iiiiReader Book Reviews

Creative Haven Spring Scenes Coloring Book (Creative Haven Coloring Books)

By: Teresa Goodridge

Rating: 5 of 5

I own the two previous books in this series by Teresa Goodridge (Winter and Summer) and have found the Spring book to be an improvement over both. While the colored samples are still pictures of the original watercolor artwork rather than colored samples of the actual designs in the book, the problems with the tiny details (especially on faces) is much improved in this book. Details are more finished (less open ended, sketchy type details.) Coloring in it is easier as well as being able to use more types of coloring medium with larger nibs.

The designs are quite lovely with lots of spring themes. There are flowers, birds, outdoor scenes with fun activities like kite flying, walking in the part, riding bicycles, and shopping in an open-air market. The designs are quite detailed and do contain intricate and small areas to color. It is not a book that I would recommend to anyone with fine motor or vision issues.
I noticed that the feel of the paper is slightly rougher than other Creative Haven books I have ordered in this last six months or so. I like the new texture as it is even better for use with colored pencils.
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium.
31 Spring inspired Designs
The designs are printed one side of the page
Paper is the usual Creative Haven quality: white, medium weight, slightly rough and has perforated pages.
Glue Binding but with perforated pages so removing a page is fairly simple.
The designs stop well before the perforations and each of the designs has a framing line at the outer edge.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper
Water-based markers bleed through in spots and show colorful shadows on the back of the page
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through when I apply more than one layer of ink.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper and even better than many of the more recent Creative Haven coloring books I have bought. I was able to get good pigment (color) lay down, layer the same color and multiple colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blender. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils with similar results. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, leave dents on the back of the page.
I suggest either removing pages from the book to color or using a blotter page under your working page. I like card stock as it keeps ink from seeping through and damaging the pages below.

Creative Haven Hearts Coloring Book: Romantic Designs on a Dramatic Black Background (Adult Coloring)

By: Lindsey Boylan

Rating: 4 of 5

I own a number of coloring books by Lindsey Boylan and all of them are white line drawings on black backgrounds. Hearts is the same format as the rest. There are 31 designs which include hearts as their theme but I found that the detail in the designs sometimes obscured the hearts to the point of not being noticed. I can hopefully rectify that in coloring by using colors which will bring the hearts to prominence.

The designs are extremely detailed and have intricate elements to color. There are lots of flowers, vines, and tiny little lines within small elements. The hearts themselves are filled with lots of elements as well. It might have been nice to get a more simple heart or two to color with shading, etc. Some areas are so detailed that I will put a swathe of color over the tiny elements as if they were not separate and call it good.
On the whole, I still like the coloring book. It is a book of projects for those who like detail and want projects that will take longer rather than shorter periods of time to finish. It is not a book that I would recommend at all to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. It is simply too intricate and detailed and will require the use of smaller nib pens/markers and very sharp pencils.
I noticed that the feel of the paper is slightly rougher than other Creative Haven books I have ordered in this last six months or so. I like the new texture as it is even better for use with colored pencils.
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium.
31 Very detailed and intricate heart designs on black background
The designs are printed one side of the page
Paper is the usual Creative Haven quality: white (with black background printed on), medium weight, slightly rough and has perforated pages.
Glue Binding but with perforated pages so removing a page is fairly simple.
The designs stop before the perforations; however, most leave dangling and unfinished elements at all four sides of the designs (three edges and perforated edge.) Seven of the designs have framing lines with finished edges.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper
Water-based markers bleed through in spots and show colorful shadows on the back of the page
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through when I apply more than one layer of ink.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper and even better than many of the more recent Creative Haven coloring books I have bought. I was able to get good pigment (color) lay down, layer the same color and multiple colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blender. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils with similar results. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, leave dents on the back of the page.
I suggest either removing pages from the book to color or using a blotter page under your working page. I like card stock as it keeps ink from seeping through and damaging the pages below.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Adult Coloring Book

By: Joss Whedon

Rating: 5 of 5

Attached to this review, I will include a silent flip-through video (and a few photos) so you can see if the book will work for you.

