On this page
Life is packed into every layer of this rainforest coloring page. A giant tree rises through the center with wide fins at its foot and a roof of leaves far above. A toucan with a huge curved bill sits on a long branch to the left. High on the right, a smiling sloth hangs by both arms. Down low, a red-eyed tree frog rests on a big split leaf.
Look deeper and the forest keeps going. Pale trees fade into the mist in the background. Thick vines drop from the branches, small leafy plants grow on the trunk itself, and a stalk of red flowers climbs on the left. A blue butterfly flits past long banana leaves, and a little stream runs over stones at the bottom.
Level and timing
This is a detailed page for kids of about 8 and up, and it keeps teens and adults busy as well. There are many overlapping parts. Expect an hour or more. Start with the animals if you have a short attention span at the table, since they are the most fun.
Rainforest coloring page color ideas
The secret is more than one green. Use pale mint for the distant trees, a middle green for the branches and a deep green for the big front leaves. The forest gets darker as it comes toward you.
- Black body, white chest and a yellow and orange bill for the toucan
- Tan fur and a pale face for the sloth, with brown eye stripes
- Bright green frog with red eyes and orange toes
- Red flowers on the tall stalk, the boldest spot on the left
Color the butterfly a shining blue, and press hard to get the brightest color your pencil has. Warm browns on the trunk will keep all that green from feeling flat.
Making layers show up
Pale things go back and strong things come forward. Keep that rule in mind and the page will feel deep. Do the far trees first with hardly any pressure.
Leave a thin white edge along one side of the biggest leaves. It reads as a wet shine, which suits a place that gets so much rain. Colored pencils make this easy.
The vines cross over many other shapes. Color them last with a dark green so they sit on top. If you go outside a line, nobody will notice among all those leaves.
Life in the layers
Real rainforests get the most rain of any biome, between 79 and 394 inches a year. A tropical rainforest has three layers. The top layer is the canopy, where giant trees can grow to about 250 feet and block much of the sunlight. Below that, smaller plants get by with little light. On the forest floor, wet fallen leaves break down fast. You can read more on the NASA Earth Observatory page about the rainforest biome.
Classroom idea
Ask kids to label the three layers right on the sheet and write which animals live in each one. Then have them pick one animal and write three sentences in its voice. What does the sloth see from up there? At home, play some rain sounds while your child colors. It takes a minute to set up, and it makes the page feel like a small trip.
The toucan's bill deserves slow, clean work. Color the yellow first, then add orange on the lower half and a red tip. Its chest stays white, so go around it with care. The sloth needs less. A soft tan with a few darker fur lines is plenty, and the pale face will carry the smile. Save the frog for last as a small reward.
More wild pages
Stay near water with the waterfall coloring page. For a look at another hot place, try the desert cactus coloring page. Kids who love bright wings may also like the butterfly coloring page.
Questions
How can I find all the animals?
Look for the toucan on the long branch, the sloth at upper right, the frog on the big leaf at lower right and the blue butterfly near the middle.
Will all the green get boring?
Not if you use several greens. Try a yellow green, a blue green and a deep forest green, and save the mint for the far trees.
Is it too hard for a 7 year old?
It is a stretch, but the big leaves and trunk are easy. Help with the toucan and sloth, or color those parts together.
