10+ Best Drawing Books for 3-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the lookout for the perfect way to spark creativity in your little one? Look no further than drawing books for 3-year-olds! These books are designed to entertain and educate, helping to develop fine motor skills and express creativity. Whether you're at home or on the go, these drawing books are sure to keep your toddler engaged and excited. Keep reading to discover our favorite picks that will make art time both fun and enriching for your child!

Fun Drawing Books for 3-Year-Olds

• My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Conceptual, Educational
  • Synopsis: This interactive split-page book allows children to match various shapes with corresponding objects.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines reading with play, enhancing both shape recognition and motor skills.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn about shapes and those who enjoy interactive reading.

• The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas
  • Genre(s): Emotional Learning, Pop-Up
  • Synopsis: This book features a monster who is trying to understand his mixed feelings, with each color representing a different emotion.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun way to teach children about emotions through engaging pop-up illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Young children learning to express and differentiate their feelings.

• Press Here by Hervé Tullet
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Conceptual
  • Synopsis: This book invites the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, and see what happens next, combining simple instructions with fun activities.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages interaction and imagination, turning the act of reading into a dynamic and engaging experience.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love interactive play and are learning to follow instructions.

• Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet
  • Genre(s): Art, Interactive
  • Synopsis: This book allows children to engage with colors and understand color mixing without the mess of actual painting.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches color theory through direct interaction and is a creative way to introduce art concepts.
  • Perfect for: Young artists and any child who enjoys colorful, hands-on activities.

• Let's Play! by Hervé Tullet
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Imaginative Play
  • Synopsis: A follow-up to Press Here, this book continues to engage children with prompts that encourage physical and imaginative interaction with the book.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes creativity and physical activity, encouraging kids to think and move dynamically.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy moving around and those who need a more active reading experience.

Educational Drawing Books for 3-Year-Olds

• My First Book of Drawing by Kumon Publishing
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book guides young children through simple drawing exercises, using shapes and lines to create recognizable figures and objects.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Fine motor skills, shape recognition, creative expression
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to help children gradually improve their drawing skills in a structured way, which can boost confidence and enjoyment in art.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who are just starting to explore drawing and parents looking for educational art activities.

• Doodle Adventures: The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs! by Mike Lowery
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Drawing, Adventure
  • Synopsis: This book combines storytelling with drawing, as children are prompted to doodle directly in the book to complete the story.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Creativity, problem-solving, narrative skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages children to become part of the story through their own drawings, making the reading experience highly interactive and personal.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love stories and drawing, and those who enjoy being part of the creative process.

• Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals by Ed Emberley
  • Genre(s): Instructional, Art
  • Synopsis: This drawing book teaches children how to draw a variety of animals using simple shapes and lines.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Artistic skills, animal recognition, following instructions
  • Why we recommend this book: Emberley's method breaks down complex images into simple steps, making drawing accessible and fun for young children.
  • Perfect for: Children who love animals and are eager to learn how to draw them.

• Wipe Clean: Early Learning Activity Book by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This reusable wipe-clean book includes a variety of activities such as drawing, writing, and more, designed to prepare children for school.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Pre-writing skills, letter and number formation, basic math concepts
  • Why we recommend this book: The wipe-clean format allows for repeated practice, which is essential for skill development at a young age.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are getting ready for school and need practice with basic educational skills.

• Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles Into Comics by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost
  • Genre(s): Art, Educational, Cartooning
  • Synopsis: This book introduces children to the art of cartooning, using a fun narrative and simple lessons that show how to create characters and tell a story through comics.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Drawing, storytelling, sequential thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes the process of creating comics approachable and engaging, encouraging both artistic expression and narrative skills.
  • Perfect for: Young readers and artists interested in comics and cartooning.

