iiiiReader Book Reviews

The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Summertime

By: Nosy Crow

Rating: 5 of 5

While the title of this set of cards refers to Summertime, the cards are mostly a ocean/seashore theme. There are a couple which show plants, butterflies and birds but most show fish, sea birds, shells, seals, and other subjects related to the ocean. The designs are extremely cute with areas to color or write in on all sides of the note cards. In addition to the set of color yourself cards, the set also comes with fold it yourself coordinating envelopes and stickers to seal them with.

The envelopes have areas to color and decorate as well and the inside of the envelope is done is a all-over coordinating design. The designs are detailed and some have a few intricate areas to color. I don’t find them difficult to color but they may present issues for someone with vision or fine motor skill issues.
The cards are printed on a medium weight card stock while the envelopes are printed on a heavy weight paper. All of the pages are perforated for easy removal from the book, however, you still need to cut (using scissors or paper cutter) certain parts of the page.
Each page of cards has two cards on it with a cutting line to separate them. The book also recommends that you trim the perforated side of the cards and the envelopes to neaten the edge as it is slightly rough once it is removed from the book.
The fold lines are lightly scored on both the cards and the envelopes. There are written instructions on the method of folding the envelopes as well as stickers at the back of the book that can be used to help seal the envelopes.
My alcohol-based markers bled through both types of paper.
My water-based markers were mixed. None of them bled through the note card paper but all but Tombow brush end markers bled through the envelopes.
Gel pens and India ink pens did not bleed through or leave marks on the back of either types of paper. I really liked the way that my India ink pens worked with and looked like with these cards.
Colored pencils work well with the slight rough texture. I got could color with both oil and wax based pencils. I was also able to layer and blend well using a blender stick.

Festive Magic – Fantasy Christmas Coloring Book (Fantasy Coloring by Selina) (Volume 12)

By: Selina Fenech

Rating: 5 of 5

This is exactly the type of holiday coloring book I would expect from Selina Fenech. Her previous coloring books are fantasy in nature, so it makes sense that her holiday (not Christmas per se) book would be a merge of fantasy and secular. If anything, I am reminded of pagan holiday scenes from stories, movies, etc. from England.

Most of the designs are of angels who look rather more like fairies. The designs are detailed and some include intricate and small areas to color.
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper.
25 x 2 copies each fantasy/pagan holiday (not Christmas) designs by Selina Fenech for a total of 50 coloring pages
Designs are printed on one side of white, thin, slightly rough non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace
Glue Binding
Easy to open to flat position for coloring
Designs do not merge into the binding and there is plenty of room to cut pages out if you choose to do so
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page to some degree. Water-based bleed through in spots while alcohol-based bleed through freely
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of page. India ink can bleed through if you use multiple layers.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. Both oil and wax based provide good color when I use multiple layers of the same color. I am easily able to blend (using a pencil style blender stick) and layer multiple colors as well. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the back of the page.
Because of the bleed through and dents, I use a blotter page below my working page. I prefer card stock but several sheets of heavyweight paper work as well.

Magical Dawn Coloring Book: Published in Sweden as “Magisk Gryning” (Gsp- Trade)

By: Hanna Karlzon

Rating: 5 of 5

I own a few coloring books by Hanna Karlzon and I was looking forward to receiving Magical Dawn which I purchased sight unseen on pre-order. The book is filled with designs in Ms. Karlzon’s unique style. I think that the designs in this book are even more elaborate than her previous ones. There are many more jewels, animals, and lovely ladies.

Because the book is printed two-sided, I’m being very careful with what I use to color in it. I’ve discovered that I prefer using my Faber-Castell Polychromos because 1) I like the way they work with the paper and 2) I like the color mix available for these designs. I also like to use metallic and glitter gel pens to add a hint of pizzazz to my projects. This has been true with my other copies of regular hardbound coloring books by Ms. Karlzon. I like her artist edition and postcard versions for use with my markers as those editions are printed only on one side of the page.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. I will list the coloring medium I use for tests and coloring in the comments section below.
90+ pages of beautiful and elaborate designs by Hanna Karlzon
Printed on both sides of the page
Paper is heavyweight, cream color, somewhat smooth, and non-perforated
Sewn binding with some glue as well. You can still snips the threads to remove the pages from the book but may have to contend with a tiny bit of glue on a few pages. I’ve not tried this as I want to keep my book together.
Some designs merge into the binding area, especially those which spread across two pages. Because of the sewn/glued binding and the hardcover of the book, it is difficult to color into those bits. It makes it more of a challenge to tilt the book to get the right angle for coloring
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use these, you will have ink seep through and mar the design on the back of the page.
Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. I was able to blend, layer the same and multiple colors using both oil and wax-based pencils with ease.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses: Grayscale Adult Coloring Book (Beautiful Fairy Tales) (Volume 1)

