Chinese Zodiac Coloring Pages

These free Chinese zodiac coloring pages are a fun way for kids to learn about the Chinese New Year through hands-on coloring activities.

Featuring all 12 zodiac animals, each printable includes the animal’s name and birth years, making it easy for children to find their own zodiac sign.

They’re perfect for Chinese New Year lessons, classroom activities, or quiet coloring at home.

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Chinese Zodiac Animals Coloring Pages

This free printable set includes 13 pages: a colorful cover page plus 12 Chinese zodiac coloring pages, one for each zodiac animal.

Every coloring sheet features a large illustration, the animal’s name, and the birth years it represents (1912–2033), making it easy for kids to find their own Chinese zodiac sign. They can also compare zodiac animals with siblings, parents, grandparents, and friends.

Tips for Teachers

These Chinese zodiac printables are an easy addition to Chinese New Year lessons. Along with coloring, they can be used for reading, writing, social studies, art, and simple math activities.

Read first, color after – Read the story of The Great Race, then have students color each animal as it appears. This helps children remember the order of the Chinese zodiac animals.

Find your zodiac animal – Invite students to discover their own Chinese zodiac sign using the birth years on each page. They can compare zodiac animals with classmates and discuss the traits traditionally linked to each one.

Writing activity – After coloring, have students write a few sentences about their chosen animal, its personality traits, its role in The Great Race, or whether they think it matches their own personality.

Classroom display – Create a colorful bulletin board featuring all 12 completed Chinese zodiac animals to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Cross-curricular learning – Extend the activity by graphing students’ zodiac animals, comparing birth years, or designing traditional patterns to decorate each coloring page.

The Story of the Great Race

The Great Race is a traditional story that explains the order of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. It’s always a hit with kids, who love seeing how each animal reached the finish line and debating which one was the cleverest, bravest, or funniest.

• Rat – Clever and sneaky, it rode on the Ox’s back and leapt ahead at the last second to take first place.
• Ox – Steady and reliable, it carried the Rat across the river and earned second.
• Tiger – Strong and determined, it swam against the current and finished third.
• Rabbit – Quick and daring, it hopped from stone to stone and placed fourth, with a little help from the Dragon.
• Dragon – Even though it could have flown to the front, it stopped to help others and came in fifth.
• Snake – Silent and sly, it startled the Horse and slid into sixth place.
• Horse – Shaken for a moment but still determined, it crossed the line seventh.
• Sheep – Gentle and cooperative, it teamed up with the Monkey and Rooster, landing in eighth.
• Monkey – Resourceful and clever, it worked with its friends and placed ninth.
• Rooster – Brave and practical, it helped the group across and finished tenth.
• Dog – Distracted by a refreshing swim, it came in eleventh.
• Pig – After pausing for a snack and nap, it finally crossed in twelfth.

Reading The Great Race while coloring helps children remember the order of the Chinese zodiac animals and understand the story behind Chinese New Year traditions.

Books About the Chinese New Year and Zodiac

When we’ve celebrated Lunar New Year at home, pairing coloring with a good story has always made it more memorable. These are a few favorites that fit really well with the zodiac theme:

• Bringing in the New Year – A joyful picture book that follows one family’s preparations. It’s bright, simple, and perfect for younger kids who are just starting to learn about the holiday.
• Celebrating Chinese New Year: An Activity Book – My son enjoyed this one because it mixes reading with hands-on projects like crafts, puzzles, and even recipes. It’s a nice option if you want something interactive.
• Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book – A fun pick for toddlers and preschoolers with sturdy flaps and colorful illustrations.
• Chinese New Year Wishes – A gentle, heartwarming story about a young boy experiencing the traditions of the holiday. It’s a quiet read that still teaches a lot.

Reading one of these books alongside the coloring pages turns it into a complete lesson.

Fun Chinese New Year Activities for Kids

If you’d like to go beyond coloring, these activities fit really well with the zodiac theme and have worked nicely for us at home:

• Chinese New Year matching game – A memory game with zodiac animals and holiday symbols. It’s quick to set up and fun for small groups, and in my experience kids often ask to play more than once.
• Chinese New Year word scramble – This puzzle includes themed words like lantern, dragon, and firecracker. It’s an easy way to sneak in vocabulary practice while keeping the holiday feel.
• Chinese zodiac bookmarks – Printable bookmarks that kids can color and cut out. My son likes to use his in whatever book he’s reading, and they make a simple craft that’s actually useful.

They work in both classrooms and at home, giving kids a mix of learning and play.

Get Your Free Printable Chinese Zodiac Coloring Sheets Here!

If you don’t see the form below, click here to get the free coloring pages.

In our family, I’m the Snake, which always makes my son laugh. I’d love to hear what your zodiac animal is too, share it in the comments.

Last Updated on 30 June 2026 by Clare Brown