How I Classify my Coloring Books

As you all know, I love my coloring books and have many different types of coloring books and other products.   I love to run my hands up their spines and look at their pretty covers, sometimes I even color them!

I’m a firm believer that there is no one size fits all coloring book which is why I need so many 🙂

I classify my coloring books according to the many different moods and feelings that I have towards coloring books.    A little bit weird, I know.   I like to have a balance in my coloring books with something from all the different classifications to go with any given mood.   Some people may be surprised …but often I can’t find a picture that goes with the mood I’m in (or at least easily lol) so then I often buy a digital download to satisfy whatever yearning I currently have.

I feel that we all should have a balance from each classification.  This is the way I classify my books, naturally, this is only my opinion and you may feel differently.

Classic Coloring Books

These are the coloring books that are like works of art.    It may be the cover, often hardback, the extra special attention bestowed upon the cover.   There may be embossing, foil highlights, a cloth spine, but there is something with an extra sprinkle of fairy dust on it.      The paper usually is very good quality and the illustrations are imaginative and magical.   There are no stock photographs in these books usually.    These are the types of books that you could happily have out on the coffee table at home (although I would keep the coffee away from them).

Some of my Classic Coloring Books that I love –   Dagdrommar and Daydreams , Sommarnatt and Summer Nights, Magisk Gryning and Magical Dawn,  Blomster Mandala and Twilight Garden   Carovne Lahodnosti and my 100 creaties mandalas.     If the house was in danger, and I felt something may happen to my coloring cave, I’d tuck these books under my arm 🙂

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”500″ identifier=”8090695655″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51riHHj41mL.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”415″] [easyazon_link identifier=”8090695655″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Magical Delights[/easyazon_link]

Keepsake Coloring Books

These are coloring books that generally have a fairy tale reproduced in them and they are ideal for coloring or only partly coloring and giving to a child to enjoy (or even a grown up).       There are so many coloring books that I have that could fit this definition, that I will struggle to remember all of them.   Of course, there’s going to be Alice in Wonderland (the original MacMillan version) and all of the coloring books that Fabiana Attansio has produced.    It doesn’t have to be fairy tales,  I would class Joyous Blooms to Color and My Mother My Heart in this mix as well.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1454920890″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61HJtiTmefL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”133″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1454920890″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Alice in Wonderland[/easyazon_link]

Escapism

Sometimes the act of coloring is an escape from the realities of life.   This can be even more so when the art helps you to go to another place.   It may be the gorgeous world of  Romantic Country or the adventures of  the little girl in the Night Voyage or the cuteness of little animals in Rhapsody in the Forest and  Menuet of Happiness, or the quirkiness of  Hidden Nature and a Beautiful Day    Only you can know what books will take you to that place, where you are away from the real world.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”8415967721″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51tMx89UAfL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”157″] [easyazon_link identifier=”8415967721″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Hidden Nature Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

Some of my favorite books that I love to escape to are Sagolikt or Fairy Tales,  Sagor Och Sagner, Menuet of  Happiness,  Romantic Country series and anything that Daria Song cares to draw 🙂

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”9163613034″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/612tayMVC5L.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”149″] [easyazon_link identifier=”9163613034″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Sagor Och Sagner[/easyazon_link]

Shareable

I love the thought of a coloring buddy or a family coloring together.   Anything where you can gather as a group and color pictures and have a good time makes the book shareable.  Some books are specifically designed for shareability like [easyazon_link identifier=”1492635707″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ popups=”n”]Mummy and Me, Lets Color together[/easyazon_link].    But there are many products and books that you can color together like Omy placemats, jigsaw puzzle pieces or just grab a pack of coloring postcards and divvy them up.  The shareable coloring book that always puts a smile on my face is  A Coloring Book for Two – Best Friends Forever.   The adorable animals presented in two different ways is enough to make me swoon.    The only problem that I have is …I’m not keen on sharing it 🙂

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”500″ identifier=”B01LXTWL3Y” locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51O5NJ6Cl1L.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”500″] [easyazon_link identifier=”B01LXTWL3Y” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Omy placemats[/easyazon_link]

Educational

I think it is wonderful that while you are coloring you can also immerse yourself in other worlds, ideas, cultures and languages.    Coloring books of anatomy are always a favorite with health professionals.    I am a little squeamish, so anatomy coloring books will not be topping my list.

My favorite books with an educational bent are Bon Voyage, Buena Vista, Love in 30 Languages and Escape to Shakespeare’s World

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1473640180″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/71B5JWsEDjL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1473640180″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Bon Voyage Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

Seasonal

What better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons and seasonal festivities than a coloring session with that as its theme.     Wherever possible,  I sort my books into themes so all the Christmas books are in one place …unless of course they are part of a series, and then they are on the shelf with the rest of the books in the series.

