Color a Mutant Turtle and Explore a World of Wacky Creatures
If you like drawing and coloring strange, imaginative creatures, you’re going to love this: I’ve got a free page straight from my book Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals featuring a one-eyed mutant turtle. That’s right—you can color a mutant turtle with a single cycloptic eye, a twisted shell, and lots of little details that make him totally weird and totally fun.
The free page is a perfect example of what you’ll find throughout the book. First, you trace the drawing to build confidence with lines and shapes. Then, you color it however you want—go wild with bright colors, or go for something more reptilian and earthy. Either way, this cycloptic turtle is ready for you to bring him to life.
About Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals
This book is part of my “Trace Then Color” series, and it’s packed with all kinds of freaky, funny, and wild mutant animals. From tentacled birds to fish with fangs, and yes, plenty more mutant turtles, every page gives kids a chance to practice their drawing skills while having a blast.
The concept is simple: trace the picture, then color it in. It’s a great way for beginner artists to build drawing confidence without starting from a blank page. That structure makes it easier to focus on line work, shapes, and proportion—while still having plenty of fun.
Why This Book Works for So Many Kids
When I was designing Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals, I wanted to make something that would feel fun and imaginative, but also low-pressure. You don’t have to get it perfect. The whole idea is to get kids used to the feel of drawing while letting them play with creative ideas like extra limbs, goofy eyes, or mixed-up animal combos.
So who is this book for? It’s made for:
- Kids just starting out with drawing
- Fans of funny, offbeat creatures
- Parents looking for screen-free creative time
- Teachers who want something different for their art table
It’s also great for kids who feel stuck with a blank page. Tracing helps reduce that fear of messing up because the lines are already there. Once they trace a few mutant animals, they start to build confidence and often begin drawing on their own, unprompted.
Color a Mutant Turtle and So Much More
The cycloptic turtle is just the beginning. Inside Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals, you’ll find 30+ creatures that don’t exist in the real world, but totally should. Some are silly. Some are weird. Some are just plain creepy. And every single one is ready to be traced and colored by young artists who want something a little different.
This is one of those books where you can color a mutant turtle on one page, and a three-eyed duck-lizard hybrid on the next. Every spread is a surprise, which makes it super fun for kids who like quirky or unexpected characters.
And while it’s all a little wild, it’s also a sneaky way to build real drawing skills. Tracing helps with:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Line confidence
- Understanding how complex shapes come together
- Learning to observe and mimic forms
So yes, they’ll color a mutant turtle—and have fun doing it—but they’ll also be growing as artists without even realizing it.
About the Trace Then Color Series
Right now, the Trace Then Color series includes 24 different themes, with more on the way. Each book is designed to make drawing less intimidating and more accessible. You trace the characters, color them in, and before you know it, you’ve created your own art.
Some books focus on sweet and simple stuff like baby animals or cartoon food. Others go into strange territory, like goofy faces, weird creatures, or crusty goobers. No matter what the theme, the goal is the same: make drawing fun, approachable, and pressure-free.
If you want to help a beginner artist build confidence, these books are a solid place to start. They don’t teach drawing in a strict way—they ease kids into the habit of making lines, shapes, and characters. That’s what really matters when you’re getting started.
Try the Free Page and Start Today
If you’re curious about the book, the best place to start is with the free cycloptic turtle page. You get a real taste of what the book is all about: a mix of weird creativity, structured drawing practice, and coloring fun. Just print it out, grab a pencil and some markers or crayons, and dive in.
Free Activity Page (save and print):
There are lots of ways to color a mutant turtle. Make him bright green with purple eyes, or give him metallic armor and red scales. Whatever you decide, the point is to enjoy the process. Once your kid finishes the turtle, they’ll probably want to try a few more—and the book will be right there, full of mutant animals to trace and color next.
Thanks for checking out the freebie, and I hope it gets your young artist excited to color a mutant turtle and a whole lot more!
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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.”
