DIY Animal Bookmarks Kids Can Draw and Color

Photo: Rachel Claire / Pexels. Used under the Pexels License. Illustrative stock photography; people shown are not endorsing the book.

A bookmark is a small art project with a real job: helping someone find their place in a book. It is also a useful alternative when a child wants to make something short rather than fill a full coloring page.

Begin with a flat paper strip

Choose sturdy blank paper that can sit between pages without making the book difficult to close. An adult can cut a strip roughly two inches wide and six inches long as a starting example. The exact size is flexible; compare it with the book you plan to use.

Keep the first version rectangular. A complicated animal outline can be fun to draw, but tiny protruding ears or tails may fold easily. You can draw those features inside the strip and keep the outer edge simple.

Choose a design that leaves room for the animal

Use these as original drawing prompts. You do not need to cut an illustration out of a purchased coloring book or print a copyrighted page for the project. A simple animal made from circles and ovals can be enough.

Make a test strip before the final one

1. Use an offcut from the same paper.
2. Try the exact coloring tool the child wants.
3. Let any wet marks dry completely.
4. Check whether color transfers when handled.
5. Choose another tool if the result is not suitable for placing inside a book.

Do not test transfer on a valued book page. Use an expendable scrap first. A handmade bookmark should mark the place, not leave a colored mark behind.

Add words only when they help

Try the owner’s first name, “My next chapter,” or a sentence the child invents. Place the words where they remain readable. If the bookmark is a gift, ask who it is for before writing the name; a child may want to keep the first one.

Skip bulky additions for the first version

Loose beads, thick layers, and dangling decorations are not necessary. Keep the bookmark flat and follow the age instructions for any materials you add. This simple version needs only paper and familiar dry coloring tools, with adult help for trimming.

If a child wants a second animal, make another strip rather than squeezing too many details into the first. A pair of bookmarks can be a small matching project for a child and a reading partner.

Try it in a real reading session

Open a book, place the bookmark at the stopping point, and close it gently. Check that the strip stays visible enough to find and does not hang so far out that it folds. Adjust the length if needed.

The useful ending is putting the bookmark to work. Let the child choose which book receives it and whether to store a spare nearby. The project does not require laminating, a printer, or an entire set of finished designs.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to laminate the bookmark?

No. A flat paper bookmark can work as it is. If you want extra protection, let an adult choose and handle an appropriate method without adding bulky layers.

Can I make it from an unfinished coloring page?

Use an original drawing you own and ask the child before cutting. A purchased book can remain intact while you make a new bookmark on blank paper.

Choose your next small activity

• Plan a read-aloud and coloring session
• Make another small paper gift

Want an animal page ready to start?

For a separate coloring choice, Wild Little Wonders: Baby Animals is an English paperback for ages 4–8 with 40 baby animals, large coloring pages, and short animal facts. Preview real inside pages and check the book details, then view the paperback on Amazon for current price and delivery. The activities above also work with your own original drawings; no purchase is needed.