Cartoon Cats & Dogs – Three Ways To Draw! Step-by-Step, Trace and Color, Grid Method

by | Mar 24, 2025 | Animals, How to Draw Books for Kids

Three Ways to Draw Adorable Cartoon Cats & Dogs!

If you or your child love drawing cute and funny pets, you’re going to love my three art books, all centered around the same lovable theme—cartoon cats and dogs! Whether you’re a beginner, an experienced young artist, or just looking for a fun and relaxing activity, these books offer different methods to bring your favorite furry friends to life on paper. With How to Draw: Cartoon Cats & Dogs, Trace Then Color: Cartoon Cats & Dogs, and Draw by Grid: Cartoon Cats & Dogs, there’s a perfect book for every drawing style.

Each book provides a different approach to drawing, making it easy to find one that fits your child’s needs. Whether they enjoy step-by-step tutorials, tracing and coloring, or using a grid-based method, these books help young artists improve their skills while having tons of fun. Let’s explore each book and its unique benefits!


How to Draw: Cartoon Cats & Dogs – Step-by-Step Fun!

For kids who want to learn how to draw adorable pets from scratch, How to Draw: Cartoon Cats & Dogs is the perfect choice. This book breaks down the process into easy-to-follow steps, making it simple for beginners to create their own cartoon animals.

Benefits of This Book:

Clear, Simple Steps – Each drawing is broken down into manageable steps, helping kids build confidence as they go. ✅ Great for Beginners – Even if your child has never drawn before, they’ll be able to follow along and see real progress. ✅ Encourages Creativity – Once kids master the basics, they can experiment by adding their own details and styles. ✅ Improves Fine Motor Skills – Following step-by-step instructions helps develop hand-eye coordination and control.

This book is perfect for kids who love to doodle but need a little guidance in turning their sketches into polished cartoon characters. It’s also great for older kids and even adults who want to practice drawing cute, exaggerated animal designs!

View This Book


Trace Then Color: Cartoon Cats & Dogs – A Perfect Blend of Drawing and Coloring

If your child loves both coloring and drawing but finds starting from scratch a bit intimidating, Trace Then Color: Cartoon Cats & Dogs is an excellent choice. This book allows young artists to trace fun and expressive cat and dog illustrations, helping them gain confidence in their lines before moving on to coloring their creations.

Why This Book is Awesome:

Builds Drawing Confidence – Tracing helps kids learn the shapes and lines of cartoon characters without the pressure of freehand drawing. ✅ Perfect for Relaxation – The combination of tracing and coloring makes for a calming and enjoyable artistic activity. ✅ Enhances Pen Control – Learning to trace accurately strengthens fine motor skills and prepares kids for more advanced drawing. ✅ Encourages Creative Coloring – Once the images are traced, kids can experiment with fun and wacky color combinations!

This book is fantastic for kids who love to draw but may not feel ready to create their own characters yet. It bridges the gap between beginner and confident artist by providing a fun, structured way to practice.

View This Book


Draw by Grid: Cartoon Cats & Dogs – A Fun and Structured Drawing Method

For those who enjoy a structured approach to drawing, Draw by Grid: Cartoon Cats & Dogs is the way to go! This book teaches kids how to break down images into simple grid sections, making it easier to copy and recreate drawings with accurate proportions.

Why Kids Love This Book:

Teaches Proportion and Alignment – Using the grid method helps kids understand how to place features correctly. ✅ Great for Logical Thinkers – If your child enjoys puzzles and structure, they’ll love this method of drawing. ✅ Step-Up in Difficulty – Compared to tracing, grid drawing challenges kids to focus more on details while still providing guidance. ✅ Boosts Patience and Focus – Completing a grid drawing requires concentration, making it a great exercise in perseverance.

This book is especially useful for kids who enjoy a challenge or need a structured approach to learning how to draw. It’s also a fantastic stepping stone toward freehand drawing since it teaches the fundamental skill of breaking complex images into simpler parts.

View This Book


Why Drawing Cartoon Cats & Dogs is a Great Activity for Kids

Drawing isn’t just about creating cute pictures—it’s an incredible way for kids to develop a wide range of skills! Here are some of the key benefits that these books offer:

Boosts Creativity – Whether following steps, tracing, or using the grid method, kids engage their imagination by designing their own unique cartoon pets. ✅ Enhances Focus and Patience – Completing a drawing requires attention to detail, helping children develop patience and perseverance. ✅ Strengthens Hand-Eye Coordination – Practicing different drawing techniques improves fine motor skills and overall hand control. ✅ Encourages Artistic Exploration – These books provide a foundation, but kids are always encouraged to add their own unique touches and experiment with styles. ✅ Fun and Screen-Free Activity – In today’s digital age, hands-on activities like drawing offer a much-needed break from screens while still being incredibly engaging.


Which Book is Right for Your Child?

Each Cartoon Cats & Dogs book offers a different way to draw, so how do you decide which one is the best fit? Here’s a quick guide:

No matter which book you choose, each one provides hours of fun and a fantastic way to improve drawing skills. And if your child really loves drawing, why not grab all three? Practicing with different methods helps young artists become more versatile and confident in their abilities!

Learn More About This Series


Get Started on Your Cartoon Drawing Adventure!

With these three books, your child can explore different techniques, build confidence, and have a blast drawing the cutest and silliest cartoon cats and dogs. Each book is designed to be fun, engaging, and easy to follow, making them perfect for kids of all skill levels.

So, whether your little artist wants to follow simple steps, trace and color, or use the grid method, these books offer the perfect creative outlet. Get your copies today and watch as your child’s artistic skills and love for drawing grow!

Buy The Books!

