A child’s first coloring book can set the tone for years of creative play. A good one makes coloring feel easy and rewarding. A poor one, with tiny details and faint lines, can make it frustrating. Here is what to look for.
Bold, clear outlines
Young eyes and hands need strong, easy-to-see lines. Thin or sketchy outlines are hard to follow.
Big spaces
Large areas are easier to fill and give a sense of progress. Avoid pages full of tiny patterns for beginners.
One character per page
A single character is a clear, achievable goal. Busy scenes can overwhelm young children.
A subject they love
The biggest predictor of whether a child will use a coloring book is whether they love the subject. Animals, dinosaurs, vehicles, robots, unicorns: follow their passion.
Friendly, expressive characters
Characters with big eyes and smiles invite connection. Kids want to finish a page when they care about the character.
Age-appropriate content
Check that the content suits your child’s age. Some "kids" coloring books have scary or complicated images.
Paper quality
- Thicker paper handles markers without bleeding through.
- Single-sided pages mean markers won’t ruin the next picture.
- Pages that tear out easily are great for displaying.
Tracing: a bonus step
For ages 3 and up, a tracing step adds pencil-control practice. In Trace Then Color books, each character is printed in dotted lines; kids trace it, then color it. See what is Trace Then Color?.
Great first books
- Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals: round, friendly animals, a classic first book.
- Trace Then Color: Baby Animals: gentle baby animals for little animal lovers.
- Trace Then Color: Baby Robots: simple, cute robots made of easy shapes.
Our guide how to choose a coloring book and the book finder can help you match a book to your child.
Supplies to go with it
- A small box of crayons
- A few short, broken crayons for grip
- A pencil or thin marker for tracing
Questions parents ask
What age is right for a first coloring book?
Many kids are ready for simple coloring pages around 2 to 3. Tracing books like Trace Then Color are made for 3 and up.
Should I buy a licensed character coloring book?
Kids love familiar characters, but original characters invite more imagination. See original characters vs licensed.
How many pages should a first coloring book have?
Enough to last a while, but not so many it feels endless. A book a child can finish gives a great sense of achievement.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
