How to Draw a Bird

There are all sorts of weird holidays out there, and recently as I was scrolling through a list of them I saw that April 8 is draw a bird day. I don’t know why, but it seems as good a reason as any to share some how to draw a bird videos.

It’s also appropriate because this year marks the 20th anniversary of the book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems, who shares how to draw pigeon regularly (and recently taught the whole audience of The Tonight Show how to draw pigeon’s head using the letters of his first name).

There are a lot of great easy tutorials for kids (or adults) who want to learn how to draw birds.

Art Projects for Kids has a simple nine-step fat bird that looks like a blue jay or could be a cardinal or finch if colored differently. Another simple one that could be colored however you like is from How to Draw for Kids.

How to Draw Easy has another cute (and easy) little bird that won’t be hard for kids to draw.

I Heart Crafty Things has instructions for drawing a hummingbird and a cardinal, as well as her take on a pigeon. They’re all relatively easy but the hummingbird might be a little trickier for younger kids. (Incidentally, I Heart Crafty Things has a ton of drawing tutorials if you or your kids would like to learn how to draw things other than birds.)

This little stack of birds form Art Projects for Kids is super cute and simple to draw. If you want to make it even easier for littles, there’s a coloring page version, too. Color this one in with crayons or use watercolors for a different look.

If you want more doodle-like birds, check out the collection of 13 easy bird drawings at Shihori Obata. You can use these prompts directly or let them inspire you to make your own fun and cute bird drawings.

Explaining Dia de Los Muertos to kids can be difficult because most of us don’t generally talk about death or what happens when we die a lot with our kids. But Dia de los Muertos is actually a happy, not scary occasion that allows us to remember loved ones, share stories and come together as a community.

While it is mostly celebrated by people of Mexican heritage, the day has become more well known thanks to movies and other media representations. And there are some great children’s books to help explain and allow you to celebrate the holiday if you want.

Dia de Muertos by Jaque Jours, illustrated by Alejandra Ruiz (48 pages, hardcover, published 2025 by words & pictures, suggested retail price $14.99) tells the story of a family getting their ofrenda (altar for the dead) ready and how they remember people who have died through decorations, food and sharing stories.

It covers the classic decorations and rituals of Dia de los Muertos including using cempasúchil (in English we call them marigolds) and papel picado (cut paper banners), pan de muerto and la catrina, the elaborately dressed, skull faced women that are a common site at Dia de los Muertos gatherings.

The back of the book explores how the day is celebrated throughout Mexico as well as the meanings of different symbols. There’s a recipe for pan de muerto, a tutorial for making papel picado and tips for doing makeup to look like like la catrina/el catrin.

Want to try more traditional foods? The Dia de Los Muertos Cookbook is a companion to The Dia de Los Muertos Story, both of which are by Andrea Jáuregui de la Torre and illustrated by Laura González (52 pages, hardcover paper over boards, published 2026 by becker & meyer kids!, suggested retail price $19.99).

The book opens with some discussion of the meaning of Dia de los Muertos and why food is an important part of the day. The recipes included are easy enough for kids to make with minimal help, and all based on food memories from her childhood.

There are recipes for hibiscus iced tea, Mexican corn and salsa, tortillas, molletes (open faced sandwiches with beans and cheese), jicama fries and sugar skulls to name a few.

Other activities in the book include papel picado, coffee filter marigolds, making your own playlist and making an ofrenda.

Together these books give young readers insight into this holiday that might be new or confusing to them, while also giving you a chance to get in the kitchen together and make your own Dia de los Muertos memories.

Have you read?

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