Kids love drawing and coloring. It allows them to be creative and use their imagination. However, if your child takes a serious interest in drawing and art, you may want to get them a drawing book that’ll teach them some fundamentals and how to improve their skills. There are tons of drawing books for beginners and kids, but I’ve created this list of the best drawing books for kids that’ll spark their interest while also helping them learn to draw.
Table of Contents
7 Best Drawing Books for Kids (2025 Reviews)
Best Drawing Books for Kids
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1. How to Draw 101 Animals
(Best budget option — $)
Why it’s great: This is an inexpensive option that teaches your child how to draw cartoon animals. The step-by-step instructions guide your little one through the entire process of creating each animal. With 101 drawings, your child will have plenty of practice drawing animals to their heart’s content. It’s great for kids who can already draw a little on their own and will help them build their skills. There are also other ‘How to Draw 101’ books, so you can choose a different theme if you prefer.
Keep in mind: While this says it’s for kids ages 5 and up, it’s a little difficult for younger kids and is really meant for 8 and up. Younger kids can practice by tracing the steps rather than trying to draw them themselves, though.
Good for: Parents looking for an affordable drawing book to see if it catches their child’s interest.
![How to Draw 101 Animals]()
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2. Portrait Drawing for Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Faces
(Most advanced — $$)
Why it’s great: This drawing book will teach children how to draw portraits. It’s the only one on the list that will help your child improve their skills when it comes to drawing faces. It’s geared towards older kids, ages 9-12 years old and will teach them the basics of facial features and how to put them all together into an accurate portrait drawing. Kids who want to learn how to draw themselves or their family members will benefit from the foundational skills they’ll learn in this book.
Keep in mind: This book will be difficult for children who don’t have any drawing skills yet. It’s better for older kids who have already taken an interest in drawing and know how to draw the basics.
Good for: Older kids who really want to hone their portrait drawing skills.
![Portrait Drawing for Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Faces]()
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3. The Drawing Book for Kids: 365 Daily Things to Draw, Step by Step
(Most comprehensive — $$)
Why it’s great: This book is the perfect option to encourage kids to start drawing. It has one item a day for your child to practice all year long. Each item is broken down into easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions that will help your child master their art. They’ll learn to draw a plethora of different things, from animals and plants to vehicles and holiday drawings. This variety will keep your little one’s attention and interest more than those that offer similar pictures throughout the book.
Keep in mind: Some of the drawings are more complicated than others, and it’s harder to tell what’s new in each step, so it’s best for older kids ages 8 and up.
Good for: Kids who are visual learners and have an eye for detail.
![The Drawing Book for Kids: 365 Daily Things to Draw, Step by Step]()
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4. The How to Draw Book for Kids: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Cute and Silly Things
(Best for beginners — $$$)
Why it’s great: For kids who are just starting to show interest in learning how to draw, this is the best how to draw book. It has straightforward and easy-to-follow directions. The drawings are all fun and cute items that will keep your child’s attention. Each step-by-step guide is extra large. They show your child how to create the image, with darker lines delineating what’s new in each step, making it easier for younger kids to figure out what to add next. The images are all relatively simple, so this is a great choice for beginners.
Keep in mind: This is best for beginners just learning to draw and doesn’t have anything more complicated for more advanced kids.
Good for: Younger kids that are starting to show an interest in drawing.
![The How to Draw Book for Kids: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Cute and Silly Things]()
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5. Art for Kids: Drawing: The Only Drawing Book You’ll Ever Need to Be the Artist You’ve Always Wanted to Be
(Most realistic style — $$)
Why it’s great: Instead of having your child draw cute little cartoons and images, this drawing book focuses on more realistic pictures. Not only will it teach your child the basics when it comes to forms and shapes, but it also teaches them to use perspective and to create the illusion of volume with light. Your child will learn how to accurately and realistically draw landscapes, animals, people, and more. It also helps them learn how to scale and proportion their drawings.
Keep in mind: This is definitely more advanced and is best for kids who already have some skill in drawing.
Good for: Older kids that want to learn how to draw realistic objects.
