Free Animal Color by Number Printables for Kids
Animal color by number printables worked for us during that tricky in-between stage. When my son wasn’t ready for worksheets, but still needed something structured.
He didn’t care that it was building number skills or improving fine motor control, he just liked seeing the animal take shape one color at a time.
It felt like a little win for both of us: he was calm and focused, and I didn’t have to come up with a whole activity from scratch.
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Color By Number Animals
If your kids love animals and coloring, these free color by number worksheets are a fun and easy way to combine the two.
Each page features a farm animal, pet, or woodland creature that slowly comes to life as kids match numbers to colors.
While they’re coloring, they’re also practicing number recognition, color matching, and fine motor skills, without even realizing it.
These worksheets are especially helpful for kids who need something structured but calming, whether at home or in the classroom.
How to Use
Each animal color by number worksheet includes a clear color code at the top, making it easy for kids to follow along. You can print them out for home or classroom use, no extra prep needed.
Since the animals vary in detail and color range, they work well for different ages and skill levels. Whether your child is just learning numbers or practicing staying focused, these printables offer a quiet way to build confidence through coloring.
Rabbit
To color the rabbit, gather light green, dark green, purple, pink, light brown, and dark brown. This soft and natural color palette makes the rabbit look realistic while reinforcing color recognition.
Pairing this with our r is for rabbit handprint art can extend the activity by introducing letter recognition alongside creative play.
Cow
The cow requires dark green, light green, light blue, dark blue, black, pink, red, and yellow.
This variety makes for a bright and engaging coloring experience, perfect for discussing farm life and the different patterns animals have in nature.
Cat
Our playful cat comes to life with yellow, orange, purple, pink, and brown.
Whether kids are coloring a pet or imagining a wild feline, this printable is a great way to introduce color blending.
It also pairs well with our black cat handprint art, making for a fun seasonal craft.
Dog
Color our friendly dog using red, light blue, dark blue, light brown, cream, and dark brown.
This worksheet is a great conversation starter about pet care and different dog breeds while reinforcing color-matching skills.
Horse
The majestic horse will shine with orange, red, light blue, dark blue, light brown, and dark brown.
As kids color, you can talk about farm animals, horseback riding, or even different horse breeds to add an educational twist.
Pig
For the pig, prepare blue, purple, orange, yellow, and pink.
This bright and playful color set makes for an engaging experience while introducing discussions about farm animals, their habitats, and their importance in agriculture.
Pigs are one of the most clever species in the world. You can learn about others with our free intelligent animals coloring pages.
Mouse
The mouse requires orange, yellow, red, purple, grey, and pink. This is a fun way to explore different animal habitats, from pet mice to wild rodents, and discuss how they adapt to their environments.
Bird
This bird color by number is perfect for introducing children to the diverse world of birds and their colorful appearances. All you need are six different crayons, pink, purple, light green, dark green, blue, and orange.
Bear
Finally, the bear needs green, blue, orange, red, brown, and light brown. This coloring page is a great way to introduce kids to wildlife, habitats, and even the importance of conservation.
Have fun learning different types of bears with our free worksheet.
More Animal Activities
If your kids enjoyed these animal color by number sheets, here are a few more printables and activities to explore:
- Alphabet animals coloring pages – Combine letter recognition with animal-themed coloring.
- Zoo color by number printables – A fun way to explore wild animals with the same structured format.
- Animal life cycle activities – Hands-on worksheets that help kids understand how animals grow and change.
- Animal anatomy worksheets – Learn about body parts and functions with simple, kid-friendly diagrams.
Animal Books to Pair with the Worksheets
If your kids enjoy coloring animals, reading about them is a natural next step. These picture books and early readers help bring the animals on the page to life, and make the learning feel even more connected.
- National Geographic Readers: Farm Animals – Simple facts and real photos make this a great follow-up after coloring the cow, pig, or horse.
- The Rabbit Listened – A beautiful story with a calm tone, perfect after finishing the rabbit coloring page.
- Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes – Always a hit here, and a fun pairing with the cat printable.
- Snuggle Puppy! – Great for younger kids, especially after coloring the dog.
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – A classic that matches the coloring rhythm well, especially for early learners.
You can keep a few of these animal board books on hand while kids work through the printables. It makes the activity feel more like a full experience without adding any extra prep.
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Last Updated on 20 June 2025 by Clare Brown