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Jack in the Box Coloring Pages

by Leanne Guenther
Last Updated:

Turn the crank and listen. A jack-in-the-box plays a tune, usually "Pop Goes the Weasel," and the whole fun is knowing the lid is about to fly open and jumping anyway.

Jump to: Jack in the Box | Surprise Guests | History

 

Jack in the Box

coloring page of a simple jack-in-the-box with a smiling clown in a pointed hat
Simple jack-in-the-box
coloring page of a jack-in-the-box with a clown in a pointed hat and a ruffled collar
Jack-in-the-box with a crank
cartoon coloring page of a jack-in-the-box with a jester clown on a coiled spring
Cartoon jack-in-the-box
detailed coloring page of a jack-in-the-box with a curly-haired clown in a jester hat
Detailed jack-in-the-box

 

Surprise Guests

Same box, different surprise. An elf pops up for Christmas, a scarecrow for autumn and a witch for Halloween.

detailed coloring page of an elf popping out of a jack-in-the-box with holly on the sides
Elf in a box
detailed coloring page of a scarecrow popping out of a jack-in-the-box
Scarecrow in a box
detailed coloring page of a witch with curly hair popping out of a jack-in-the-box
Witch in a box

 

A Little Jack-in-the-Box History

Jack-in-the-boxes are hundreds of years old, and the idea hasn't changed much. Inside the box is a coiled spring pressed flat under the lid with a latch. Turning the crank runs a little music box, and when the tune reaches its last note the latch lets go and the spring sends the figure flying up. Kids know it's coming and jump anyway, which is the whole point.

The figure is usually a clown or a jester, but the box doesn't care who pops out. The tune is almost always "Pop Goes the Weasel," and the toy is often timed so the lid flies open right on the word "pop." Old ones were wood with a painted head and a cloth collar, while many modern ones are plastic or cardboard with a soft head so nobody gets a bonk.