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🧸 20 free puzzles

Kids Animal Word Search

20 kids animal word searches for young children learning to read and spell.

Kids word searches use a small 10×10 grid with only short words (3–6 letters) hidden across and down, printed with extra-large letters.

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All kids animal puzzles

Puzzle guide

About kids animal word search puzzles

What they are

Kids animal word searches are built for early readers: a 10×10 grid printed in extra-large letters with ten short animals such as CAT, DOG, DUCK, FROG and OWL. Every name runs across or down, so there are no tricky slants.

How to play

Say the animal's name out loud, find its first letter, then look right or down for the next one. Colour the animal's square once you have found it, and give it a little roar.

Tips

Point to each row with a finger and slide along slowly. Animal sounds make good prompts: if your child is stuck on COW, ask what says 'moo' and then hunt for the C together.

Who they suit

This level suits children aged four to seven, preschool and kindergarten classrooms, and grown-ups solving alongside a beginner reader. Many teachers keep a stack in the reading corner for children who finish early.

Printing

Each kids puzzle prints one to a page with big letters, perfect for chunky crayons. The answer sheet is separate.

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Animal riddles to go with your word search

A word search trains your eye for patterns; a riddle trains your mind to see the trick. Here are a few riddles with answers, then more brain games from the club.

I have whiskers, soft paws and a purr. What am I?

Reveal answer

The answer is

A cat

Hints and details

I look like a horse wearing black-and-white pajamas. What am I?

Reveal answer

The answer is

A zebra

Hints and details

I move slowly and carry my house on my back. What am I?

Reveal answer

The answer is

A snail

Hints and details