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.

Animal Themed Drawing Books

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:

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.

View "How to Draw" Books

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:

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.

View "Trace Then Color" Books

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:

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.

View "Draw by Grid" Books

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.

Check Out These Fun Animal Drawing Books for Kids! Step-by-Step Tutorials, Grid Drawing, Coloring Pages, and More!

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.

Sign up for my free newsletter to get more drawing pages like this right in your inbox! Click here.