Free Printable Animal Bookmarks to Color
Animal bookmarks are such an easy way to make reading feel special.
My son always enjoyed picking out a design, coloring it in, and then using it to keep his place. It turned reading into a little ritual he looked forward to.
In the classroom, these work just as well. Kids can decorate them during art or literacy time, and then use them as rewards or take-home gifts.
Since they’re printable, you never run out, just print a new set, laminate if you want them sturdier, and you’ve got a simple, low-prep way to encourage kids to read more.
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What’s Included in the Animal Bookmarks PDF
Inside this set, you’ll find 5 printable pages with 3 bookmarks per page, a total of 15 unique designs for kids to color.
Each bookmark is designed with:
- A different animal kids love (from pets to ocean creatures)
- A playful, pun-based reading quote
- Bold outlines that make them easy to color in
- A vertical format sized perfectly for small hands and storybooks
A Peek at the Designs
Some of the fun quotes you’ll see include:
- “Stay pawsitive and keep reading.”
- “Reading is a bear-y good idea.”
- “Hop into a new story.”
- “Catch a story and let it reel you in.”
- “Hoo’s ready for another chapter?”
- “Go bananas over books.”
- “Read slow and steady, and you’ll win the race.”
Kids love coloring them in, but the quotes also sneak in a gentle reminder that reading is meant to be fun.
Animals Featured
The bookmarks cover a mix of animals kids are naturally drawn to, which makes them easy to tie into lessons or themes:
- Pets: Cat, Dog, Rabbit
- Woodland and wild animals: Owl, Bear, Lion, Tiger, Elephant, Monkey, Giraffe
- Ocean animals: Dolphin, Whale, Turtle, Fish, Penguin
This variety means you can connect the bookmarks to story units, science lessons, or just let kids pick their favorites.
Easy Ways to Use Animal Bookmarks at Home or School
These free printable bookmarks fit easily into everyday reading. At home, my son enjoyed coloring a new design, and once we laminated a few, they held up through many bedtime stories.
They also work well as simple rewards when kids finish a book or meet a reading goal.
In classrooms or libraries, they can be a quick art activity and then used as first-day gifts, reading challenge prizes, or part of a literacy center.
Because there’s a variety of animals, each child can choose a favorite, making the bookmark feel personal and tied to their own reading.
More Animal Printables
If your kids enjoy these bookmarks, you can build on the theme with other animal activities. These work well together for unit studies, rainy-day projects, or classroom centers:
- Animal life cycle activities – Explore how different animals grow and change.
- Animal color by number – Practice number recognition while coloring favorite creatures.
- Animals coloring pages – A simple way to keep kids engaged and creative.
- Alphabet animals worksheets – Match letters to animal names for early literacy.
- Farm animals coloring pages – Perfect for preschoolers learning about the farm.
Animal Books to Pair with Your Bookmarks
Make reading time extra fun by pairing these bookmarks with some of your child’s favorite animal-themed books. Here are a few popular picks that kids love:
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – A rhythmic classic for preschoolers.
- The Gruffalo – A fun, imaginative story with woodland creatures.
- Giraffes Can’t Dance – My son loved this one when he was younger, and it’s a great pick for kids who sometimes feel left out.
- National Geographic Kids: Animal Encyclopedia – Perfect for curious readers who love facts.
- If I Ran the Zoo – A silly and creative animal adventure.
These books work beautifully alongside the bookmarks to encourage reading time and support literacy with an animal twist.
Get Your Free Animal Bookmarks to Color Here!
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