10+ Best Drawing Books for 8-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Looking for the perfect way to nurture creativity in your young artist? You're in the right spot! Our guide to the best drawing books for 8-year-olds is packed with top picks that promise to inspire and enhance their drawing skills. Whether your child is just starting out or they're ready to level up their artistic abilities, we've got something that will spark their imagination. Keep reading to discover our favorite drawing books for 8-year-olds, each tailored to help them create their next masterpiece!

Fun Drawing Books for 8-Year-Olds

• Ed Emberley's Drawing Book: Make a World by Ed Emberley
  • Genre(s): Art, Instructional, Children's Non-Fiction
  • Synopsis: This unique drawing book teaches children how to create an entire world from simple shapes and lines. Ed Emberley offers easy-to-follow instructions that empower kids to draw animals, vehicles, and buildings.
  • Why we recommend this book: It breaks down drawing into simple steps that are easy for children to understand and follow, enhancing their confidence in drawing and creativity.
  • Perfect for: Young artists and any child who thinks they "can't draw."

• Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles Into Comics by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost
  • Genre(s): Art, Comics, Children's Non-Fiction
  • Synopsis: This engaging book encourages kids to turn their doodles into a comic book story, introducing elements of a comic strip like panels, dialogue balloons, and sound effects.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the joy of drawing with storytelling, thereby fostering both artistic skills and narrative thinking.
  • Perfect for: Creative kids who love telling stories through both words and pictures.

• The Drawing Book for Kids: 365 Daily Things to Draw, Step by Step by Woo! Jr. Kids Activities
  • Genre(s): Art, Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This book offers a fun drawing prompt for every day of the year, with simple step-by-step instructions that make drawing accessible and enjoyable.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides consistent practice and can help make drawing a fun part of a child’s daily routine.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy daily challenges and those looking to practice and improve their drawing skills regularly.

• Draw 50 Animals: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Elephants, Tigers, Dogs, Fish, Birds, and Many More... by Lee J. Ames
  • Genre(s): Art, Instructional, Children's Non-Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book guides children through the process of drawing various animals using a step-by-step approach that starts with simple shapes.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps children understand the basic forms of different animals, enhancing their ability to observe and replicate the natural world.
  • Perfect for: Animal lovers and young aspiring artists interested in drawing wildlife.

• How to Draw Cute Stuff: Draw Anything and Everything in the Cutest Style Ever! by Angela Nguyen
  • Genre(s): Art, How-To, Children's Non-Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book teaches kids how to draw a wide range of subjects—from animals to food to fantasy creatures—all in an irresistibly cute style.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces a playful and appealing drawing style that can make art extremely fun and engaging for kids.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love to add a touch of cuteness to everything they create.

Educational Drawing Books for 8-Year-Olds

• Art for Kids: Drawing by Kathryn Temple
  • Genre(s): Art, Educational, Children's Non-Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book provides easy-to-follow lessons on the basics of drawing, including how to use lines, shapes, and shading to create artwork.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Basic drawing techniques, understanding of artistic concepts like perspective and shading
  • Why we recommend this book: It lays a solid foundation in drawing, making it easier for children to explore their creativity with confidence.
  • Perfect for: Beginners in art who are looking to learn the fundamentals in an easy and understandable way.

• Drawing School: Fundamentals for the Beginner by Jim Dowdalls
  • Genre(s): Art, Instructional
  • Synopsis: A comprehensive guide that covers various aspects of drawing for beginners, from basic shapes to more complex compositions.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Fundamental drawing skills, attention to detail, and artistic composition
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a structured approach to learning how to draw, which can be very beneficial for young artists just starting out.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who are serious about mastering the basics of drawing and wish to eventually tackle more complex subjects.

• Draw Animals in Nature With Lee Hammond: Creating Wildlife, Step by Step by Lee Hammond
  • Genre(s): Art, Wildlife, Instructional
  • Synopsis: Teaches kids how to draw animals in their natural habitats with simple, step-by-step instructions.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Drawing animals, understanding of natural environments, observational skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It not only teaches how to draw animals but also places them in their ecological context, which can spark an interest in wildlife and conservation.
  • Perfect for: Young artists who are interested in animals and nature, and who want to learn more about wildlife through art.

• The Art of Drawing Optical Illusions: How to draw mind-bending illusions and three-dimensional trick art in graphite and colored pencil by Jonathan Stephen Harris
  • Genre(s): Art, Optical Illusions, Instructional
  • Synopsis: Offers a fascinating look at creating optical illusions on paper, using a variety of techniques in both graphite and colored pencil.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Creative thinking, pencil drawing skills, understanding of visual perception
  • Why we recommend this book: It challenges young minds to think creatively and differently about art and how it can be perceived.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy puzzles and games and are curious about how art can play tricks on the eyes.

