Unlocking imagination, how to draw books for kids ignite artistic journeys, guiding young hearts to paint their own destinies.

If you have a kid, you know the struggle. From all the responsibilities out there, one of them implies triggering their inner passion and talents.

Every kid is good at something. Every kid has a passion, but it’s up to parents to identify it. That's why we take our kids dancing, playing football, trying karate, and so on.

In a world where most parents think about physical activity for their kids, how about triggering their artistic side?

Drawing is a great activity. It's fun, and you can spend quality time with your little one. Some kids get great with time, while others may struggle a bit. No worries! Drawing is not always a talent. Many times, it’s just a skill.

Kids love colors and completing small tasks anyway. Now, not all books are made the same, so here are some of the best rated how to draw books for kids released over the past years.

What Are Some Outstanding How To Draw Books For Kids?

How to Draw Animals for Kids A Fun and Easy Step-By-Step Guide to Drawing Cute Animals, by Clever Canvas Kids (2024)

I recently picked up How to Draw Animals for Kid thinking it might be a nice change of pace for my kids who usually prefer Minecraft and cartoons over anything that involves pencils and paper. They've always been a bit shy about drawing, maybe worrying they wouldn't do a good job or it just wouldn't be fun. This children's book on learning to draw seemed like it could really change their perspective, offering a simple way to begin drawing that felt approachable and uncomplicated.

To my surprise, the drawing book was a hit from the get-go. It was more like a game to them, turning simple shapes into animals they love. There was no stress, just a lot of excitement and curiosity about which animal they'd figure out how to draw next. Watching them get so into it, concentrating and then lighting up when they recognized the animal they had drawn, was really something special.

They were learning and having fun at the same time, which is always a win in my book. It became a way for them to see that they could create something cool from scratch, boosting their confidence bit by bit. It turned out to be a great way to spend time together, sharing our drawings and enjoying the simple pleasure of making something by hand.

How To Draw 101 Cute Stuff For Kids, by Marius Alexander (2023)

I believe this is the great book for kids if your little one likes to scribble and do coloring books.

The book has over 100 drawings for your kid to complete, so it’s likely to keep them busy for quite a while. Each drawing comes with a little guide and step-by-step instructions. If your kid is still new at drawing, I recommend explaining the basics.

All in all, this book is about having fun while also developing some skills. It’s suitable for kids with or without experience, so it’s great for beginners too. Pictures cover more categories, from foods and plants to animals and cars.

On each page, your kid will have a little practice area. Basically, they’re encouraged to try out different colors, and become familiar with lines and shapes before actually completing the drawing.

As for the instructions, they're pretty simple to follow. They include sketches, a few words, and some arrows for anyone to understand.

The book is available in a large format, 8.5×11 inches, so there are no intricate or sophisticated details to make the job difficult. A couple of drawings per day will keep kids busy for nearly two months.

How To Draw Vehicles Book, by Bert Taylor (2023)

Is your kid obsessed with cars and other types of vehicles? Most boys are, indeed. If you can only see toy cars in all shapes and sizes wherever you look around your home, chances are this book will make your kid’s day.

By far one of the best how to draw books for kids, I’d describe it as a well detailed and straightforward guide to discover the art of drawing. And it’s not just guessing or using imagination, but very specific details that will take your kid to a different level.

The book is ideal for kids, but trust me, you'll learn a few secrets yourself too. And if you're like me, chances are you'll try a few sketches as well. Anyway, there are over 50 tutorials in the book, and each of them is direct and easy to understand.

The book isn't all about cars, so it's suitable for all kids. It also includes tutorials for different shapes and objects, animals, or plants, among others.

Illustrations are very well made and easy to follow. There’s no experience required. Whether your kid loves doing sketches or this is the first time they’ll grab a pencil, they’ll love the outcome.

At times, the book may feel a bit advanced, especially when it comes to shading techniques. But then, take it easy, one thing at a time, and your toddler will love it.

How To Draw Cute Animals For Kids, by Bonnie and Momo Publishing (2023)

Adorable, cute, well detailed, and an excellent start in your kid's drawing career, that's how I could describe one of the best how to draw books for kids. Who doesn’t love animals? Exactly! From tigers and snakes to lions and dogs, kids love all kinds of animals.

This book brings in a kid-friendly experience. Whether your kid has drawn before or it’s the first time they do it, experience is irrelevant. There are all sorts of easy tutorials that encourage self-learning.

Sure, you could spend some quality time with your little one while going through this book, but you’d be surprised by how simple it is. It’s educational, but in a fun way. While it does develop skills, it doesn’t feel like practice, but more like a game.

The book is made with plenty of space for your kid to practice. There are steps to go through, instructions, and basic requirements. Exactly, you won't have to spend a fortune on fancy supplies.

Anyway, all pages are indexed, so everything’s easy to find. Most animals can be drawn with a few shapes and lines. I call this the four step book because pretty much any drawing can be made in four steps.

And as if all these weren't enough, there are over 100 pages in the book, so that should keep your kid busy for a month or two.

