Trace and Color a Cow-terpillar (Free Printable for Kids)
Trace the outline of this cow-terpillar, then color it in. It’s a free printable for ages 3 and up that takes about 10 minutes, and all you need is the printed page, a pencil and crayons. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals.
- Trace then color
- Ages 3+
- Grades Pre–K-K
- Beginner
- About 10 min
You’ll need
- The printed page
- Pencil
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Pencil control along a line
- Hand-eye coordination
- Choosing colors
Get ready for a fun and quirky coloring adventure with Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals!
50 Mutant Animals to Trace and Color!
This exciting activity book lets kids trace and color 50 unique and imaginative animals with a playful twist.
Perfect for young artists aged 3+ and fun for the whole family, this book provides easy-to-follow tracing guides that help children develop their drawing skills while having a blast. Once traced, kids can bring each character to life with their own creative colors and designs!
Free Activity Page:
Why Kids Will Love This Book:
- Simple Tracing Pages – Easy outlines make it perfect for young artists.
- Funny and Unique Creatures – Playful characters that spark creativity and laughter.
- Encourages Imagination – Kids can personalize each animal with their own artistic touch.
- Great for Skill-Building – Helps improve fine motor skills and confidence in drawing.
- Hours of Creative Fun – A fantastic screen-free activity for any time of the day.
With Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals, kids will laugh, imagine, and create as they bring these weird and wonderful creatures to life!
Grab a copy today and let the mutant madness begin!
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
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 DrawHow to Draw booksDraw it step by stepNo free page of this one yet. See the How to Draw books (ages 5+)
- Trace Then Color
Trace it, then color itYou’re on this pageSee all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
How to Draw a Dolphin DudeSame theme · Ages 7+See all Draw by Grid books
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw a pet show with a judge holding a ribbon.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
The judge had never seen anything like it…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your cow-terpillar a name and a job. What makes it happy, and what makes it grumpy? Write two or three sentences.
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
- It’s hard to tell which two animals it is.
- Keep the most famous part of each animal clear: the horn, the trunk, the stripes or the tail.
- The two halves don’t join.
- Draw one smooth body line where the animals meet, then add details on each side.
- Too many details at once.
- Draw the big shapes first. Spots, stripes and scales come last.
- Tracing too fast and slipping off the line.
- Slow down on curves and corners. Try putting a finger from the other hand next to the line as a guide.
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.
- Which two animals is this made of? Which parts came from each?
- What would you mix together to invent a new animal?
- What name fits this character?
- Which step was the trickiest? What did you do to get past it?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this tracing page
What age is this cow-terpillar tracing page for?
Ages 3 and up (about grades Pre-K to K). It is a good first drawing activity for preschoolers, and older kids enjoy the coloring.
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
The printed page; pencil; crayons, markers or colored pencils. Chunky crayons or washable markers are easiest for small hands.
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.
Is tracing cheating?
No. Tracing builds pencil control and shows how a drawing is put together. When it feels easy, try drawing the character again next to it without tracing.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades Pre–K-K, about 10 minutes. Trace then color, beginner level.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students practice control of drawing tools by tracing.
- VA:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas: students make their own color choices.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. More in the teacher resources, the Animal Mashups hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Unicorns, Mermaids and Mashups Pack
12 printable unicorn, mermaid and mashup 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.
Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 15 free animal mashup drawing lessons and pages →
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