Coloring books for toddlers ages 1 to 3
A first coloring book has one job: the child finishes the page and wants another one.
At this age the hand is still learning where the crayon goes. The child sweeps rather than fills. That is normal, and it decides everything about the book you should buy.
A thin outline punishes that sweep. The color lands outside, the page looks wrong to the child, and interest drops. A thick outline forgives it. The color lands roughly inside, the picture still reads as a cat, and the child feels it worked.
The second thing that matters is how much is on the page. One large object is enough. A page with a whole scene on it often loses a toddler, because there is nowhere obvious to start.
The third is the back of the sheet. Toddlers reach for markers. If the book is printed on both sides, one marker ruins two drawings. Single-sided printing costs the publisher more pages and saves the parent an argument.
What to look for
- Thick outlines
- One large object per page
- Single-sided printing, blank back
- Familiar subjects: animals, food, toys, weather, plants
- 8.5 x 11 inches, room for a whole hand
The book we would pick
This is the book we built to that exact description. 111 drawings, one per page, thick lines throughout.
First Coloring Book for Toddlers Ages 1-3
A first coloring book for toddlers ages 1-3
Prices are set by Amazon and may change.
Questions parents ask
Is one year old too early?
For most children a first crayon lands somewhere between eighteen months and two years. Before that the book is still useful as a picture book you name things in.
Crayons, pencils or markers?
Thick crayons first. They need less pressure and less precision than pencils, which suits a hand that is still learning.
Read next
- How to choose a coloring book for your childThe age printed on the cover describes the book, not your child. Here is what to look at instead.
- What to look for in a coloring bookFive things you can check before buying, none of which appear in the marketing copy.
- First bedtime books for toddlersA bedtime story only works if the child is still listening at the end of it.