Learn to Draw Kawaii Girls for Beginners, by Kawaii Book (2023)

This book is a bit more specific. Forget about animals and cars for a moment. Kids today are more modern than ever. If your little one likes anime, manga, and other similar cartoons, this book is the perfect gift.

Don’t worry if you’re clueless about Kawaii girls, so was I before getting the point. Basically, this book teaches your little one how to draw those cute anime girls with big beautiful eyes.

Drawing such characters is super simple and fun. And while the book is based on girls only, once your kid gets the basics, they’ll be able to use their imagination to draw all kinds of different characters.

Advertised to kids, I think the book is a pretty good choice for anyone who loves drawing. It makes Kawaii characters super simple and straightforward. Once you get a few hints about it, you’ll love practicing yourself too.

In terms of technical details, there are about 120 pages to go through. They’re printed on one side, so it makes no difference what coloring pens you buy for your kid. They won’t stain or go through the paper.

How to Draw Animals for Kids Ages 4-8, by Jambook (2023)

I know I've already suggested an animal drawing book, but if your kid truly loves animals, they'll want some more. No problem! This book has a self-explanatory title. It's aimed at kids between 4 and 8, and it brings in 50 exercises.

There's nothing but animals in this book. They're easy to draw, with a few lines and shapes, and there you go. I call them exercises because that's what they feel like.

They come with step-by-step instructions and will easily improve your little one’s skills with a straightforward approach.

Each animal can be drawn in six simple steps. There’s an easy-to-follow traceable area, as well as many blank areas for kids to try out their own versions. In other words, there are two pages for each animal.

The book looks great with its glossy finish too, so your little one will adore it. Pages measure 8.5×11 inches, so they’re quite large, leaving no room for hidden or complicated details.

Fast and Colorful, by S. D. Drage (2023)

Fasten your seat belts, we’re going back to cars! I'm not sure how to describe this book. In theory, it's a coloring book. In practice, you'll find an old school drawing style, 2D, simple lines, and old fashioned drawings.

Featuring a wide variety of sleek and super fast vehicles, this book is great if your kid likes cars.

Normally, they’ll only need to grab the colored pencils and give each car a unique approach. Sure, there are some instructions as well, only to make the cars look more realistic, but there are no rules.

I find it to be a drawing book as well because cars are so simply made that your kid will most likely start to copy them and draw them on every piece of white paper.

It felt like my little one’s imagination runs wild once he is done coloring a page. Next thing I know, he is drawing these cars everywhere.

I think the book is mainly supposed to boost kids’ creativity in terms of coloring, but like I said, you’ll notice an extension of it in drawing. All in all, if your little one is into cars, you can’t go wrong with it.

How to Draw Things in 365 Days, by Bogiki Publishing (2023)

Time to reveal your kid’s inner artist with a masterpiece and probably one of the best how to draw books for kids. In a world where most such books will keep your kid busy for a few months or so, this book will do it for a full year.

Sure, if they love drawing, chances are they’ll go through it much faster, but I think you can give them little tasks daily. One drawing a day will do, let them learn how to do it properly and test them out.

Items in this book? Just as varied, things you see everyday, everywhere. From toasters and school items to uniforms and umbrellas, there’s a bit of everything.

That’s the best part about this book, your kid will get to figure out exactly what they prefer to draw based on discovering new techniques. You’ll find it funny, but I think this book is just as handy for adults trying to start drawing.

Anyway, the book comes in the classic 8.5×11 inch size, so the pictures are quite large. There are countless hand drawn illustrations, black and white designs, useful tips and ideas, and even empty boxes for the student to practice.

At some point, I think it may seem a bit difficult. However, let your kid start drawing in order, and they'll find it super simple. I think further designs are more complicated, but experience from previous drawings will help.

How to Draw Adorable Things, by Bogiki Publishing (2023)

Bogiki Publishing seems to be a pretty good name in terms of how to draw books for kids. There’s quite a decent collection out there. The best part about it? Everything is so diversified that no matter what your kid likes, chances are they’ll find it.

Variety is good if you ask me, especially if your little one is just starting this venture. They probably have no clue what they like. They’ll find things they’re familiar with, as well as things that look new and intriguing. Join them on this venture, tell them what each item means, and so on.

By the end of the book, you’ll probably become a decent drawer too, especially when sketching things on those boring days in work.

Anyway, illustrations are hand drawn. There are lots of black and white designs, so you might as well let your kid do some coloring too.

If you’ve had other books from Bogiki Publishing, you probably know already instructions are pretty clear and direct. They start with basic drawings and become more and more complicated. In other words, it’s great for both kids and adults.

Bottom line

While there are lots of how to draw books for kids out there, I think these ones stand out. They’re far from the average book with random drawings. It feels like there’s a bit of science behind them.

Sure, they’re basic and feature super simple drawings, but as your little one goes through each book, they’ll notice designs get slightly more complicated.

The idea is not just challenging for them, but it will also help develop skills like persistence, creativity, and imagination. A bit of guidance can help, indeed, but there will be times when you'll have to leave your kid to figure things out alone.​

There is also another way to teach kids drawing, is the good old connect the dots method. Or if you are looking for coloring books for kids instead, check out our latest list.

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