Snowman at Night Coloring Page

This snowman at night coloring page shows a stargazer who should probably be in bed. Our snowman has stayed up late to look at the sky. He bends toward a long telescope on a tripod and points it at a thin crescent moon, closing one eye the way anyone would. He still has his nightcap on, a long floppy one with a star on the end, and his red scarf has yellow stripes.

Stars fill the sky, and a shooting star zips past near the top. Behind him, a tiny village sits on a dark hill with lights on in the windows. A lantern stands in the snow to the left, and short rays show its warm glow.

Who it is for

This one is medium, and it works best for ages 6 to 12. Allow about 40 minutes. The drawing is not hard, but the dark sky takes time and a bit of arm strength. Kids who like space will happily spend longer on it.

Snowman at night coloring page color ideas

A night picture is all about contrast. Our sample has a deep navy sky, purple hills and bright yellow stars. The snow stays white, and that white is what makes him glow against the dark.

Color the sky first, working carefully around the moon and stars. Yellow can turn green if blue slides into it, so leave a tiny gap. The moon can be yellow or pale cream, with its three craters in a slightly darker gold. For the nightcap, a soft blue reads as cool moonlight, and it keeps the hat from fighting with the bright scarf.

Light is the fun part. Color the lantern and the village windows yellow, then add a little orange in the middle of the flame. On the snow near the lantern, use the lightest touch of yellow so the glow seems to spill out.

Tips for a dark sky

• Use short circles with a dark crayon instead of long lines. You will see fewer white gaps in the paper.
• Try a second layer: blue first, then a light coat of purple over it. The sky gets richer.
• Put a clean sheet under your hand to stop dark wax from smearing across the snow.
• If a crayon sky looks patchy, rub it gently with a tissue. The color blends and turns smooth.

Moon facts to share at bedtime

Your child may ask what a telescope would really show. NASA's Moon facts page has some good answers. The Moon's surface is rocky and marked with craters from asteroids, meteorites and comets. One crater, named Tycho, is more than 52 miles wide. The same side of the Moon always faces Earth, because it spins at the same pace that it travels around us. And it sits about 238,855 miles away, though it drifts about an inch farther from us every year.

A stargazing activity

On a clear night, step outside with your child for five minutes. Find the Moon and draw its shape on the back of this page. Do it again a week later and compare the two drawings. It will have changed, and that is a real science record they have made themselves.

You do not need a telescope for this. Binoculars help a lot, and even bare eyes will show the light and dark patches on the Moon.

Back indoors, make up a bedtime story together. What did the snowman see through his telescope? Maybe a star waved back. Older kids can write down the story and add a title at the top of the page. It also makes a calm activity for winding down before sleep.

More night sky pages

Go further with the moon and stars coloring page, which suits older kids and teens. For a daytime view of winter, try the snowflake coloring page.

Questions