, helping kids copy each square until the full picture comes together. It’s a gentle way to introduce observational drawing skills in a format that’s still fun and age-appropriate.
These animal-themed titles in the series are great for this purpose:
- Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals: This book helps kids draw fun animal characters using the grid method. It’s a great next step for kids who are ready to level up their drawing skills from simple tracing or step-by-step guides. Click here for book details.
- Draw by Grid: Unicorn Animals: Just like the tracing version, this one adds a bit of fantasy flair. Kids will draw unicorn versions of familiar animals, practicing structure while enjoying the magical designs. Click here for book details.
- Draw by Grid: Cartoon Cats and Dogs: Focused entirely on pet-themed characters, this title offers a fun way to practice drawing dogs and cats in various cute and funny poses.
Grid drawing helps with patience and precision. It trains kids to focus on one part of a drawing at a time and is an excellent stepping stone toward more advanced freehand techniques.
Why Offer Multiple Drawing Styles?
Every child learns differently. Some thrive with clear step-by-step guidance, while others prefer the freedom to explore through tracing or the structure of grid drawing. By offering a range of drawing styles across my animal drawing books for kids, I aim to meet young artists where they are.
These animal drawing books for kids not only teach technical skills but also promote problem-solving, observation, and creativity. They’re designed to grow with the child—what starts as tracing can become grid drawing and eventually evolve into independent sketching.
All of these animal drawing books for kids feature high-quality, original artwork created with beginners in mind. The designs are meant to be fun, engaging, and a little bit silly, helping kids feel excited about drawing rather than intimidated by it.
Whether your child wants to draw a cuddly kitten, a magical unicorn giraffe, or a whole zoo’s worth of cartoon animals, these animal drawing books for kids will guide them through the process in a way that feels rewarding and approachable.
If you’re searching for animal drawing books for kids that truly offer both fun and skill-building, the titles in the “How to Draw,” “Trace Then Color,” and “Draw by Grid” series make a great place to start. Each series supports different learning styles and gives kids the tools they need to express their creativity through drawing animals they love.
So whether your child wants to draw from scratch, trace a design, or work through a grid, they’ll find something to enjoy—and learn from—in this collection.
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Kevin Coulston is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of over 80 (and still counting) children’s drawing books available here on FirstArtBooks.com. Kevin has also authored numerous kid-friendly comic book series, including “Dylan McVillain: A Super Villain with the Best Intentions” and “The Adventures of a 4th Grade Space Captain,” along with the Children’s Picture Book series “Alexis and the T-Rexes.”
