Cat in a Bookshop Coloring Page

This cat in a bookshop coloring page stars a black and white cat wearing round glasses and a red bow tie. It sits on a tall stack of books as if it runs the store, with its tail hanging down one side and an open book at its paw. Shelves packed with books rise behind it, all the way to a hanging sign that says BOOKS. Kids from about 6 to 12 will like it, and book lovers of any age will too.

A wooden ladder leans on the right, ready to roll. A potted plant stands in the corner, and a striped rug covers the floor under the stack.

Where to begin

The shelves hold about a hundred small book spines, so this is a page to do in stages. We suggest starting with the cat, since a finished main character keeps kids going. After that, do the stack, then the rug, then one shelf at a time.

A younger child may be happy to color just the big shapes and a shelf or two. That still looks great. Leave the rest white and call it a sketch.

Dressing a tuxedo cat

This cat wears what cat owners call a tuxedo coat: dark all over, with a white bib, a white muzzle and white paws. Press hard with a black crayon for the body. Better yet, use a dark gray so the lines stay visible. The narrow white stripe up the nose should be left bare.

Yellow or green eyes will shine behind those round glasses. Leave the lenses clear and color the frames gold. The bow tie looks best in red, which also makes a nice match with the rug.

Bookshelf color tricks

Real shelves are messy, and that is what makes them pretty. Do not worry about patterns. Pick about eight colors and move them around, so two of the same never touch. If it helps, go along the shelf left to right and say the colors out loud in order.

Each book has a small detail on its spine, like dots, a diamond, a label or a line. Color those in white or gold after the spine is done. The back of the shelves can go a dark brown, so the books stand out from the wall.

The five books in the stack are large, so give each one its own bold color. Blue, red, green, purple and yellow work nicely from bottom to top. Their cream labels are a good place to add a title. Kids can write in their favorite book, or make one up, like "The Great Mouse Mystery."

Cats and books

Cats have spent a long time around books, and for a practical reason. Shops and libraries kept them to chase mice away from all that paper.

The most famous library cat in America may be Dewey Readmore Books. In January 1988, librarian Vicki Myron found a kitten in the book drop at the Spencer Public Library in Iowa. He was about eight weeks old. Dewey lived at the library for about 18 years and even held the title of staff supervisor. His story is on the Dewey Readmore Books page on Wikipedia. Kids usually love hearing that a cat could have a job.

Cat in a bookshop coloring page activities

Turn this into a reading game. Ask your child to pick six favorite books and write each title on a spine, or use the shelf to track reading. Each time your child finishes a book, color one spine. Fill a shelf, and earn a treat. A teacher can do the same thing for a whole class on a bulletin board.

Counting works well too. How many books sit on the top left shelf? How many have a diamond on the spine? How many rungs does the ladder have?

Ask kids to name the shop and the cat as well. Then have them write the sign for the front door: opening hours, what the shop sells, and one rule set by the cat. "No dogs after noon" is a good start.

Practical notes

Fine-tip markers and colored pencils suit the small spines best. Thick crayons are fine for the cat, the rug and the big stack. Budget forty minutes to an hour, or stretch it over a few days.

Bookish kids will also like the cozy reading nook coloring page. For another cat tucked into a small space, try the cat in a box coloring page.

Questions