8 Coloring Books to Calm, Entertain, and Inspire You

The Children’s Book Review | August 2, 2018

It is said that coloring books can be very therapeutic—as in stress relieving and promoting mindfulness—not to mention the fact that they can be very entertaining. We’re all about keeping a coloring book on hand in bags, in the car, and at home. They’re perfect for pulling out in restaurants, waiting rooms, or just to get a few quiet minutes before dinner. Below, you will find a few of our favorites that feature quality paper, great designs, and some beloved characters from some very treasured books. All you’ll need is a favorite set of crayons, pencils, markers, or gel pens.

Guess How Much I Love You: Coloring Book

Artwork by Anita Jeram

Publisher’s Synopsis: A coloring book to love to the moon and back! Filled with enchanting pictures from Guess How Much I Love You to color — plus more than a hundred stickers.

Love is a colorful thing! Fans old and new, young and not so young will revel in these intricate scenes of nature featuring Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare. In ninety-six pages of beautifully rendered images and words inspired by the beloved story, the world of Guess How Much I Love You stands ready to come to life with the help of some crayons or markers, dozens of stickers, and a whole lot of love.

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ages 2 and up | Publisher: Candlewick | 2017 | ISBN: 978-0763694678

Where’s Waldo? The Coloring Book

Artwork by Martin Handford

Publisher’s Synopsis: Ready to put your eagle eye to a new challenge? Grab your markers or colored pencils and get creative by coloring scenes from Waldo’s adventures.

Waldo insiders know that the intrepid traveler likes to sketch wherever he goes. Now fans are invited to follow suit by coloring Waldo’s classic scenes, from bustling, intricate landscapes to larger-scale images — while keeping an eye out for Waldo and other things, too!

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Ages 7 and up | Publisher: Candlewick | 2016 | ISBN: 978-0763688448

Klutz Coloring Cute

By Klutz

Publisher’s Synopsis: Color your way through sweet treats, dancing school supplies, and pleasantly plump monsters that are so lovable and adorable you’ll want to pinch their cheeks. The makers of Coloring Crush bring you another colored-pencils-included coloring book with perforated pages and postcard prints that are perfect to share with friends. You’re sure to color the day away, because coloring has never been so cute!

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Ages 7 and up | Publisher: Klutz | 2017 | ISBN: 978-1338103984

Beauty and the Beast: A Coloring Book

Artwork by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve

Publisher’s Synopsis: Add your own creative color to The Beauty and the Beast!

This enchanting coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beauty, who goes to live with the terrifying Beast in order to save her father…and then gradually learns to love him. All the key scenes and characters are here to color in as you relive this most romantic of fairy tales.

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Ages 5 and up | Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books | 2017 | ISBN: 978-1626868854

Art of Coloring: Mickey & Minnie: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity

Artwork by DBG

Publisher’s Synopsis: Fun, funny, and feisty patterns and character designs permeate the near-ninety-year history of Disney’s beloved mice: Mickey and Minnie. These images are ideal for taking pencil to paper and adding your own brand of color and style. Perfect for cultivating creativity, relaxation, and focus, these pages are filled with line art from Disney animation, comics, and more-featuring work from Ub Iwerks, Floyd Gottfredson, and more.

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Ages 5 and up | Publisher: Disney Editions | 2017 | ISBN: 978-1484789735

Color, Snap, App!: My First Animated Coloring Book

Artwork by Claire Faÿ

Publisher’s Synopsis: Turn your artwork into animated films! Here is a truly innovative coloring book designed to bring pictures to life with the help of a free Blink Book app.

Become an artist and filmmaker in one go with an exciting new twist on the coloring book. Kids are invited to color in the pictures, take photos of them using a free Blink Book app (downloaded separately onto a phone or tablet), and watch them turn into animated films . . . as easy as color, snap, app! With sixteen spreads to color, users are able to produce sixteen animated episodes totaling eight minutes’ worth of video — and will be thrilled to play the role of creator in this cutting-edge blend of art and technology.

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Ages 5-9 | Publisher: Candlewick | 2017 | ISBN: 978-0763693473

The Percy Jackson Coloring Book

Artwork by Keith Robinson

Publisher’s Synopsis: Demigods, brandish your pencils!

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Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Disney-Hyperion | 2017 | ISBN: 978-1484787793

Coloring For Moms and Moms-to-Be

Artwork by Bethan Janine

Publisher’s Synopsis: Especially for new moms and moms-to-be, this stylish and detailed coloring book – with charming, detailed images of a new baby’s world –  is an ideal way to relax, unwind, and spark creativity during those moments of quiet in mom’s busy life. Small enough to slip in a handbag, diaper bag, or travel bag, and featuring a gorgeous gold-foiled cover!

Order a Copy Now: Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

All Ages | Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers | 2016 | ISBN: 978-1524701161

Headers image illustration from What is Soft?(blue manatee press, 2018), written by Susan Kantor and illustrated by Erin Barker.

The article 8 Coloring Books to Calm, Entertain, and Inspire You was written by Bianca Schulze. For similar articles, follow along with our content tagged with Activity Books and Coloring Books.