iiiiReader Book Reviews

Autumn Magic: Gorgeous Autumn Patterns to Color (Color Magic)

By: Barron’s Educational Series

Rating: 4 of 5

As Autumn inspired coloring books are few and far between, I am always looking for new ones. Autumn Magic is the latest entry in the magic series by Barron’s. As I have a couple of books in this series, I was not surprised by either the fact that the pictures were printed on both sides of the page and that all of the artwork is licensed from Shutterstock/iStock rather than created specifically for this book.

With these types of licensed designs, if you own other books of this nature, you are apt to find designs that you have already. That was certainly the case for me with this book. However, there is enough designs in the book that I haven’t had before to make it a fun coloring experience for me. Because of the repetitive artwork, I detracted a star from my rating. I think a company of this size should be able to obtain original artwork and/or license artwork that has not been licensed over and over again.

The designs are well printed on a good quality paper. Some designs are detailed and some are quite intricate and may require special small nib pens or markers or really sharp pencils to color. While most of the designs are related to Autumn and/or Halloween, a few of them seemed less applicable and more general in nature.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:

78 pages of Licensed Autumn/Halloween inspired designs are printed on both sides of the page

Paper is heavyweight, white, smooth and non-perforated

Sewn Binding (you can remove several pages at a time by snipping threads if you choose to do so.)

Designs are single page and do not merge into the binding area

All Designs have framed around the outer edge

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper rapidly. If you use these, you will bleed through to the design on the back side of the page.

Ultra-fine and brush end water-based markers do not bleed through the page. Fine point water-based markers do bleed through in spots.

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page. However, gel pens require additional drying time.

Colored pencils work well with the paper. I used wax and oil based pencils equally well for good pigment, layering and blending. Hard lead pencils did not dent through this paper.

Johanna Basford 2017 Coloring Day-to-Day Calendar

By: Johanna Basford

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my first daily calendar set by Johanna Basford. The designs in the set are excerpted from Secret Garden Enchanted Forest and Lost Ocean. The pictures are generally cropped from the full design and have either been enlarged or made slightly smaller to fit the design area on the daily calendar page.

The designs are really fantastic given the daily concept of the calendar. Usually, with this type of calendar, designs are small and somewhat simple. These designs are really beautiful and detailed but for the most part, are not small and difficult to color. There are a couple of designs that borderline that area but for the most part, some designs have been enlarged from what they were in their respective books and are actually easier to color (though, of course, it is only a portion of the original design.)

I plan to work a few pages ahead of the calendar so I can enjoy the current day in its fully colored glory. It’s a fun way to revisit some of my old favorites but still feel like I’m having a new coloring experience. I look forward to this style of calendar again in the future from Ms. Basford.

The pages are a full 5 x 7 inches as is the beautiful keepsake box that the calendar sits in. The box is decorated in black and white with gold foil touches. The inside of the box is white print on black background and there is a black attached ribbon which can be used as a bookmark in the pages.

The design portion of the page is slightly taller than four and one half inches by four and three eighths inches wide. The rest of the page is the calendar portion. The pages are loose leaf in the box. Monday through Friday each have their own page and Saturday and Sunday share a page. There are also four color testing pages included in this box as well.

The paper is fairly thin, white and lightly smooth. The designs are printed on one side and the reverse is blank. I tested my various coloring mediums and this is what I found:

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper

Water-based markers can leave a slight shadow on the back of the page

India ink pens spot through the paper

Gel pens do not bleed through or leave shadows

Colored pencils work well with the paper. While it feels smooth to the touch, I found that there was still enough tooth to the paper to get good pigment coverage, especially using multiple layers. I was also able to layer different colors well and to blend easily using a pencil style blender stick. This was true of both oil and wax based pencils.

If you use markers or India ink, I suggest that you place the page you are working on on a blotter page of heavyweight paper. Just be sure not to have another calendar page below your work and you should be fine. Otherwise, you could damage the page(s) below.

The Art of Marjorie Sarnat: Elegant Elephants Adult Coloring book

By: Marjorie Sarnat

Rating: 5 of 5

I own a number of coloring books by Marjorie Sarnat by several different publishers. This makes a difference in the paper used, whether or not colored samples are included and also whether or not the pages are perforated. “Elegant Elephants” is a book published by a new (to me) publisher and, in this case, other than the designs on the front and back cover, there are no colored samples and the pages of the book are not perforated.