• Let's Draw Cute Animals by Sachiko Umoto
  • Genre(s): Art, How-To
  • Synopsis: Encourages kids to draw a variety of adorable animals using simple, easy-to-follow instructions.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Drawing cute animal figures, creativity, hand-eye coordination
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and engaging way for children to learn to draw, focusing on styles that capture their interest and imagination.
  • Perfect for: Youngsters who love animals and enjoy drawing them in a playful, charming style.

Challenging Drawing Books for 8-Year-Olds

• Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley: 30 Drawing Lessons from the Creator of Akiko by Mark Crilley
  • Genre(s): Art, Manga, Instructional
  • Synopsis: This book provides step-by-step lessons on drawing Manga, covering everything from basic character design to complex poses.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces advanced Manga drawing techniques that require precision and attention to detail, which are typically more complex than traditional children's drawing books.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's an excellent resource for kids who are interested in Manga and want to learn from a renowned artist in the genre. The lessons are engaging and progressively build skills.
  • Perfect for: Young artists who are fans of Manga and aspiring to create their own comics.

• Drawing Dimensions: A Comprehensive Introduction by Cynthia Knox
  • Genre(s): Art, Instructional, Perspective Drawing
  • Synopsis: This book teaches young artists how to create realistic, three-dimensional drawings using various techniques and tools.
  • Why this book is challenging: It covers complex concepts of perspective and shading that are crucial for realistic drawing but can be difficult for beginners.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a deep dive into the technical aspects of drawing, helping children to enhance their artistic skills and understand spatial relationships in art.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are interested in taking their drawing skills to a more advanced level and enjoy challenges.

• Exploring Watercolor: Creative Exercises and Techniques for Watercolor and Mixed Media by Elizabeth Groves
  • Genre(s): Art, Watercolor, Instructional
  • Synopsis: Focuses on watercolor techniques combined with other media to help young artists develop a unique and personal style.
  • Why this book is challenging: The combination of watercolor with other media requires control and understanding of how different materials interact, which can be complex for young artists.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages experimentation and creativity, allowing kids to explore various artistic expressions and find their own voice in art.
  • Perfect for: Creative kids who love experimenting with different art materials and techniques.

• The Art of Animal Drawing: Construction, Action Analysis, Caricature by Ken Hultgren
  • Genre(s): Art, Drawing Animals, Instructional
  • Synopsis: Teaches how to draw animals by understanding their anatomy and movements, with a focus on constructing them from basic shapes.
  • Why this book is challenging: It goes beyond simple drawing, requiring an understanding of animal anatomy and movement that can be quite detailed and sophisticated.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's perfect for enhancing observational skills and understanding of biology through art, providing a scientific angle to drawing.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are interested in both science and art, particularly those fascinated by animals.

• Perspective Made Easy by Ernest R. Norling
  • Genre(s): Art, Instructional, Perspective
  • Synopsis: A beginner-friendly guide that simplifies the concepts of perspective drawing for young artists, making it easy to start creating more realistic and proportionate works.
  • Why this book is challenging: Learning perspective is essential for advanced drawing but can be difficult due to its technical nature.
  • Why we recommend this book: It breaks down complex ideas into understandable steps, helping kids master a crucial aspect of drawing that will improve all of their artistic endeavors.
  • Perfect for: Young artists who want to advance their skills and start creating more realistic drawings.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 8-year-old develop great reading habits while exploring drawing books, you're in the right place. Here are some fun and effective exercises that can make reading more engaging and enjoyable. Let's dive in!

• Create a Reading Corner
  • What it is: Set up a special place at home dedicated to reading.
  • How it helps: This creates a comfortable and inviting environment that can make reading a more appealing activity.
  • Tips: Let your child personalize the space with their favorite cushions, lights, or even artwork they've created.

• Book-Themed Drawing Sessions
  • What it is: After reading, spend some time drawing scenes or characters from the book.
  • How it helps: This helps reinforce what they've read through creative expression and aids in memory retention.
  • Tips: Provide a variety of drawing materials like crayons, colored pencils, and markers to keep things exciting.

• Story Predictions
  • What it is: Before starting a new chapter, ask your child to predict what might happen next.
  • How it helps: This stimulates imagination and encourages them to think critically about the story.
  • Tips: Discuss their predictions after reading to see how close they were!

• Reading Rewards Chart
  • What it is: Create a chart that tracks the number of books or pages your child reads.
  • How it helps: Motivates children by giving them a visual representation of their achievements.
  • Tips: Offer small rewards for reaching certain milestones, like a new book or extra drawing time.

• Group Reading Time
  • What it is: Set a regular time where everyone in the family reads their own book.
  • How it helps: This establishes a routine and models good reading habits.
  • Tips: Make this a special time without distractions like TV or phones.

And there you have it! These exercises aren't just about reading; they're about making reading a fun, integral part of your child's day. By incorporating drawing and interactive elements, you'll help your 8-year-old see books as sources of joy and creativity. Happy reading and drawing!