Panda in a Tree Coloring Page

How did this bear get up there? On this panda in a tree coloring page, a happy panda sits right in the fork of a wide old tree, with both legs hanging down the trunk. One arm hooks around a thick branch to stay safe. The other waves a sprig of bamboo in the air. A red bird watches from the leaves, and a small yellow bird sits on the edge of a nest.

Big shapes make this a good fit for ages 4 to 9. Your child can fill the body and trunk fast, then slow down for the birds, mushrooms and flowers near the bottom. Allow about 20 minutes for the whole tree.

Coloring the bear so it pops from the tree

Here the panda sits on brown bark with green leaves behind it, so the black and white fur has plenty of contrast. Fill in the sky and leaves first. Next do the trunk and branches. Save the panda for last, and the dark arms will stand out against the lighter tree.

The chest band runs straight across from one arm to the other. Both arms, both legs, both ears and both eye patches go dark. Keep the belly white, and leave the head clean too, apart from the soft pink cheeks.

Black crayon can get waxy on a large area. Lay it down lightly in small circles, then go over it a second time. With markers, color in one direction and let the first coat dry before you add more.

Panda in a tree coloring page color ideas

You do not need green leaves if your child would like a different season. This tree can change with the year:

• Spring tree with light green leaves and pink dots for blossoms
• Summer tree with two deep greens, one for each layer of leaves
• Fall tree in orange and gold, with a red bird that blends right in
• Winter tree with bare white clumps of snow and a pale gray sky

Use two browns on the trunk. A mid brown fills the shape, and a darker one follows the bark lines. The hollow of the nest looks deep if you make it darker than the rim.

Down on the ground there is a lot to find. Look for two mushrooms with spots, a pair of flowers and two patches of grass. Mountains and pine trees sit far behind them, so keep those pale.

Can pandas really climb?

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers page says giant pandas look, walk and climb much like other bears. It even shows a photo of an adult sitting in a tree. So this picture is less silly than it looks.

Young cubs take their time, however. Their eyes open at 50 to 60 days of age, they start to crawl by 10 weeks, and by 21 weeks they can walk pretty well. Pandas can also bleat, roar, growl and honk. Ask your child which sound this bear is making from its high seat.

Tell a tree story

After coloring, ask your child to finish this sentence: "The panda climbed the tree because..." Maybe it is hiding from a bee, or trying to make friends with the birds. Younger kids can tell the story out loud while you write it on the back.

For a classroom, this works well as a bulletin board. Tape a long sheet of brown paper to the wall, and let each student add one colored panda to a giant paper tree. Add a few cut paper leaves and you have an easy display.

Other bears up high

The baby panda coloring page has a cub draped over a branch with its legs dangling. For a bear that really belongs in the trees, take a look at the red panda coloring page.

Questions