Dare to Doodle: 14 Unconventional Drawing Books for Kids
by Denise Schipani
My father, who filled sketchbooks with WWII planes and ships as a child and is now a watercolorist, tried his darnedest to teach me things like perspective and shading … but I just didn’t get it. If there’s an art gene, it skipped over me and landed hard on my younger son, who compulsively doodles — stick figures with personality, robots, monsters — on just about every piece of paper he finds, from math homework to store receipts.
Maybe it’s the graphic novels he’s partial to (chiefly the Wimpy Kid books) or his discovery a few years back of Calvin & Hobbes, but he’s decided he’ll be a cartoonist and has begun filling his own notebooks with cartoon creations. So naturally, I’m eagle-eyed when it comes to searching out books about drawing. What I’ve been looking for lately, though, are less conventional drawing books and more books that inspire kids to draw without rules or steps (or only a few rules!).
Here, a handful I’ve found that straddle the line between drawing books and books about how to draw:
-
Let's Make Comics!
Buy from:Any child that obsesses over Captain Underpants and Dog Man will want to try their hand at making comics, and this book shows them how. From developing characters to planning out your panels, kids will learn what it takes to create this popular art form.
Buy from: -
How to Draw Hidden Pictures
Buy from:Calling all puzzle lovers! Have your kids take their drawings to the next level by creating hidden objects, just like the Hidden Pictures puzzles from Highlights? This interactive guide provides step-by-step tutorials and playful prompts to help kids create images with secret objects tucked inside. It’s a fun, confidence-building book that strengthens visual thinking and sparks out-of-the-box creativity!
Buy from: -
All the Things: How to Draw Books for Kids
Buy from:Perfect for any budding artist, Alli Koch walks kids through 42 easy to follow projects that will help them build their drawing skills and confidence! Each mini drawing lesson offers a step-by-step guide but also encourages artists to explore their own style. At the end of this book your child will be able to draw so many fun things from cupcakes, to unicorns, to baseball caps, to castles, and so much more.
Buy from: -
Bluey: How to Draw
Buy from:Create your own stories starring Bluey, Bingo, and the whole Heeler family with this step-by-step drawing guide! Packed with 48-pages of activities, this book helps young artists bring their favorite characters to life. Bluey fans will be shouting “wackadoo!” in no time!
Buy from: -
10 Step Drawing: Kawaii
Buy from:Fans of animation, and anime will love this unique drawing book! Kids can easily learn the cute Japanese art style of Kawaii with this step-by-step drawing book, creating over 50 adorable characters.
Buy from: -
Draw with Art for Kids Hub Dinosaurs
Buy from:Millions of viewers have learned to draw from the Art for Kids Hub on YouTube, and now their fun, straightforward approach comes to the page in this dinosaur-themed activity book. Each activity encourages kids and families to build drawing skills, get creative together, and enjoy the process—without worrying about making a “perfect” picture.
Buy from: -
The Imagine and Draw Activity Book
Buy from:The Imagine and Draw Activity Book is a great way to jump-start your child’s creativity. Filled with open-ended drawing activities, kids are encouraged to turn each page into a new adventure. Plus, the book includes three double-sided markers so kids can get started on all the fun right away!
Buy from: -
Disney How to Draw Favorite Characters
Buy from:Learn to draw characters from your favorite Disney and Pixar movies — Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, Moana, and more! And for even more drawing fun, check out Marvel How to Draw Awesome Characters to bring your favorite heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe to life.
Buy from: -
Mightier Than the Sword
Buy from:Prepare to save Astorya from the evil Queen Rulette in this wildly fun and interactive adventure book. In this entirely fictional world, the reader is pulled into the action and able to shape the story. Filled with Mad Lib-style activities, wacky mazes, word scrambles, and drawings to complete, young artists will want to keep their pencils sharp as they write, draw, and scribble their way to the end of the story.
Buy from: -
How to Draw (Minecraft)
Buy from:Get ready to shape your world with this Minecraft drawing guide! Fans of all ages can learn to draw their favorite mob — from Creepers to Zombies to Endermen and more. As kids work through the book, they’ll see their skills grow from basic block shapes to fully detailed scenes.
Buy from: -
Invitation to Draw
Buy from:This unique drawing book doesn’t have any step-by-step instructions. Instead, you’ll find dozens of drawing prompts — doodles that the author started and that your child must complete. So whether they’re designing a robot or adding their favorite fruit to a tree, kids will have a fantastic time thinking up fun and silly solutions to these half-finished drawings.
Buy from: -
Pizza and Taco: Draw Your Own Comic!
Buy from:Everyone’s favorite foodie besties are here to help you create the most epic comic book ever! Pizza and Taco guide budding artists through creating characters, building storylines, and drawing panels to bring stories to life. Plus, the book includes puzzles, mazes, quizzes, and stickers for even more fun!
Buy from: -
Uni the Unicorn Dream & Draw Activity Book
Buy from:The fun never stops with this book based on the New York Times bestselling series. Everyone’s favorite unicorn — Uni — is ready to go on an adventure in this deluxe activity book. Not only is this engaging book filled with drawing prompts, games, and puzzles, but it also includes a punch-out unicorn, stickers, and a poster that your little one can color and add to their bedroom wall!
Buy from: -
Random Acts of Drawness!
Buy from:When Brady Smith and his family found themselves quarantined at home in the spring of 2020, the artist decided to release some creative energy by launching a series of live, daily Instagram drawing challenges. Over 100 days, Brady asked viewers for suggestions of something wacky and random to draw in 30 seconds. The show was an instant hit and inspired Brady to create Random Acts of Drawness!, an activity book that would allow kids to make their own silly, random creations at home. Filled with wacky and weird drawing prompts, this book is unbridled creativity at its best.
Buy from:
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2025.