I have been a fan of the original Buffy television series since it first aired and am thrilled to have a coloring book based on those episodes. What makes it even better is that the quotes and episode/season information is also provided.
The designs are great fun and have a good amount of detail. It is fairly obvious that the artwork was done by a team of illustrators as there is a great different in feel and style between designs. What is really interesting is that the back of the book tells you abut each illustrator and gives them credit for each page that they provided.
Some of the designs resemble the characters more than others and some have more of a graphic novel/comic type look to them. I’m fine with both styles. In all cases, the action is great and the scenes chosen are fun to look at and especially to color.
I’m planning on playing the applicable episode in the back ground as I color each design. That way I can revisit the original while I am having fun changing up the colors in my coloring book!
This is what I found when I colored in this book and tested it with my coloring medium:
45 Buffy designs inspired by the original television series plus a great intro/title page designs
Designs printed on front of page and quotes and episode/season information printed on back of pages
Paper is heavyweight, white, slightly rough and non-perforated
Glue bound
Designs merge into the binding; if you cut pages out you will lose portions of the design
Book lays fairly flat for coloring if you heavily crease/break the spine
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use this mediu, I suggest a blotter page of card stock or heavy weight paper under your working page. That will keep ink from seeping through to the next design.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens do not bleed through or leave shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils work really well with this paper. It is slightly rough to the touch and grabs pigment well. I was able to layer the same color for deep pigment, layer multiple colors and blend easily using a blender stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils.

The Princess Bride: A Storybook to Color

By: Rachel Curtis

Rating: 5 of 5

The Princess Bride is one of my and my family’s favorite films. It is one of the few movies that we upgrade to new formats (VHS to DVD to Blu-ray) as soon as it is available.) We watch it at least once a year and quotes from the movie pepper our everyday life. Generally, my husband responds to any of my requests with As you wish and as our guests leave, we call out Have fun storming the castle.

I was really happy to find this coloring book with so many of the memorable scenes in it. Of course, there are favorites that I wish had been included but there can only be so many.
The coloring book starts with the first scene of the movie and continues until the last. In between, we get to visit with so many of the characters. The faces sometimes generally are quite good with, perhaps, the exception of Buttercup whose likeness is not as great as the others. Still, they are all very recognizable in the context of the scenes which are shown.
The coloring book has a detachable dustcover. The outside of the smooth cover is black on white line drawings with gold metallic accents. The inside of it is a repeating crown pattern. While it is very smooth, I still found that I could color on both sides of it. The inside attached cover is the same design with a golden brown in place of the metallic. The inside of the attached cover is a gold tone on black background in a repeating pattern of roses and swords.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:
74 pages of designs from the Princess Bride (including title and intro pages) and a couple of pages for you to draw your own designs.
Some of the designs are wall-paper style (repeating patterns) but I like the majority of those and there are not too many of them.
Designs are printed on both sides of the page.
Paper is white, heavyweight, slightly smooth (but still with decent tooth), and non-perforated
The binding is hybrid with glue and many small stitches. This is not the type of book which is easy to take apart. I plan on leaving the pages intact.
There are two page spread designs and designs which have elements which disappear into the binding.
It takes some effort to break the spine to get the book to lay flat. I find that is generally the case with hybrid bindings.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use these markers, you will bleed through and mar the design on the back of the page.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens do not bleed through the paper. Gel pens take a considerably longer time than usual to dry.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. While it is slightly smooth, it was still able to grip pigment well. I was able to get deep color with repeated layers of the same color. I was also able to layer multiple colors and blend well with a blender stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils with good results.

Secret Jungle: An Adult Coloring Book with Stress Relieving Animal Designs, Inspirational Nature Scenes, and Relaxing Tropical Landscapes

By: Jade Summer

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a coloring book of 25 different designs; however, there are two sets of the designs for a total of 50 pages to color. The designs are inspired by the jungle and there are lots of plants and animals. Be sure to have a good number of green pens/pencils handy. There is a tree house in one designs and, in another, a hidden temple nestling into the deep recesses of the forest. With its wide range of animals, I’m not sure where this jungle would be located but perhaps that is the point it is a secret jungle.

