Free Barbapapa Coloring Pages: 72 printable PDF designs featuring the shape-shifting Barbapapa family, including parents Barbapapa and Barbamama, their seven children, and family pet Lolita. Every page can be downloaded as a PDF to print or colored online in the browser, with no account required.
Barbapapa began in 1970 as a children’s book created by French illustrator Annette Tison and American writer Talus Taylor, a married couple living in Paris. The character’s name comes from the French phrase barbe à papa, meaning cotton candy, a nod to his soft, rounded, ever-changing shape. The book series was adapted into an animated show that first aired in France in 1974, and it has since been translated into more than thirty languages and adapted into several later television series, including a 2019 reboot.
With 72 pages spanning the parents, the full family together, and each of the seven children, both solo and paired with siblings, the set gives colorists a wide-ranging look at one of the longest-running shape-shifting families in children’s media.
What Is Inside This Collection
The 72 pages are grouped by family member, from the parents through the full family, and each of the seven children.
Barbapapa and Barbamama
Twenty pages feature the parents, Barbapapa and Barbamama, solo or together, including scenes of Barbapapa transforming into objects like a sled or a boat and moments celebrating their relationship, such as Barbamama’s birthday.
Family Group Scenes
Twelve pages bring the full family together at once, including everyday moments like having lunch, playing instruments, and celebrating a birthday as a group.
The Seven Children, Solo
Twenty-five pages show one child alone, often paired with an animal or a favorite activity: Barbazoo with animals, Barbalib with books, Barbalala with music, Barbabright with inventions, Barbabravo exercising, and Barbabelle with beauty-related props.
The Seven Children, Paired and Grouped
The remaining fifteen pages show two or more siblings together, or a sibling paired with the family dog, Lolita, including one page featuring four of the seven children at once.
What Barbapapa Coloring Pages Do
Fine motor development. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies fine motor skill development as a core benefit of structured coloring for children ages 2 through 7. The simple, rounded blob shapes of the Barbapapa family give young colorists a forgiving set of outlines to build confidence with, while the more detailed sibling scenes offer extra challenge for older kids.
A visual way to explore a family built on individual interests. Because each of the seven Barbapapa children has a distinct color and a specific passion, from books to music to science, coloring through this collection gives a child a concrete way to notice how one family can include seven very different personalities living together.
Anxiety reduction through focus. A 2005 study in the Art Therapy Journal documented measurable reductions in anxiety following structured coloring sessions. The soft, rounded shapes throughout this set give colorists a steady, low-pressure form to settle into.
Introduces the idea of shape as a form of problem-solving. Since Barbapapa and his family solve problems by transforming into useful shapes, such as a boat or a sled, this collection offers a specific example of creative thinking tied directly to a character’s core ability, rather than a generic adventure story.
How to Color Barbapapa Pages Well
- Barbapapa: a solid Crayola Carnation Pink, his signature and most recognizable color across every adaptation of the series.
- Barbamama: Crayola Black, with a small flower accent on her head, a detail tied to how she and Barbapapa first met.
- Barbazoo: Crayola Yellow, fitting for the animal-loving sibling most often shown with pets and wildlife.
- Barbalib: Crayola Orange, the bookish sibling frequently shown reading or surrounded by books.
- Barbalala: Crayola Green, the music-loving sibling shown playing instruments like the flute or tuba.
- Barbabright, Barbabravo, Barbabelle, and Barbabeau: Crayola Sky Blue for the inventive Barbabright, Scarlet Red for the athletic Barbabravo, Violet for the beauty-focused Barbabelle, and a deep charcoal or black for the artistic, furrier Barbabeau.
5 Creative Craft Ideas With Barbapapa Coloring Pages
1. Barbapapa Family Diorama
Color several family members, cut them out, and stand them upright on a simple paper landscape to create a small scene from their world.
2. Design a New Transformation
Color a solo Barbapapa or Barbamama page, then draw and color a brand-new shape they could transform into on a separate sheet of paper.
3. Barbapapa Family Tree Poster
Color each of the nine family members, mount them on poster board, and arrange them into a labeled family tree.
4. Barbapapa Pop-Up Card
Color a favorite family scene, cut it out, and fold and glue it into a simple pop-up card for a birthday or thank-you note.
5. Barbapapa Greeting Card
Fold a piece of cardstock in half, glue a colored Barbapapa page to the front, and write a message inside for a birthday or just-for-fun card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Barbapapa coloring pages?
Free, fan-made printable and online designs featuring the Barbapapa family. Not affiliated with, licensed by, or endorsed by Annette Tison, Talus Taylor, or their publishers, and intended for personal, non-commercial coloring only.
Who created Barbapapa, and when?
Annette Tison and Talus Taylor, a French-American couple living in Paris, created Barbapapa as a children’s book in 1970.
What does the name Barbapapa mean?
It comes from the French phrase barbe à papa, meaning cotton candy, referencing his soft, rounded, shape-shifting form.
Who are the members of the Barbapapa family?
Parents Barbapapa and Barbamama, and their seven children: Barbazoo, Barbalib, Barbalala, Barbabright, Barbabravo, Barbabelle, and Barbabeau, along with the family dog, Lolita.
Why does each child have a different color and interest?
Each of the seven children was designed with a distinct color and passion, from books to music to science, giving the family a wide range of personalities to explore.
Are Barbapapa coloring pages suitable for young children?
Yes. The simple, rounded shapes across most pages make this collection especially approachable for very young children, around ages 2 and up.
Can Barbapapa coloring pages be colored online, or only printed?
Both. Every design can be downloaded as a PDF for printing at home or opened directly in the online coloring tool for use on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Has Barbapapa appeared in more than one animated series?
Yes. The original 1970s adaptation was followed by later series, including a 2019 reboot, keeping the family’s core cast and colors largely consistent across versions.
Start Coloring
Download any page by clicking the design. No account, email, or payment is required. Pages print directly from the browser at full resolution or open in the online coloring tool for screen use. Share finished pages on Facebook or Pinterest with the share buttons at the top of each design page.
