iiiiReader Book Reviews

The Hobbit Movie Trilogy: Heroes and Villains Coloring Book

By: Warner Brothers Studio

Rating: 5 of 5

Attached to this review will be a silent flip-through of the entire coloring book plus some photos so you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it will work for you.

Please note that this coloring book is based on the movie version of The Hobbit. The characters look like those actors or characters rather than any illustrations in this books.
The designs in this coloring book are by Nicolette Caven who also illustrated The Lord of the Rings coloring book. Where that book had two page spread designs, The Hobbit has only one page designs. The designs are split between character illustrations and descriptive pages (with some designs) on the facing page which tell who the character is and a little bit about the character.
The designs with the wording are generally fairly simple to color while the more elaborate character studies are detailed and have some intricate and small spots to color.
I really like the designs in this book. The characters look very much like the movie. The only thing I wish it included were some scenes that showed action but perhaps that will be the basis of another book.
This is what I experienced while coloring and testing this book:
38 Character Designs based on The Hobbit (including Title page)
Designs are printed on one side of the page with text and small amount of design on the back side of the page.
Paper is white, heavyweight, slightly smooth and non-perforated
Glue Bound
Some designs spread into the binding area but usually involve non-essential portions of the design.
Alcohol-based markers bled through the page.
Water-based markers left shadows on the back of the page. Tombow brush end markers did the best but the darker and bright colors still left shadows.
India ink pens left shadows on the back of the page.
Some gel pens left slight and indistinct shadows on the back of the page. It was noticeable with bright and very dark colors.
Coloring pencils worked well with this paper. I was able to get good color from both wax and oil-based pencils. I was able to layer the same and multiple colors and to blend well using a blender stick.

Dream Weaver: A Coloring Adventure to Help You Dream the Night Away

By: Olivia Whitworth

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a storybook coloring book based on the imaginary dreams of a young woman. As she goes to sleep, we see a visual of her dreams as if they were somehow coming out of her ear. Most of the designs show the prospective of being in the dream, though showing the woman in the images. A few include a step back to seeing the woman asleep with her dreams surrounding her.

The designs include a wide variety of subjects and I found that many had a bit of an Asian vibe. There are Koi fish, birds, balloons, oceans, forests, kites, flowers, paper lanterns, peacocks, and even kitties. The designs are quite details and some have smaller and more intricate areas to color.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:
94 pages of dream inspired designs
Printed both sides of page
Paper is white, heavyweight, slightly smooth and non-perforated
Sewn binding
Designs merge into the binding. Many of the designs are two-pages spreads with integral elements at the binding area.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use this medium, it will leak through and mar the design on the back of the page.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens did not bleed through. Gel pens take longer than usual to dry.
Although the paper is slightly smooth to the touch, it still has enough tooth to get decent pigment from colored pencils. I tested both oil and wax based and could easily layer the same or different colors and blend using a pencil style blender stick.

My Colorful Town: A Coloring Tour

By: Chiaki Ida

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a really cute coloring book based on the imaginary story of a young girl walking through her town and seeing all of stores and other sights to see. The hand-drawn illustrations are very well done and will provide many hours of coloring fun. While the young girl is present in most designs, in some we get to see her town/shops as she does.

The only slightly odd thing I discovered about the book is that it seems that two types of paper were used. They are both the same color (very light ivory) but the texture is different. Most of the pages have a slightly rough feel when I run my thumb across them. There are a few (less than half) that feel very smooth when I do the same test. I’ve only had this happen once before with a book, so I don’t think this common and I question whether it was planned or not.
As my pencils react slightly differently to both types of paper, I knocked a star off my rating because of this issue. In the comments area below, I will provide a full listing of the various coloring medium I used to test both styles of paper. The only slight difference I noted was with pencils.
Apart from that, I really like the book. It is smaller than many of these style books (at only 9 x 9 inches) but I can still color the detailed drawings fairly easily. There are some area that have intricate and smaller elements to color.
This is what I experienced while coloring and testing this book:
68 pages of designs inspired by imaginary town (not including Title or intro pages)
Designs are both sides of page with many two-page spreads
Paper is light ivory, medium weight, non-perforated and some pages are slightly rough while others are fairly smooth.
Sewn Binding
Many designs spread into the binding area (especially, of course, the two-page spread designs.)
Alcohol-based markers bled through the page.
Water-based markers either left noticeable shadows or bleed through in small spots.
India ink pens and gel pens left colorful shadows on the back of the page. Gel pens took a longer time than normal to dry.
Coloring pencils worked well with this paper. I was able to get good color from both wax and oil-based pencils. I was able to layer the same and multiple colors fairly easily.
The rougher texture paper took the pigment well in light layers while the smoother texture paper took pigment well with one coat. Blending (with a blender stick) worked best with the rougher texture paper. I was able to blend with the smooth paper but it took a lighter touch to keep it from smearing.