The designs are detailed but not what I consider intricate with small areas to color. I am able to use a wide variety of coloring medium on these 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 each Jungle inspired Designs covering a wide range of subjects
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. There is a slight shadowing effect to the framing line which gives the image an almost 3D effect.
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.

Creative Haven Deluxe Edition Elegant Art Nouveau Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Ted Menten

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my third coloring book by Ted Menten and is the first one that shows his interpretation of the Art Nouveau movement. The 63 designs in this coloring book are primarily of stylized flowers and plants as well as the occasional bird and other insects and animals.

I was a bit surprised that the book did not include a wider variety of subject matter given that there are 63 designs and the title doesn’t reflect that it is a book of nature designs. At the time I pre-ordered the book, the product description was not available. It now is and does focus on nature but it would have been nice if the title reflected it as well. Apart from that small nit, I really like the designs in the book and am pleased with it.
I am hoping that Mr. Menten will do an Art Nouveau coloring book that includes fashion and other design elements. I really liked the nostalgic look of his recent Christmas coloring book with its elegant designs and hope for something along those lines.
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium.
63 Nature Art Nouveau inspired designs
The designs are printed one side of the page
Paper is the usual Creative Haven quality: white, medium weight, slightly rough and has perforated pages.
Glue Binding but with perforated pages so removing a page is fairly simple.
The designs stop well before the perforations and each of the designs has a framing line (with rounded corners) at the outer edge for a defined stopping point for coloring.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper
Water-based markers bleed through in spots and show colorful shadows on the back of the page
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through when I apply more than one layer of ink.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. I was able to get good color lay down, layer the same color and multiple colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blender. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils with similar results. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, leave dents on the back of the page.
I suggest either removing pages from the book to color or using a blotter page under your working page. I like card stock as it keeps ink from seeping through and damaging the pages below.

Creative Haven Jazz Age Fashions Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Ming-Ju Sun

Rating: 5 of 5

I love Ming-Ju Sun’s fashion coloring books from Creative Haven and from Dover. Her books cover a range of modern to futuristic and, most importantly, historic fashions.

In Jazz Age Fashions the focus is on the Roaring ’20s. It was during this period of time that Jazz music came to the forefront. The womens fashion of the period were designed with the thought of dancing in mind and, with shorter skirts and less restrictive lines, also reflected the changing role and empowerment of women that was going on in society.
It was a glamorous period and one which is beautifully captured in the 31 Designs in this coloring book. Each of the designs have one or more women dressed in very detailed clothing. The backgrounds are fairly simple to make the fashions stand out.
I noticed that the feel of the paper is slightly rougher than other Creative Haven books I have ordered in this last six months or so. I like the new texture as it is even better for use with colored pencils.
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium.
31 Fun Jazz Age, Flapper-style designs
The designs are printed one side of the page
Paper is the usual Creative Haven quality: white, medium weight, slightly rough and has perforated pages.
Glue Binding but with perforated pages so removing a page is fairly simple.
The designs stop well before the perforations and each of the designs has a framing line at the outer edge for a defined stopping point for coloring (though some elements on some designs extend slightly beyond the framing line to give a slight 3-D effect.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper
Water-based markers bleed through in spots and show colorful shadows on the back of the page
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through when I apply more than one layer of ink.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper and even better than many of the more recent Creative Haven coloring books I have bought. I was able to get good pigment (color) lay down, layer the same color and multiple colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blender. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils with similar results. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, leave dents on the back of the page.
I suggest either removing pages from the book to color or using a blotter page under your working page. I like card stock as it keeps ink from seeping through and damaging the pages below.

Forever Inspired Coloring Book: Angela Porter?s Designer Doodles Hidden Pictures

By: Angela Porter

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a coloring book filled with 35 designs in Angela Porter’s imaginative style. It reminds me a great deal of her Entangled Landscapes but with much less intricate designs. The designs range from landscapes and seascapes to flowers to simply fun patterns.