![Art for Kids: Drawing: The Only Drawing Book You’ll Ever Need to Be the Artist You’ve Always Wanted to Be]()
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6. How to Draw Cute Stuff: Draw Anything and Everything in the Cutest Style Ever!
(Most fun — $$)
Why it’s great: This is a super fun drawing book that teaches your child how to draw cartoons in a cutesie style. No matter what your little one is interested in, this book will help them learn how to draw it cutely. They’ll learn the basics of Japanese kawaii, which allows them to create faces with sweet expressions and personify inanimate objects. This book offers a variety of things to draw, but you can also choose to purchase one that focuses on a specific theme, like animals or plants.
Keep in mind: Although this says it’s for kids ages 6 and up, it doesn’t give enough instruction for younger kids that are just learning how to draw.
Good for: Kids who have some experience drawing and want a book that teaches them how to draw in an adorable style.
![How to Draw Cute Stuff: Draw Anything and Everything in the Cutest Style Ever!]()
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7. This Drawing Pad Belongs to ______! My Secret Book of Scribblings and Sketches
(Best for creative kids — $)
Why it’s great: Unlike the other books on this list, this is actually just a drawing pad. It has a spot for your child to put their name on the front and create their own images on the blank pages. This sketch pad allows children to keep all their drawings in one place, and they’ll love that it’s their own secret book. Also, each page has a cute, inspirational quote at the bottom that tells your child, “You are capable of amazing things!”
Keep in mind: Although this doesn’t teach kids how to draw anything specific, it gives them the space and the freedom to practice their own art.
Good for: Kids who love drawing their own creations and need a drawing book to keep them all together.
![This Drawing Pad Belongs to ______! My Secret Book of Scribblings and Sketches]()
Best Overall
How to Draw 101 Animals
The How to Draw 101 Animals is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..
FAQs about Drawing Books for Kids
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1. What age do children start to draw?
Kids start scribbling at around 12-18 months old. The more time they spend with crayons or markers in their little hands, the better they’ll get. Make sure all their drawing tools are non-toxic, as they tend to still want to put everything in their mouths at this age.
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2. Is drawing a talent or a skill?
It’s a little bit of both, but mainly skill. Even if you’re not talented at all, you can learn to draw with time and effort. In fact, in the long run, gifted artists are often outperformed by those with less talent who spend more time developing the skill. This is because they’re constantly learning and improving, while some talented artists never bother working to improve.
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3. How can I help my child improve their drawing skills?
This is a little bit of a loaded question. If you’re worried that your young child doesn’t draw well, just give them crayons and other drawing tools and encourage them to have fun with them. They will naturally get better the more that they practice, just like with any skill. However, if your child wants to learn and improve their drawing skills, you can buy them drawing books that teach them new concepts and encourage them to practice.
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4. How many hours a day should my child practice drawing if they want to get really good?
If your child is really interested in drawing and getting better at it, they’ll need to practice. Since they’re just kids, allow them to decide how long they actually want to spend drawing. They will start to see improvements just by getting in an hour a day. If they’re really serious and want to be a professional artist, they’ll see significant improvement if they spend 5-6 hours a day drawing. That seems a bit excessive for children, though. It’s best just to encourage them to spend a little time each day drawing, and they will improve with time.
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5. What should I look for in a drawing book for kids?
Whether you’re trying to encourage your child to draw or they’re already interested in improving their skill, a good drawing book can make all the difference. Look for a book with drawing styles or pictures that your little one will love. If they’re fascinated by animals or monsters, buy a book that teaches them how to perfect those. Any drawing book that catches your child’s interest and keeps them drawing is a good choice.
Conclusion
Drawing is a great way to encourage your child’s creativity. It allows them to express themselves freely and to use their imagination. For younger kids, it helps them improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Finding the perfect drawing book to keep your child engaged while growing their skills is difficult because everyone is starting at a different level. Examine your child’s present skill and what they most like to draw. Then you can choose a book that’ll help them improve. There’s a variety of choices on this list for kids of different ages and skill levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
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