The Enchanting Fairies Colouring Book

By: Margaret Tarrant

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really beautiful coloring book of designs based on the outstanding artwork of Margaret Tarrant. Whoever was responsible for the translation of the full color designs to line drawings (brown on white pages) did a wonderful job. The designs are show on the right side of the page and a full color image of the artwork is shown on the left side of the page.

The designs are detailed but not what I call intricate. I am able to use standard sizes of nibs for most of the artwork, though crayons might not be able to be sharpened enough to do some of the more detailed areas.
There is a short history of Ms. Tarrant’s art at the front of the book. There are also title banners on each of the designs which is very helpful in seeing what the artist had in mind originally.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:
45 Line Drawing Fairy designs based on the artwork of Margaret Tarrant
Designs printed right side of page with full color image printed on the left side of page
Paper is white, medium weight, slightly rough and non-perforated
Glue Binding
Designs do not merge into the binding. There are framing lines at the outer edge of the designs.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use this medium, it will leak through and mar the design on the back of the page.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens show colorful shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils worked well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based and could easily layer the same or different colors and blend using a pencil style blender stick.

Fairies and Dragons

By: Deborah Muller

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the first fantasy style coloring book I have by Deborah Muller. I have a number of her religious coloring books and one which features cats and really enjoyed coloring in those books. I took a chance with this book and am really glad I did. While it is the typical thin and cheap paper from CreateSpace, the designs are quite detailed and fun to color.

Most of the designs feature both a fairy and a dragon (one which creatively shows the dragon as a tattoo on the fairy’s arm.) A few of the designs are only of a fairy or a dragon. The designs are cute and whimsical and definitely detailed. Only a few of the designs have intricate and small areas to color which may need ultra-fine nibs and points.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
25 Designs with Fairies and Dragons by Deborah Muller
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 variety of framing style lines or designs 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. 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 Velveteen Rabbit Coloring Book: A Classic Editions Coloring Book

By: Charles Santore

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the second in a series of Classic Coloring books featuring the artwork of Charles Santore. The story is Margery Williams Bianco and the illustrations are by Charles Santore. Along with the story and the designs, there are thumbnail color pictures from the storybook on the inside front and back covers. That way, you can use similar colors if you so choose.

The book is a larger than standard format. The designs are mostly done in grayscale with a small amount of line drawings in most of the designs.
It is set up in true storybook style, with the text on the left hand side (back of page) and the illustration to the right. Some mediums will bleed through the page (see below), which will interfere with the text but if that doesn’t bother you, you can treat the book as if the designs were one sided.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
23 Velveteen Rabbit inspired designs by Charles Santore
Designs printed on one side of the page with storybook text on the back.
Paper is white, every so slightly rough to touch, medium weight and non-perforated
Glue Bound
Designs stop short of the binding and have a framing line at the outer edges
Book opens easily to flat position for ease of coloring.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page
Water-based markers and India ink markers leave a slight colorful shadow on the back of the page.
Gel pens do not bleed through an left an indistinct shadow on the back of the page.
Colored pencils did well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I was easily able to get good pigment with multiple layers of the same color. I also was able to layer multiple colors and blend well using a blender stick.

Hippie Animals Coloring Book (Coloring is Fun) (Design Originals) 32 Groovy, Totally Chill Animal Designs from Thaneeya McArdle, on High-Quality, Extra-Thick Perforated Pages Resist Bleed-Through

By: Thaneeya McArdle

Rating: 5 of 5

I own several of Thaneeya McArdle’s coloring books, including one called Dapper Animals. In this new book, Ms. McArdle goes to the other end of the fashion spectrum and gives us Hippie Animals. While most fall firmly in the category of Hippie, I think a few cross over into the more modern category of Hipsters. In any case, they are cute and are extremely fun to color. It’s time to pull out your psychedelic colors and make a groovy rainbow out of their outfits. There are love beads, bell bottoms, and granny glasses. The peace symbols and the flower headbands remind me of my older sisters during the hippie period.

