Swirly Mandala with a Stretched-Out Mongoose

A long-bodied animal with a pointed snout, a round eye and a jagged black crest along its back lies stretched out in the middle of a circular frame. It looks like a mongoose or a similar small creature. Its body is filled with a big spiral, and decorative dots, little ovals and scalloped edges trim the head and chest. A curled front paw has a heart-like pattern with black dots. It rests on a large swirl that looks like a mound, with a small butterfly near its nose. Around it, the border is packed with spiral shells or stones, wavy grass and a few leafy sprigs. Try using one color family for the border and bright contrasting shades for the black-spiked back, so the animal stands out. The tiny spaces suit fine-tip markers or sharp colored pencils, and older kids who like detailed work will enjoy it most.