Upcoming Events:

Verde Valley Comic Expo
Shape Drawing Challenge
With Kevin Coulston
March, 29th 2025 11:00am
+ Exhibit Hall All Day
Cottonwood Recreation Center
150 S. 6th St
Cottonwood, AZ 86326

Phoenix Fan Fusion
Shape Drawing Challenge
With Kevin Coulston
June, 7th 2025 12:00pm
+ Exhibit Hall All Weekend
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, AZ

Meet The Author & Artist

Kevin Coulston is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of over 70 (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.”

Over a decade and a half since his initial published work, Kevin is now dedicating himself to inspiring the next generation of illustrators with his “How To Draw,” “Trace Then Color,” and “Draw by Grid” series of art books.

Video Drawing Tutorial: How to Draw an Alien Astronaut in 8 Minutes | Step-by-Step Drawing | Fun All Ages Art Activity

Learn How to Draw a Cartoon Alien Astronaut If you're on the lookout for something truly fun, weird, and creative to draw, my latest video tutorial is for you. In this one, I’m showing you how to draw an alien astronaut, step by step. The character comes straight out...

Video Drawing Tutorial: How To Draw A Mermaid

Learn to draw 50 adorable mermaids, unicorns, and other cute characters with simple, step-by-step instructions in this fun, creativity-boosting drawing book! Over 50 Cute Step-by-Step Drawings for Kids! This fun, 106-page drawing book teaches your child how to draw...

Trace & Color A Cute 4-Eyed Monster! (Free Activity Page)

Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Monsters offers kids aged 3+ the chance to trace and color 50 adorable cartoon monsters, including the cute 4-eyed monster below, sparking creativity and providing hours of fun for the whole family! Let your child's creativity run wild...

Free Activity Page: Trace Then Color an Alien Cyborg | Alien Robot Coloring Page For Kids | Fun for All-Ages

Alien Robot Coloring Page Fun with Trace Then Color: Alien Cyborgs If your kid loves robots, aliens, or anything in between, then my latest book might just be their new favorite. "Trace Then Color: Alien Cyborgs" is a wild mix of sci-fi and cartoon craziness packed...

Trace Then Color A Werewolf — A Free Halloween Kid’s Activity Page

Trace and color this cartoon werewolf with this free coloring page from the spooky activity book for kids ‘Trace Then Color: Cartoon Halloween Characters’

Trace Then Color A Cute Mermaid! 🧜‍♀️ (Free Activity Page)

Trace and Color 50 adorable mermaids, unicorns, and other cute characters in this fun activity book, designed to inspire creativity and provide hours of artistic fun! Fun Tracing and Coloring Book for Kids – Draw and Color 50 Cute Characters! This delightful tracing...

How to Draw a Robot Cat — A Free Kid’s Activity Page

Learn to draw a robot cat in just 5 minutes with this free drawing page from the activity book for kids ‘How to Draw: Cartoon Robots’ by Kevin Coulston

Free Activity Page: Cyclops Teddy Bear Monster Grid Drawing Exercise – Fun Art Worksheet

Get a Free Cyclops Teddy Bear Monster Drawing Page from Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Monsters! Who doesn’t love a goofy, adorable monster? If you’re looking for a fun and creative drawing challenge, I’ve got something exciting for you—a free drawing page straight from...

150 Cartoon Faces to Draw! Easy-to-Follow Grid Drawing Pages – Fun for All-Ages

Master the Art of Cartoon Expressions with Draw by Grid: Goofy, Silly, and Grumpy Faces! Have you ever wanted to draw expressive and hilarious cartoon faces but didn’t know where to start? The Draw by Grid series is here to help! With three exciting books—Draw by...

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the fantastic mothers out there. Please enjoy this free drawing page, and enjoy a drawing activity with the kids.

What Our Customers Are Saying

“The author really does a great job demonstrating how easy (and rewarding!) it can be to draw seemingly ordinary things you (and your little ones!) may feel too intimidated to try drawing without the step-by-step guide! Putting already-known shapes together and making something new and original is a fantastic way to learn! And recognizing that you can add your own twists and personality to your drawings makes all the difference. I think it’s a fun, original approach to building confidence for a lifelong hobby. I have the ebook copy, and can only imagine how great a physical copy would be!”

– Daenarah [Amazon Review]

“There are several of these fun books by this author. My kids and I have had a lot of fun with these. It’s a great activity to do as a family and see how they all turn out. Almost like a sip and paint but more of a juice box and draw.”

Allison B. [Amazon Review]

My kids can’t wait to start drawing these monsters in their illustrations! The many different moods of the monsters appeal to their different personalities. We love the many options, styles, and opportunities to expand upon the characters. Recommended for all ages!

– Kasey [Amazon Review]

“Kevin has put out many books on drawing and animation, and has such a great feel for HOW to explain the process. His art is so expressive and kid-friendly, but his real strength is in his ability to really explain and show how it’s done, making it accessible to kids and adults. I’m a firm believer that not everyone who “can do” can teach, but Kevin does both beautifully! Pick this up and watch kids have a blast making robots of all sorts, while learning great fundamental art skills at the same time!”

Tom R. [Amazon Review]

“My 5yo LOVES this book! The drawings are cute and the instructions are easy to follow along with. She gets a kick out of drawing muffin monsters and ketchup monsters and it actually keeps her pretty focused for long periods of time.”

– Monica [Amazon Review]

“This is a fantastic book for kids who love art, cartoons, comic books, or just having fun! There are a lot of characters to choose from, and really easy step-by-step instructions to follow. You child will have a blast drawing these fun, silly characters! And just in time for Easter baskets!”

– Bestmomever [Amazon Review]

“This is a very good book for kids that want to learn to draw, my sons love it and Kevin does a great job of making drawing fun and not intimidating. Highly recommended for the long summer hours!”

David D. [Amazon Review]

News and Free Drawing Tutorials