Zoo Animal Crafts
We’ve got the top 20 zoo animal crafts for you and your preschoolers to try that will have them roaring, slithering, flapping, and giggling with delight!
We love learning all about animals! Going to the zoo and getting the opportunity to view the animals is a great way to teach your children about all the different species on our planet.
But when you’re not at the zoo, you can also learn by creating these awesome zoo animal crafts!

There are so many different animals to see at the zoo. Your kids will have a blast creating these crafts to honor their favorite animals and learn more about them!
Zoo Animal Crafts
We love how bright and colorful this bubble wrap chameleon is! He’s perfect for a summer craft!
Take a trip down to sunny Australia with this cute koala and joey paper plate craft!
Your kids will be laughing like crazy when they play with these hilariously cute giraffe marionettes!
This happy little monkey is so easy to make and can be added to a desk lamp to watch over you while you craft or do homework!
Feel the polar winds as you whisk yourself away to the snowy arctic with this happy little rock art penguin family!
Encourage your kiddos to read more with these precious elephant bookmarks! Make one for everyone in your child's class!
Your kids will loooove getting their hands covered in paint when they create these handprint zoo animals on paper plates!
You’ll be roaring with delight over how amazing this lion art craft looks on your wall!
We cannot contain our excitement over these zoo animal finger puppets! Put on a whole puppet show with just your fingers!
You’re not going to want to miss this craft for funny little popsicle stick crows. Your kids will love playing with the soft feathers of their wings!
This hippo has a big toothy grin to share with you! He’s made from an old CD, so he’s also eco-friendly, too!
Using your hand as his “body”, you can create this adorable little hanging sloth that will definitely bring some cheer to your home!

Rainy day boredom, be gone! This fun paper craft lion will definitely have your kids' hands busy.
Test your fine motor skills with this sssweet,
ssslithering little origami snake!
Everyone loves plushies and this little penguin is no exception! He’s the perfect partner to go on adventures with your little one.
We’re cracking up over how hilariously cute this cardboard tube alligator is! He comes together with just a few materials, too!
Have some paper plates left over from that barbeque last week? Put them to use and make these fun monkey paper plate crafts!
This DIY bison art is made with natural art supplies like coffee grounds, which adds amazingly rich color!
This tiger puppet craft is a great way for your kids to work on their fine motor skills, have fun, and learn about this amazing large cat at the same time!
Cheetahs are fascinating large cats due to their speed. Teach your kiddos about these awesome animals and have fun creating this craft honoring the fastest land animal in the world!
BOOKS ABOUT ZOO ANIMALS
Below, I’ve featured just a handful of preschool books about zoo animals that will help your preschoolers learn more about the animals that live in a zoo.
You should be able to find them at your local library or bookstore. If you can’t find them locally, you can click each image cover to purchase them on Amazon.
Giraffes Can’t Dance – Giraffes Can’t Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it’s harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend.
How the Zebra Got Its Stripes – As a group of African animals hang out at the local watering hole, they share funny stories about how the zebra got its stripes. At the end of the book, fun facts explain why zebras really have stripes.
Zoo Animals – As children page through this beautiful book, they will learn the names of many animals they meet at the zoo! Each page offers a short description of the featured animal and its habitat.

Zoo Animals Ideas for Kids
Add some plastic zoo animal figures to your pretend play area for kids to explore. They’ll have so much fun using them to act out zoo books or other imaginative play scenarios.
Read Do You Know Hank the Hippo, and let your preschoolers act out the story with an adorable crocheted hippo toy.
Set up a zoo animals sensory bin with this kit! Filled with a mixture of textures, bright and vibrant colors, this kit will let your little one explore for hours.
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Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.