The designs are really quite special and there are 34 of them in this book. As with all of Ms. Sarnat’s coloring books, the designs are very detailed but don’t have tiny, intricate details that are hard to color. There are a number of “doodle” style designs as well as designs which feature other types of details added to the hides of the elephants. This makes coloring fun as you can color the creatures in any fashion you can imagine.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:

34 Detailed Elephant Designs by Marjorie Sarnat

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is medium weight, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue Binding

Designs do not merge into the binding area and there is enough room to cut pages out if you choose to do so.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper. I suggest you use a heavyweight blotter page of card stock or several sheets of paper below your project page if you are using alcohol-based markers. This will keep seeping ink from ruining the pages below.

Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the paper but do leave slight shadows on the back of the page.

Colored pencils work extremely with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils and got good results with color, layers of the same color, layers of different colors, and blending with a pencil style blending stick.

This is a revised review of this coloring book. I purchased my first copy of the book from Amazon. Shortly thereafter, I was informed by the publishing company that they had switched printers and the new paper used was an improvement. They provided me with a copy for test and review purposes.

I agree that the new paper is a vast improvement over my original copy. I have since purchased additional copies of the new book as gifts for families and friends. Apart from the lack of perforated pages, I rate this printing as good as any other coloring books I have purchased by Marjorie Sarnat.

Whimsical Halloween Coloring Book: Witches, Vampires Kitties and More!

By: Molly Harrison

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second Whimsical coloring book by Molly Harrison. In this series, she highlights little girls with cute round faces and non-existent noses. They have an adorable look to them with their little eyes, broad faces, and fly-away hair. I did notice that a couple of the designs are duplicates of those I have in my other book. I’m not sure about this first book in this series as I don’t own it.

In this particular book, the designs are related to Halloween. There are witches, fairies, mummies, pumpkins, owls, kittens, and so much more. I always have a lot of fun coloring these little dolls and hope that someday Ms. Harrison will do a grayscale coloring book featuring them.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and using my coloring medium to test the paper (which is typical of CreateSpace who is the publisher of this book):

32 Cute Halloween Designs featuring little girls

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated

Glue Binding

Designs do not merge into the binding area and can easily be cut out if you choose to do so.

Designs have a double framing line around the outside to give the project a more finished appearance and to save time and ink by not having to color the entire background.

Book opens fairly flat for coloring purposes.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.

Water-based markers bleed through to a lesser degree with spotting more than a full bleed through

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink can bleed through if I use multiple coats or blending of two colors.

Colored pencils work really well with this paper. I can get good color with both wax and oil based pencils. I can layer and blend well using a blending pencil. Hard leads such as Verithins can dent/score through to the back of the page.

I used and recommend the use of a blotter page of card stock or several sheets of paper under your working page to keep seeping ink and dents from ruining the design below.

Autumn Magic Grayscale Coloring Book: Autumn Fairies, Witches, and More!

By: Molly Harrison

Rating: 5 of 5

I have been a fan of Molly Harrison’s regular line drawn coloring books since she released her first one almost a year ago. That first book was based on Halloween style designs. Once Ms. Harrison started releasing grayscale design books, I’ve been hoping for a grayscale book that utilized some of the same Halloween/Autumn styles as my first coloring book did. The wait is over as this is the book I have been hoping and waiting for.

Autumn Magic is a grayscale coloring book which features 30 of Ms. Harrison’s designs. As with her other grayscale design books, the contrast between light and dark areas in the book are spot on. There are many elements designs of adult fairies and witches as well as a few of the younger versions (I hope to see a grayscale book dedicated to her little girls as well in the near future.)

The designs are lovely to color. I am using a mix of alcohol-based markers and colored pencils and find that that works best for me. There simply aren’t enough Halloween based coloring books, especially ones that are as elegant as Ms. Harrison’s, so I am enjoying coloring in this book while waiting for her to release more of the same.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my various coloring medium on the paper:

30 Elegant Autumn/Halloween Fairy/Witch designs in grayscale. All designs are based on Molly Harrison’s original artwork.

Designs are printed on one side of the page

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough (with good tooth), and non-perforated

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding and there is enough room to easily cut pages out if you choose to do so

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper. Water-based markers spot through enough to mar pages below.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink can leak through if you use multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with the paper. It has good tooth being slightly rough. I can use both oil and wax based pencils with it and get good results in coloring, layering and blending. Hard lead pencils dent through to the back of the page.

I use and suggest the use of heavyweight paper or card stock as a blotter page under the page you are working on. It keeps seeping ink and dents from ruining the pages below.