The designs are detailed with lots of fun doodles to color. The eyes on most of the animals has been done in a shaded grayscale. It makes for a very different eye that what I usually do but it is an unusual and nice change. The back of the page has quotes by famous individuals and unknowns that mostly deal with peace and love (the hippie mantra). I really like that a number of them are quotes from songs. It appears that the publisher has changed from color print on these back pages back to light gray print. I prefer that as sometimes the color could show through to the front of the page depending on which medium I work with.
Once again, I love the designs in this book but I am less pleased with the way that the publisher is printing 8 of the designs in less than full size. They have included a thumbnail color sample, some sample colors used in their design for inspiration and a few words to talk about the colors. It takes up the bottom 2.5 inches of the page. This information could be printed on a separate page or on the actual color sample page rather than on the coloring page.
In this book, it makes less of a difference than in other books. The designs can still be colored as there aren’t tiny elements but I would much rather color a full page designs. As the designs are not difficult to color, I won’t detract any stars from my review.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium.
32 Cute and detailed designed Animals in Hippie Fashions 24 Full Size and 8 Medium Size
Printed one side of the page back of page has soft gray design, journal lines and a quote appropriate to the subject of the coloring book
Paper is medium weight, white, slightly rough and perforated
Glue Binding
Designs stop well before the perforations
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through the page in heavy spots.
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 a blotter page of card stock or heavyweight paper (two sheets) to keep seeping ink and dents from marring the pages below. I recommend using a blotter or that you remove pages before coloring.

Beauty in the Bible: Adult Coloring Book Volume 3, Premium Edition (Christian Coloring, Bible Journaling and Lettering: Inspirat)

By: Paige Tate

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the third in a series of Scripture and designs by Pen + Paint. I have the previous books in the premium version and was happy to see a new book of designs in the same format. The concept behind the designs is the same. The Scripture is what is front and center with the coloring design elements around it. Some of the designs pertain to the verse while others are more of decorative value.

It’s always a real pleasure to pull out my Christian coloring books. I use them as part of my prayer and praise time. I choose the verse that speaks to me that day, color it, meditate on it, research more about it and use it to guide my prayer that day.
Unlike the two previous books, this coloring book does not give attribution to images from Shutterstock. I’m not sure if that means that the designs are original as it does not list Pen + Paint as the illustrator either. The designs have a lovely hand-drawn look to them which is my favorite style of design.
This coloring book contains 30 larger designs and 12 smaller ones. All of the pages are perforated at the binding area. The small ones are printed two to a page and you have to cut them on the provided cutting line to separate them from each other. The larger design will fit an 8 x 10 inch frame and the smaller design will fit a 5 x 7 inch frame. The 12 smaller designs are not unique and new designs but rather smaller versions of 12 of the larger designs.
The designs are all Scripture-based with verse citations and are from the following translations: Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), New King James Version, and the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.)
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 Large Format and 12 Small Format Scripture Based Designs in for a total of 42 coloring projects
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is perforated, antique white, slightly rough and medium weight
Designs do not cross over the perforations
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper
Water-based markers left shadows of color on the back of the page
Gel pens and India ink pens left indistinct shadows on the back of the page
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils with good results. I was able to get good, deep pigment. I could layer easily (both same and different colors.) Blending was also easy using a pencil style blending stick.
I use a blotter page of card stock or heavyweight paper (two sheets) to keep seeping ink from marring the pages below. I recommend using a blotter or that you remove pages before coloring.

A Whimsy Girls Christmas Coloring Book: Festive Girls, Fairies, & More

By: Hannah Lynn

Rating: 5 of 5

I have a number of Hannah Lynn’s coloring books and was really happy to find that she had recently released a Christmas inspired set of designs. She has put her cute girls in a variety of settings with everything from a Nativity to Rudolph to Santa and even a Sugar Plum fairy included.

I really appreciate that Ms. Lynn included many traditional Christmas elements in her designs in this book. A number of the Christmas coloring books I’ve purchased recently were lacking in this regard. Ms. Lynn’s book is a wonderful representation of both traditional and fantasy Christmas designs.
The girls are set in full background designs which makes the project even more fun to color. The designs are detailed but not what I consider intricate with too small elements to color with standard coloring medium.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 designs (2 copies of each) of Hannah Lynn’s big eye girls in Christmas settings
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. There is a double framing line at the outer edges. There is plenty of room to cut out pages if you choose to do so.
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.