Albertosaurus

A smiling Albertosaurus stands upright on strong hind legs and looks calmly to the side. Its long tail curves out behind it, the small front arms are tucked close to the chest, and gentle stripes run along its back. With no background to distract the eye, the clear outline of this meat-eating dinosaur takes centre stage.

What can be seen?

The outlines are bold and closed, so the head, belly, legs and tail stay easy to tell apart. The open mouth shows a row of small teeth, and the feet end in clear claws. The large outer areas are relaxing to fill in, while the stripes and teeth ask for a little more care.

• Good for children from about age five who can fill several separate areas.
• Works well for dinosaur themes at home, in preschool or at school.
• The white margin leaves room to add plants, rocks or clouds.

Coloring ideas

Greens, browns and grays give a natural look, while fantasy colors are just as welcome. Children can pick out the back stripes, keep the belly lighter or darken the claws. It is also a nice moment to mention that much of what we know about these animals comes from fossils, while their real colors stay unknown.

As a follow-up, children can first name the body parts, color the largest areas next, and then invent a simple pattern. This keeps the page calm for younger artists while still opening up things to talk about.

Which part would you color first?