This series of books is being marketed to tweens but I think Ms. Porter’s books in this line are equally good for adults. I like them not only for myself but also for anyone who might have been unable (or unwilling) to attempt her much more intricate designs. The designs are still fairly detailed but are larger and easier to color. Notwithstanding that, they are instantly recognizable as Ms. Porter’s style.
An extra fun part of coloring the designs in this book are the hidden pictures (really more elements) that you can look for on the various pages. There are eight different style of elements in this book, which are: ladybugs, hearts, cat heads, stars, candies, buttons, music notes and raindrops.) Some are larger and some are smaller. What especially like is that they are not as obtrusive as I have found with a few other hidden picture designs.
At the time I am writing this review, the product description is for that of the Tropical Rainforest rather than for this book. It also mentions 44 designs. There are only 35 so hopefully the publisher will get these errors fixed in the future.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
35 Detailed and imaginative designs with hidden elements to find while coloring all in Ms. Porter’s unique and fun to color style. The book also includes answer keys to all of the hidden elements.
Includes a page for color palette testing.
Printed one side of page
Paper is on the thin side (definitely thinner than her Creative Haven books), white, slightly rough and perforated
Glue binding
Designs stop well before the perforation with a framing line at the outer edge. Gives a natural stopping point for coloring and a more finished looking project for framing if you so desire.
The coloring book opens fairly flat for coloring but you must crease or break the spine to do so. You can always simple remove pages before coloring as well.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.
India ink pens spot through in tiny areas and leave colorful shadows on the back of the page
Water-based markers and gel pens leave definite colorful shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils work very well with this slightly rough paper. I was able to get good color (pigment) especially when layering the same color for rich tone. I was also able to layer multiple colors and to blend very easily using a pencil style blender pencils. Hard lead pencils left dents through the page.
If I do not remove a page prior to coloring, I use a blotter page of card stock or heavy weight paper to keep ink and dents from damaging the designs below my working page.

Forever Inspired Coloring Book: Angela Porter?s Tropical Rainforest Hidden Pictures

By: Angela Porter

Rating: 5 of 5

I really enjoy Angela Porter’s style of design. I find her illustrations to be detailed and fun to color. Until now, her coloring books that I have purchased have not only been detailed but also extremely intricate with lots of tiny spots to color. I do enjoy those books and designs but was really pleased to see her do a book where the design elements are larger.

The book is being marketed to tweens but I think it is a great book for adults as well. It is also a good way for individuals who may not have been able to color her previous books due to the complexity to buy and color in a book that has her fun style. The designs are still quite detailed but definitely larger and with less elements than her previous books have been.
The designs in this book are focused on the tropical rainforest with lots of plants, flowers, birds and animals. An extra fun part of coloring these designs are the hidden pictures (really more elements) that you can look for on the various pages. There are only four different elements in this book, which are: ladybugs, snails, hearts, and stars. Some are larger and some are smaller. What especially like is that they are not obtrusive and out of place as I have found with a few other hidden picture designs.
At the time I am writing this review, the product description mentions 44 designs in this book. There are only 35 so hopefully the publisher will get this error fixed in the future.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
35 Tropical Rainforest inspired designs with hidden elements to find while coloring all in Ms. Porter’s unique and fun to color style. The book also includes answer keys to all of the hidden elements.
Includes a page for color palette testing.
Printed one side of page
Paper is on the thin side (definitely thinner than her Creative Haven books), white, slightly rough and perforated
Glue binding
Designs stop well before the perforation with a framing line at the outer edge. Gives a natural stopping point for coloring and a more finished looking project for framing if you so desire.
The coloring book opens fairly flat for coloring but you must crease or break the spine to do so. You can always simple remove pages before coloring as well.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.
India ink pens spot through in tiny areas and leave colorful shadows on the back of the page
Water-based markers and gel pens leave definite colorful shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils work very well with this slightly rough paper. I was able to get good color (pigment) especially when layering the same color for rich tone. I was also able to layer multiple colors and to blend very easily using a pencil style blender pencils. Hard lead pencils left dents through the page.
If I do not remove a page prior to coloring, I use a blotter page of card stock or heavy weight paper to keep ink and dents from damaging the designs below my working page.