Chalk-Style Nature Coloring Book: Color with All Types of Markers, Gel Pens & Colored Pencils

By: Deb Strain

Rating: 5 of 5

I now have three chalk-style coloring books by artist Deb Strain. While they are definitely white designs on a black background, they seem less chalk-like than others I own by other artists. That is perfect for me as I appreciate them as beautiful and detailed designs that have black backgrounds. While I am not a big proponent of colored backgrounds, I find that the black style is one that I do like. It doesn’t dictate what colors I have to use (as a colorful background would do) and it gives my projects a more finished appearance once I am done.

The designs in this book have words and sayings but focus a little more on the design than do my other coloring books by this artist. There are loads of flowers and cute animals as well as trees and other plant life. The designs are detailed but not overly intricate.

I own a number of books by this publishing company and this book contains the things that I have come to expect from them. There are a few pages of artist recommendations and hints, some beautiful colored sample pages and the back of each design page has a quote, journal lines and a cute design (which in the chalk-style books is in color.) What is new and different about the most recent books, including this one, is that 8 of the design pages are medium rather than full page designs. The bottom of the page has a thumbnail of the colored sample and has a few of the colors used in it and some hints on coloring. That portion of the page is perforated so you can remove it if you wish to do so.

I’m torn about this new format. I really like the information included but I miss having the designs in full page format. As these are the same designs we get to see in full page colored samples, I wish that they had reduced the size of the colored sample page and put that information on that page. That way I get the information but still retain the full size designs for coloring. While the smaller size is still good, in some cases, the elements have become a little small and a little more difficult to color.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my various coloring medium on the paper:

32 Nature (Flower, Animals, Plants) in Chalk-board style (white images on black background) with 24 large designs and 8 medium ones

8 Medium Designs include colored thumbnails and coloring advice on the page (info can be removed at provided perforations)

Printed on one side of the page.

Paper is medium weight, slightly rough, black printed on white paper and is perforated for easy removal. The paper is noted as archival-grade and acid free for 200 years.

Designs stop well before the perforations

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page

Gel pens and India ink pens can spot through to the back of the page

Colored pencils work well with the paper. Both oil and wax based pencils provide good color, layer, and blend well. Hard lead pencils can dent through the page.

As I use markers and pencils, I use a blotter page to keep seeping ink and dents from marring the pages below. I recommend this in general or that you remove pages before coloring. I use card stock or several sheets of paper as my blotter page.

Alice in Wonderland Coloring Book

By: Fabiana Attanasio

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really cute and fun coloring book. The designs are detailed but not overly intricate. The characters from the book are well represented and are easily recognizable for anyone familiar with the story. Alice is there as is the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts and her playing card guards.

The story follows from the beginning of the book through to the end and the condensed story at the front of the book tells the high points in just a few pages. While you might want to keep a copy of the book handy, the story by itself is sufficient for telling to little ones and then you get to look through the pages you have colored together.

I am a real fan of Alice in Wonderland, so I have several different coloring books based on this story. I find it really interesting to see the difference in how individual artists interpret one of my favorite stories.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I did not test the poster as there is only one and my tests usually ruin the design page that I am testing. The poster is heavyweight and, while white, is slightly bluer in tone than the rest of the book.

71 pages of Alice in Wonderland inspired designs plus a 37 x 26 inch folded and removable poster at the end of the book.

Printed on both sides of the page

Paper is white, heavyweight, smooth and non-perforated.

Sewn Binding

Designs do merge into the binding area

25 of the Designs are printed across two pages of the book

The images line up exceptionally well in my copy of the book

Front and back covers fold out with suits of playing cards that can be colored; however, the paper is slick and may not work with all coloring medium

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper

Water-based markers, except for the brush end of Tombows, can leave the faintest of shadows on the back of the page if you use dark or bright colors or have to put multiple coats on for coverage. My Tombows did not leak through or leave shadows on the back of the page.

Gel pens and India ink pens did not bleed through on my tests. Gel pens required additional drying time.

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. I used both wax and oil based pencils and while the paper was smooth, I was able to layer same colors for deeper pigment, layer different colors, and blend colors well using a pencil style blending stick. Hard lead pencils did not dent through on this paper.

If you choose to use markers, you will probably have bleed through of some sort and that will ruin the design on the back of the page. As with my other book in this series, I have chosen to use coloring pencils to finish this book along with some highlights of gel pens here and there when I want to make something sparkle or gleam.

