How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur (Easy Steps for Kids)
Draw this silly dinosaur in 6 easy steps with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 15 minutes and works for ages 5 and up. Print the free step-by-step page below, or draw along with the video. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2.
- Step-by-step drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–2
- Easy
- About 15 min with the video
You’ll need
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper, or the printed page
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Breaking a drawing into simple shapes
- Following steps in order
- Adding your own details
How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur – Free Page from How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2
Today I’m sharing something special – a free page from my newest drawing book, How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2! This particular page will walk you step-by-step through How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur. This dinosaur is on all fours, has a spiney back, a goofy cartoon face, and even resembles an alligator. He’s one of my personal favorites from the book, and now you can try drawing him at home for free.
This book is rated ages 5+, making it perfect for kids, classrooms, and anyone who loves learning how to draw fun and imaginative characters. And as always, all the artwork in the book is completely hand-drawn by me, Kevin Coulston.
Watch it being drawn
Watch the pencil draw it one step at a time, then grab a pencil and try it yourself.
About the Free Page
This free tutorial is pulled straight from the pages of How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2. I chose the silly dinosaur because he’s a perfect example of how you can create a detailed yet approachable character by following simple steps. In this tutorial, you’ll learn How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur starting with basic shapes, then adding fun details like his spines, legs, and that goofy grin that makes him stand out.
I break down the process into clear, easy-to-follow steps so young artists don’t feel overwhelmed. By the end, you’ll have a finished cartoon dinosaur that you can customize with your own colors, patterns, or even accessories. Want to give him a pirate hat? Go for it. Add sunglasses? Absolutely. That’s the beauty of learning How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur – once you master the basic shapes, the creative possibilities are endless.
About How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2
How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2 is the follow-up to my original How to Draw: Cool Stuff book. This second volume takes everything that made the first book so popular and adds even more variety. You’ll find characters from a wide range of themes, including:
- Dinosaurs (like our silly, spiney-backed friend)
- Animals
- People
- Robots
- Aliens
- And much more
With 50 step-by-step tutorials inside, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re into prehistoric creatures, sci-fi adventures, or everyday characters, this book gives you the tools to bring them to life.
And just like the silly dinosaur tutorial, every single page in How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2 uses simple steps so artists of all skill levels can follow along. Even if you’ve never drawn before, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can pick it up.
How the Series Began
The How to Draw: Cool Stuff series started because I wanted to create a collection of books that combined variety, creativity, and simplicity. I’ve always believed that learning to draw should be fun and rewarding, not intimidating. That’s why I design each tutorial to be beginner-friendly but still engaging for more experienced artists.
The first How to Draw: Cool Stuff quickly became a favorite among kids, parents, and teachers. It was packed with characters from all sorts of themes, and the positive response inspired me to start working on volume two.
With How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2, I wanted to make sure every page felt fresh and exciting. That’s why you’ll find a mix of silly animals, cool robots, fun people, and plenty of dinosaurs – including today’s free How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur tutorial.
Why Kids Love Drawing Silly Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are already fascinating creatures, but when you give them exaggerated features, funny expressions, and playful proportions, they become even more fun to draw. The silly dinosaur in this tutorial has an extra-long tail, a wide goofy smile, and spines that make him instantly recognizable.
Learning How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur is also a great way for kids to build their drawing skills. You’ll practice drawing curves, adding texture, and balancing proportions – all while creating a character that’s full of personality.
Free Activity Page (save and print):
Hand-Drawn Art by Kevin Coulston
One thing I always emphasize is that every page in my books is hand-drawn by me. I don’t use digital shortcuts or stock art. Instead, I sit down with my sketchbook and draw each character from scratch, making sure every tutorial flows naturally from step one to the finished drawing.
When you follow the How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur tutorial, you’re seeing my original artwork exactly as I drew it. I think that gives the books a personal touch that’s missing from a lot of mass-produced activity books.
Get Creative Beyond the Tutorial
Once you’ve mastered How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur from the free page, I encourage you to make it your own. Change his expression. Give him a silly hat. Put him in a scene with other dinosaurs or animals from How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2.
Drawing isn’t just about following instructions – it’s about using those instructions as a springboard for your imagination. That’s why I love including characters like this dinosaur in my books. They’re a perfect starting point for creative storytelling and design.
Draw Robots, Animals, and More...
Where to Find More
This free page is just one of 50 tutorials inside How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2. If you enjoy learning How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur, you’ll love exploring the rest of the book. There’s a whole world of characters waiting for you, from adventurous robots to cute animals to wacky aliens.
And if you haven’t seen the first How to Draw: Cool Stuff yet, it’s worth checking out. Between both books, you’ll have 100 tutorials to keep you drawing for months.
Check Out The First 'Cool Stuff' Book
Final Thoughts
I’m so excited to share this free How to Draw a Silly Dinosaur page with you. It’s a fun, easy, and creative way to dip your toes into How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2. Whether you’re a kid picking up a pencil for the first time or an adult looking for a relaxing hobby, this book – and the whole series – has something for you.
So grab your paper, sharpen your pencils, and let’s draw something silly!
Draw it 3 ways
Every FirstArtBooks theme comes in three formats. Trace it, draw it step by step, or copy it square by square: the more ways kids draw a character, the better they know it.
- How to Draw
Draw it step by stepYou’re on this pageSee all How to Draw books - Trace Then Color
Parasaurolophus Coloring PageSame theme · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
How to Draw a Plesiosaur by GridSame theme · Ages 7+See all Draw by Grid books
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw a volcano puffing smoke and a few palm trees.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
The ground started to shake, and then…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your silly dinosaur a name and a job. What makes it happy, and what makes it grumpy? Write two or three sentences.
Directed drawing and writing worksheets for this lesson: Silly Dinosaur Directed Drawing and Writing Worksheet, with a kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd–3rd grade writing page.
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- The neck and tail come out too short.
- Dinosaurs are long. Draw the body as a big oval first, then stretch the neck and tail well past it before adding the head.
- The legs look like sticks.
- Make dinosaur legs thick, like tree trunks, and give the feet a flat bottom so it can stand.
- The spikes or plates are all different sizes.
- Start with the biggest in the middle of the back and make them smaller toward the head and tail.
- Pressing hard from the very first step.
- Use light, sketchy lines first. You can erase them easily and go over the lines you keep at the end.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- Would your dinosaur eat plants or meat? How can you tell from its teeth?
- Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. How do scientists know what they looked like?
- Which step was the trickiest? What did you do to get past it?
- What shapes can you find in your drawing?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this silly dinosaur drawing lesson for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 2). Younger kids can follow along with a grown-up, one step at a time.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes, including time to pause the video. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Pencil and eraser; paper, or the printed page; crayons, markers or colored pencils.
What size does it print?
US Letter (8.5 by 11 inches). Use Print this page or Download PDF above. On A4 paper, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings.
Can kids draw the silly dinosaur without printing the page?
Yes. Draw on any paper and copy one step at a time from the screen, or pause the video after each step. Classroom mode shows one step at a time, full screen.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–2, about 15 minutes. Step-by-step drawing, easy level. The video does the teaching: press play and let students draw along.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students build drawing skills by following a sequence of steps.
- VA:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work: students add their own details, expressions and color to finish the character.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. Use classroom mode above to show one step at a time on your board. More in the teacher resources, the Animals hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Dinosaur Drawing Pack
12 printable dinosaur pages to draw, trace and color, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.
How to Draw: Cool Stuff
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Silly Aliens
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 18 free dinosaur drawing lessons and pages →
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