Category Archives: Adult Color Books

Hidden Garden: An Adult Coloring Book with Fun, Easy, and Relaxing Coloring Pages (Perfect Gift for Fantasy Lovers)

By: Jade Summer

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a lovely book of coloring designs based on gardens. The designs are whimsical with gates, fountains, birdhouses, animals, fairy houses, and even a young girl on a swing. There are all sorts of elements which bring me right into the garden setting while I am coloring in the book. Having a wide variety of green pens/markers/pencils will make coloring in this book even more fun.

The designs are detailed and a few have intricate and rather small areas to color. The projects will be fun and take some time to finish so there is a great value here. There are 25 designs but the publisher has included two of each design for a total of 50 coloring pages. I have to decide whether I will color the designs two ways or share the book with my husband and see how differently we color the same designs.
While you can have access to .PDFs when you purchase this book, my review is based on the book as it is received from Amazon. That way you will know what the pages look like and how they accept color. I like that the publisher provides the digital version as well so you can choose the paper you wish to use and/or to color the pictures as many times as you choose.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:
25 x 2 Detailed Garden inspired designs
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated. The back of the page is printed black which is something I am find typical of Jade Summer coloring books.
The designs do not merge into the binding. There is a heavy framing line at the outer edges of the design to give the project a more finished look, especially for framing.
Glue Binding (there is room to cut the pages out if you choose to do so.)
Though you cannot see the bleed-through easily due to the back of the page being printed in black, I recommend the use of a blotter page when working in this book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.

Alice in Wonderland: An Adult Coloring Book with Fantasy Themes and Mythical Creatures (Based on the Classic Fairy Tale by Lewis Caroll)

By: Jade Summer

Rating: 5 of 5

I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and like to pick up different artist’s interpretations of the story. This coloring book has 25 different Alice designs (the referenced 50 comes from getting two of each of the designs.) The designs are very detailed with lots of swirling lines. A few of the designs have intricate spots with small areas to color but for the most part, most standard coloring medium nibs should work fine. I think crayons might be more difficult unless you can sharpen them to a fairly fine point.

While you can have access to .PDFs when you purchase this book, my review is based on the book as it is received from Amazon. That way you will know what the pages look like and how they accept color. I like that the publisher provides the digital version as well so you can choose the paper you wish to use and/or to color the pictures as many times as you choose.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:
25 x 2 Designs based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated. The back of the page is printed black which is something I am find typical of Jade Summer coloring books.
The designs do not merge into the binding. There is a heavy framing line at the outer edges of the design to give the project a more finished look, especially for framing.
Glue Binding (there is room to cut the pages out if you choose to do so.)
Though you cannot see the bleed-through easily due to the back of the page being printed in black, I recommend the use of a blotter page when working in this book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.

LANG – Adult Coloring Book – “Doodle House” – Artwork by Susan Winget – Hardcover – Spiral – Designs for Beginner to Expert – 100 Pages – 9″ x 11″

By: The LANG Companies, Inc

Rating: 5 of 5

I was surprised at how well this Lang coloring book is constructed; however, I was not surprised at all by how cute the designs were. I have seen Susan Winget’s designs in household goods and needlework for years and was really happy to find a coloring book filled to the brim with her designs.

The book is called Doodle House and it appears to be a glimpse at Ms. Winget’s sketchbook. The designs are hand-drawn and have the charming less than perfect look I expect from hand-drawn. I think that it makes coloring them more interesting and I am enjoying this book quite a bit.
Two things that I really like about the construction of the book are the spiral binding and the hard covers. The binding makes it easy to open the book to a flat position for coloring. It also makes it easy for leftys to color with the same easy as rightys. The hardcover gives a good flat surface for coloring on the go.
There are many designs with sayings as well as birds, animals and flowers. While it is not a book dedicated to the natural world, many of the designs lean that way. The designs are quite detailed but not what I would call intricate with tiny spots to color. As I mentioned previously, the hand-drawn nature of the artwork does show less than perfect. There are disconnected lines, a bit of uneven spacing, and even lines of varying thickness. It is that which gives it the sketchbook quality.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
100 Design pages featuring hand-drawn artwork by Susan Winget with a focus on nature
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is medium weight, white, slightly rough and perforated
Designs do cross over the perforations but stop short of the spiral binding. If you remove pages from the book, the edge that you will lose does not contain essential elements of the design.
Spiral Binding with hard covers that help the book lay flat and provide a good coloring table
Alcohol-based markers bled through the paper lightly. I was surprised at how little bled through given that the paper is more medium in weight. I would still use a blotter of card stock to protect the designs below my working page when using these style of markers.
Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens did not bleed through or leave shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils worked well with this paper. It has a good tooth and allowed for applying layers of the same color to get rich pigment. I could also layer multiple colors well and I could blend both oil and wax based pencils easily with a pencil style blending stick.

The Magic of Christmas (50 Adult Coloring Book Designs, Doubled on the Back of Each Sheet): Cubs, Bears, Dogs, Cats, Christmas Trees, Toys, Santa’s … Holiday Spirit Experience) (Volume 1)

By: Leo Art Gibson

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a coloring book of traditional and detailed Christmas designs. There is a focus on certain types of designs. I found a lot of design with ornaments, wooden soldiers, and Christmas elves that looked a lot more like gnomes.