Peter Pan Coloring Book

By: Fabiana Attanasio

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a fun story coloring book based on Peter Pan. The first few pages of the book tell the story briefly and these pages have some coloring opportunities on them but are really not what I call coloring designs. The next 71 pages are all about the designs with a very cute take on the characters. If that were all that was included, that would be great. However, in addition to these great coloring pages, there is a huge removable poster at the end of the book. The poster, once unfolded, is approximately 37 x 26 inches and is printed on only one side. I’ve seen posters this size sell for more than the combined book and poster, so I view this as a great deal as well as a fun book to color.

All of the characters are present, from Peter to Tinker Bell, from Wendy to Captain Hook, even Nana and the Lost Boys appear as well.

I am having such fun with this book. I’m coloring these story books for my grandchildren to have when they are a little bit older. I love to make them special hand-made items and while I can’t create a story book myself, I can color it uniquely for them. I think about that as I am coloring and it makes me smile to think that one day these books will be in their hands and perhaps a little bit special because their Nana colored in it for them.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will note that the poster is a slightly bluer shade of white than the rest of the book. It seems equally heavy but as there is just one poster and in testing I color on a design page, I did not test the poster with my colors.

71 pages of Designs based on the story of Peter Pan plus a 37 x 26 inch folded and removable poster at the end of the book.

Printed on both sides of the page

Paper is white, heavyweight, smooth and non-perforated.

Sewn Binding

Designs do merge into the binding area

22 of the Designs are printed across two pages of the book

The images line up well in my copy of the book though on some pages I can see bits of another page at the binding area.

Front and back covers fold out with star pattern that can be colored; however, the paper is slick and may not work with all coloring medium

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper

Water-based markers can leave the faintest of shadows on the back of the page if you use dark or bright colors or have to put multiple coats on for coverage. My brush end Tombows were the one exception and those did not show through at all.

Gel pens and India ink pens did not bleed through on my tests. Gel pens required additional drying time.

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. While the texture is smooth, there was still enough tooth to the paper to grab color well with both wax and oil based pencils. I was able to layer same colors, different colors, and blend well using a pencil style blending stick. Hard lead pencils did not dent through on this paper.

If you choose to use markers, you will probably have bleed through of some sort and that will ruin the design on the back of the page. I have chosen to use coloring pencils to finish this book along with some highlights of gel pens here and there when I want to make something sparkle or gleam.

Chalk-Style Family Coloring Book: Color With All Types of Markers, Gel Pens & Colored Pencils

By: Deb Strain

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second coloring book by Deb Strain in the chalk-style format. Effectively, this means that the design is in white with black background. The design is still printed with black ink on white paper but, to some degree, it gives the look of being white marks on a chalk-board. I think that with Ms. Strain’s designs, because of her great details and designs, the pictures look a little less like chalk and more like simply designs on a black background. As I really like her designs, it doesn’t bother me that there is more of a concept of chalk than I find in reality.

The designs in this book are all about family. They all include words or sayings that relate to families and the emotions we have for them (although the dangling hearts are a tad esoteric in that only one heart has the word love in it repeatedly.) I am planning on coloring quite a few of these to mount as big cards to send to my family members. I think it will be a beautiful way to express my feelings for them through my coloring hobby.

What is new and interesting about this coloring book is that the publishers have changed their format a bit. They still have a great couple of pages where the artist gives her opinions and advice, still great colored examples, and the back of the page still has quotes, journal lines, etc. What is different is that the eight colored sample pages are included in the book, not as full size designs, but as medium designs with a thumbnail of the color sample, a few samples of the colors used and a quick sentence or two about the how the colors work with the design.

I’ve now found this in my three latest books from this publisher, so it may be that this will be their new format going forward. The pages with this information have smaller designs and are perforated not only at the binding but also between the design and the information/thumbnail. While I appreciate aspects of the new format, I also miss having those designs in full page. Some of the details become small and intricate once the design has been shrunk making it a little more challenging to color.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my various coloring medium on the paper:

32 Family Style Saying/Word Designs in Chalk-board style (white images on black background) with 24 large designs and 8 medium ones

8 Medium Designs include colored thumbnails and coloring advice on the page

Designs are printed on one side of the page.

Paper is medium weight, slightly rough, black printed on white paper and is perforated for easy removal. The paper is noted as archival-grade and acid free for 200 years.

Designs stop well before the perforations

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page

Gel pens and India ink pens can spot through to the back of the page

Colored pencils work well with the paper. Both oil and wax based pencils provide good color, layer, and blend well. Hard lead pencils can dent through the page.

I use card stock as a blotter with this style of book, if I don’t remove the pages from the book for coloring. The blotter will keep seeping ink and marring dents from damaging the pages below.