Zebra Coloring Page (1 of 4)

A zebra's stripes are the first thing anyone notices, sharp black on white against the open savanna. They are thought to do a few jobs at once: confusing predators when the herd bunches together, and helping the animal keep cool. The outlines on this opening sheet are roomy and clear, an easy way in.

About the Zebra

Zebras live in the grasslands of Africa, usually in herds, and they are close relatives of the horse. Their famous stripes are unique to each animal, a little like a fingerprint, and researchers think the pattern helps in several ways, from making it hard for a predator to single one animal out of a moving herd to discouraging biting insects.

For us the zebra has become a kind of shorthand for striking natural design, the sort of pattern that turns up on fabrics and in art the world over. It carries no heavy history, just an easy, universal appeal, which is part of why it makes such a friendly subject to color.

Benefits as a Coloring & Brain Training Activity

Because the design is all clean borders between black and white, a zebra is a good sheet for practising control, keeping the color neatly on its own side of the line, which helps with hand and eye working together. It is just as enjoyable to ignore the rules and try unexpected colors, and that small act of invention is good for keeping the mind flexible.