Challenging Drawing Books for 3-Year-Olds

• Art for Baby by Various Artists
  • Genre(s): Art, Visual Learning
  • Synopsis: This collection features high-contrast black and white artworks from various contemporary artists, designed to stimulate visual development in babies.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of abstract and high-contrast images challenges young minds to interpret complex visuals, fostering early visual literacy.
  • Why we recommend this book: It exposes children to the world of art from a very young age, helping to develop appreciation and recognition of diverse artistic styles.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are developing their visual skills and parents who want to introduce art early on.

• The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
  • Genre(s): Creativity, Self-esteem
  • Synopsis: This story encourages a young girl named Vashti to believe in her own artistic abilities, starting with a simple dot on a page.
  • Why this book is challenging: It promotes self-expression through art, encouraging young readers to explore their own creative potential beyond traditional drawing.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a motivational tale that teaches children the value of self-confidence and the joy of creating something unique.
  • Perfect for: Young artists who may be hesitant to express themselves and any child who needs encouragement in creativity.

• Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
  • Genre(s): Creativity, Problem-solving
  • Synopsis: This interactive book shows how a mistake like a tear or a spill can be transformed into something beautiful.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces the concept of adaptive creativity, encouraging children to think innovatively and see the potential in errors.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches resilience and creativity, showing that mistakes are opportunities for creative thinking.
  • Perfect for: Children who are learning to deal with mistakes and those who enjoy interactive and crafty play.

• Ish by Peter H. Reynolds
  • Genre(s): Creativity, Emotional Growth
  • Synopsis: Following the story of Ramon, who learns that his drawings don't need to be perfect to be "ish," reflecting the emotions and impressions they evoke rather than exact representations.
  • Why this book is challenging: It challenges the conventional idea of artistic perfection, encouraging a more expressive and less precise approach to art.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes the idea of self-acceptance and the value of creative expression, regardless of technical perfection.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who are perfectionists or are afraid to make mistakes, and those who need encouragement to enjoy the process of creation.

• Scribble Stones by Diane Alber
  • Genre(s): Art, Social Skills
  • Synopsis: This story is about a stone that learns it can bring happiness by being painted with colorful designs and shared with others.
  • Why this book is challenging: It combines the concepts of art with social sharing and emotional impact, encouraging children to think about how their art can affect others.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches the importance of sharing and kindness through creative expression, promoting both artistic skills and social values.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy crafting and those learning about empathy and social interaction through art.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to introduce your 3-year-old to the wonderful world of books, especially drawing books, here are some fun and educational exercises to help develop good reading habits early on. These activities are designed to be engaging and beneficial for little learners!

• Picture Story Analysis
  • What it is: Look at a picture in a drawing book and ask your child to tell a story about what they see.
  • How it helps: Enhances imagination and helps in understanding visual cues.
  • Tips: Encourage your child to describe as many details as possible and ask open-ended questions to expand the story.

• Character Coloring
  • What it is: Have your child color characters from their favorite drawing books.
  • How it helps: Helps with recognition and retention of character details.
  • Tips: Discuss the character’s traits while coloring to reinforce memory and understanding.

• Read and Draw
  • What it is: Read a short description from a drawing book and ask your child to draw it.
  • How it helps: Strengthens comprehension and interpretation skills.
  • Tips: Keep descriptions simple and clear to match your child’s comprehension level.

• Book-Based Puzzles
  • What it is: Create puzzles based on the themes or characters of the drawing books.
  • How it helps: Improves problem-solving skills and helps in reinforcing the details of the books.
  • Tips: Use large puzzle pieces that are easy for small hands to handle.

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: Cut out scenes from a drawing book and ask your child to arrange them in order.
  • How it helps: Aids in understanding narrative structure and sequencing.
  • Tips: Start with just two or three scenes and increase as they get better at sequencing.

These exercises are not just fun but also incredibly beneficial for your little one's early development in reading and comprehension. By incorporating these activities into your reading routine, you're setting a solid foundation for a lifelong love of books. Happy reading and drawing!