By: Ruth Sanderson

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really lovely grayscale coloring book which is based on the illustrations in Ruth Sanderson’s version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Having seen how beautiful the designs are, I plan on purchasing the story book as well. I will probably use my own color schemes for the coloring book but it will be nice to see the illustrations in their original form. I’m hoping that Ms. Sanderson will be coming out with coloring books (line drawings and grayscale) based on the other story books she has illustrated.

Please note, there is a slight moire pattern in the silent, full book flip-through and the photo samples I will upload. It is not present on the actual designs but rather a by-product of filming and how the images were converted to grayscale.
The designs are extremely detailed and have small and intricate spots to color. Prefacing the coloring book, Ms. Sanderson has given some excellent suggestions for colors and types of pencils to use while coloring in this book.
There are 24 designs in this book and, what is very interesting, is that there are 12 bonus designs (similar to the others.) These were the designs the artist used to test out grayscale techniques. I think it is wonderful she provided those to us to test and try rather than to discard them from the final book.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
24 Grayscale designs plus 12 bonus (experimental) designs based on the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality used by CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not extend into the binding area. The designs have a framing line at 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; however, some of the darker areas of the designs had a tendency to smear using this type of blender. I found that liquid forms (Gamsol or mineral spirits) did a better job. This doesn’t bother me as I generally do not use a blender on grayscale designs. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils (like Verithins) 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.

Darth Vader and Family Coloring Book

By: Jeffrey Brown

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a great coloring book filled with cute designs featuring Darth Vader and his kids. Leia and Luke are shown as children and even teens in humorous depictions with their Dad. I love the hand-drawn look and feel to all of the illustrations.

It appears (for this book series at least) that Darth Vader has turned away from the dark side of the force and is trying his best to be a great dad. One of my favorite illustrations is Darth telling Luke to use the fork while they are eating. I’ve been there and done that, so I could relate one hundred percent.
There are 47 illustrations (including the preface page.) The designs have a really nice level of detail but aren’t overly intricate. The book is in a smaller square format at 8.5 x 8.5 inches. I really appreciate that Mr. Brown included a very short tutorial at the beginning of the book on how to drawn Darth Vader’s head.
This is what I experienced in coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper.
47 line drawing designs based on Darth Vader and Family book series by Jeffrey Brown (includes 9 new illustrations)
Designs are printed on one side of the page with cute wallpaper style design on the back of the page
Paper is medium weight, white, slightly smooth to the touch and non-perforated
Sewn Binding
Designs do not merge into the binding area and (except for the preface page) have framing lines at the outer edges
Book easily opens to a flat position for coloring by creasing/breaking the spine
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper easily. If I use this style of marker, I also make sure to use a blotter under my working page. I like card stock but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works well, too.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens leave indistinct shadows on the back of the page. Some gel pens require slightly more drying time than usual.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. While it is slightly smooth to the touch, it still has just enough tooth to it that I got fairly good pigment coverage from both oil and wax based pencils. I was able to layer the same and multiple colors well and could blend easily using a pencil style blending stick.

The Art of Jane Starr Weils Coloring Book: The Art of Jane Starr Weils Coloring Book (Volume 1)

By: Jane Starr Weils

Rating: 5 of 5

Jane Starr Weils is a new artist for me. I picked up this book based on the beautiful images on the cover and was completely won over by Ms. Weils style and graceful images. The designs include fantasy images but also show people and animals in realistic though romanticized designs.

The designs are detailed and some include intricate areas to color. On a few of the designs, the print is slightly uneven (light to dark) but I’ve found that to be true of coloring book designs which are drawn by hand. The designs stop before the edges of the page (and the binding.) While there are no framing lines at the outer edges, most of the designs have finished elements on most sides of the design.
I’m looking forward to seeing more coloring books released by this talented artist.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
35 x 2 each (total of 70 pages) original designs based on artwork by Jane Starr Weils
Designs are printed one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace publishing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not extend into the binding area
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 (like Verithins) 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.