The interesting difference with this book is that the same design is printed on both front and page of the page. That way you can color the same designs twice or you can treat the page like a single page design and ignore the back of the page. It works well for both right and left hand colorists as you don’t have to work over the hump of the binding. Just choose which page works best for your writing hand and color that one.
For me, I will use the book as a one-sided design book. My coloring medium of choice will either bleed through or leave dents on the back of the page. Because of that, the back of the page won’t be in good enough shape (due to the them CreateSpace paper) to be useful.
The designs are detailed with lots of elements to color. Some of the designs have intricate and small areas to color. These may require small nib pens/markers and thin, sharp pencil points for coloring. Because of this, I don’t recommend this coloring book to any one who has fine motor or vision issues.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
51 Traditional Christmas Designs
The same design is printed on both front and back of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs merge into the binding area. If you cut your pages out, you will lose part of the design.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Magic Christmas: Coloring Book for Adults

By: Happy Coloring

Rating: 5 of 5

I own a couple of coloring books by artist Juliana Emerson but I believe that this is the first one that I have that focuses on people. The scenes are all traditional Christmas and include: Santas, angels, baby Jesus and a nativity scene, outdoor scenes, trees, candles, packages, and more. The designs are done with a vintage style from a by-gone era. The book is filled with designs that evoke the holiday season and give a lot of joy to my time spent coloring.

The designs are detailed but not what I would call intricate (calling for special small nib pens/markers and fine point pencils.) I am able to use both fine and ultra fine points with no problem. The designs are beautiful background scenes for a fun coloring project.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 Vintage style Traditional Christmas Designs
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have an unusual double line frame at the outer edges of the design
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Christmas Coloring Books: Christmas Coloring Books for Adults Relaxation

By: Adult Coloring Books

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a cute Christmas coloring book. It has traditional holiday designs with Santa, Christmas trees, ornaments, gingerbread houses, ornamented animals and more. Some of the designs have repeating patterns and look to have computer generated parts of the design though most of the designs have a more unique look to them. My two favorite styles in the book and the ornaments and the animals. While all of the designs are cute, I just think these are especially so.

The designs are detailed and fun to color. Some of the designs have intricate and small areas to color. These may require small nib pens/markers and thin, sharp pencil points for coloring. Because of this, I don’t recommend this coloring book to any one who has fine motor or vision issues.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 Traditional Christmas Designs
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Silent Night: Adult Coloring Book

By: Phoenix Amulet

Rating: 5 of 5

I am a fan of both Christmas coloring books and coloring books which utilize doodle creatures. This coloring book by Mardel Rubio combines both in a really interesting fusion. The designs are quite traditional, with Santas, snowmen, fireside tree scenes, Christmas trees, angels, and even a nativity or two.

What is interesting to me about the fusion of styles is that I can choose how to emphasize each design. I can choose bring out the doodle creatures by coloring them contrasting colors to the rest of the design. Or I can choose to blend them in by using complimentary colors.
The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
23 Traditional Christmas Designs with Doodle creatures
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs merge into the binding area (and extend to all sides of the page)
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Adult Coloring Book: Island Dreams: Vacation, Summer and Beach: Dream and Relax with Gorgeous Illustrations

By: Julia Rivers

Rating: 4 of 5

The designs in this book are inspired by islands and the ocean. There are many island scenes, fish, waves, palm trees, etc. Each page has a lot of detail by way of lots of wavy lines. The publishing company (Okami Coloring) has not provided the artists name(s) for the designs. The designs have the appearance of hand-drawn and seem to be the style of one artist.

The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
40 Island/Ocean inspired designs with lots of details and wavy lines
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have a framing line around the outer edges.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

The Curious Carnival: Coloring Book for Grown-ups

By: M.R. Umlas

Rating: 5 of 5

We have recently started taking our grandchildren to the circus when it comes to town. We have all been thrilled by the spectacle of the acts under the big top. This coloring book captures that feeling and gives me the opportunity to both color the designs and to discuss the circus with my grandson.

There are trapeze artists, clowns, animals, fortune-tellers, magicians, jugglers and more. The designs have a lovely hand-drawn quality and represent the images with an old-time vintage (almost steampunk) feel. I’m really pleased with the quality of artwork in this book. The paper is the same thin quality I have come to expect from CreateSpace printed books. While I wish it were better, it is the only choice for self-published artists, so I accept it to get the wide choice of designs.
The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
25 Hand-drawn Designs inspired by Carnivals and Circus images
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have a framing line around the outer edges.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Animals Flowers: Adult Coloring Book Stress Relieving Patterns (animals coloring books for adults relaxation)

By: Sophia Payne

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a slightly smaller than average format coloring book. The designs in it are reduced somewhat on the page as well. This makes for a very detailed and intricate set of illustrations inspired by animals and flowers. Both the range of the animals and the flowers are extensive with the animals ranging from birds to mammals, reptiles and even insects. Each design features an animal set among greenery and flowers. While I wish the designs were done full page, I like the illustrations themselves.

The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
24 Animal/Flower inspired designs which are sized rather small on the page
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding. A few have framing lines at the outer edge but most stop without a line.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.