My favorite seasonal books are Vinterdrommar  and Vinternatt postcards by Hanna Karlzon,  and the “My Walk” series of books by German artist, Rita Berman –  My Autumn Walk, My Winter Walk,   My Spring Walk and My Summer Walk.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”3404609913″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61lJfXXOpxL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”3404609913″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Rita Berman favorite pictures from the My Walk series[/easyazon_link]

I am also very fond of  Johanna’s Christmas coloring book and  A million Christmas Cats to get me in the mood for the next festive season.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1454710292″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61q2wC5d5L.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”123″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1454710292″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]A Million Christmas Cats Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

As far as Halloween goes,  I tend towards the whimsical and would love a bit of Hannah Lynn and all that cuteness.  Other books that are a little bit spooky and have a Halloween feel are my Poe book and of course Beauty of Horror that always gives me the creeps.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1684053323″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/71UmjFp9ZZL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1684053080″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Beauty of Horror: Ghosts of Christmas Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

Day of the Dead is not really celebrated in Australia, but because I like the pictures I’ve become Americanized and love my Just Add Color Day of the Dead book and Thaneeya McArdle’s  cute sugar skulls.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1592539513″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61PtrBtFdBL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”136″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1592539513″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Just Add Color: Day of the Dead Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

Inspirational

Sometimes you just need a little lift in life.  I’m sure we’ve all been there 🙂    It can help sometimes just to color in some simple words that can inspire your whole day, if not your outlook.

My favorite inspirational books are Posh Inspirational Quotes,  and Joyous Blooms to Color

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1449474187″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61fiD4kPJL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”122″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1449474187″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Posh Inspirational Quotes Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

Spiritual

Often it is good to get in touch with your spiritual side via coloring.   For some people, this may be a religious coloring book, for others mandala based or meditation.  My favorite books that are spiritual to me are Amazing Grace and One Year Wiser

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1910593141″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51g2ZmKyGCL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”135″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1910593141″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]One Year Wiser Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

Nostalgic

There are some books that just bring back childhood memories that you want to capture.     It may be my obsession with Alice in Wonderland  or my love of  Beatrix Potter  and Dr.  Seuss.   As a child and adult, I have always been an avid reader, easily digesting a couple of books a week.   It’s only recently, since I discovered coloring books, that my reading has taken a downturn and my “looking at pictures” has increased a thousand fold.

These nostalgic type of coloring books remind me of being a kid,   snuggled up in the corner with my treasured little set of  Beatrix Potter books or going to the school library and borrowing yet another Roald Dahl book. I could easily escape to another world, at least for a  few hours with these books.   It never occurred to me, in those days, that I would miss this later on in life.   It never occurred to me that I would buy books based on these stories, so I could look and color the pictures in them.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”152″ identifier=”1604336862″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51jUj2HeS3L.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1604336862″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Peter Rabbit Coloring Book[/easyazon_link]

No Stress

As I am a colorist on training wheels and have had hardly any time to color, my confidence is low when it comes to coloring.     I am one of those people that find selecting a picture and pencil colors stressful.  Let’s face it,  I can barely dress myself each morning in a co-ordinating outfit.     As coloring should be about relaxing and having a good time,  if I feel any anxiety, I run to one of my standby no stress books.

For me,  something that is not stressful is coloring mandalas.    I am one of those people that find the symmetry relaxing and just looking at the pictures is quite calming for me.     If my issue is that I am not sure about what color to use (sometimes I get my hubby to pick the colors for me) I grab one of my color by numbers books.     I have to say,  that it has to be the right color by numbers book.   Sometimes the numbers are printed so faintly or the area is small that it would cause me more stress to color it in.    So for me,  it is a book with large spaces and something simple to color.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”048679797X” locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51fHgUyeLWL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”121″] [easyazon_link identifier=”048679797X” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Creative Haven: Color by Numbers Mandalas[/easyazon_link]

Feel Good

Sometimes, when I’m having a blah day I just want to cheer myself up a bit.   I am not stressed but just not overly happy either 🙂   Nothing cheers me up more than cute animals.    My obsession with bunnies, kitties and ducks usually has me leafing through my beautiful coloring books like Rhapsody in the Forest and Menuet (that I’m still too scared to color in) and my cute books like A Million Owls,  A Million Bears,  A Million Dogs and A Million Cats (I am still hoping for A Million Bunnies).    One book that I have turned to quite a  lot to cheer myself up with is this one full of cute animals (I’ve nearly finished it!) and my Magical Guinea Pig Coloring Book.     Both are filled with adorable critters in cute little outfits or settings, that really lifts my spirits and turns that frown upside down.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”178657408X” locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51lKPshzEL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”136″] [easyazon_link identifier=”178657408X” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]The World’s Cutest Animal Coloring Book (Lonely Planet Kids)[/easyazon_link]

Everyday

These are the coloring books that I have in abundance.  They are comfortable friends that I turn to when I have time to do a bit of coloring.    My fave everyday coloring books are usually from independent artists like Hannah Lynn,   Bennett Klein and Christine Aldridge. I adore the books produced by Creative Haven and Design Originals as well and always have a stack on hand.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”0692637702″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61urYSgkFeL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”105″] [easyazon_link identifier=”0692637702″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Enchanted Faces: Mermaids, Fairies, & Fantasy Pocket-Sized Coloring Book[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1095928473″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/519wwdn9Q6L.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1095928473″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]The Best of C. L. Aldridge Mandalas: A Coloring Book of Fan Favorite Designs[/easyazon_link]

Travel

These are the books that are portable and ideal for traveling when you don’t have access to your coloring cave.   Something that fits into my handbag is always a good choice for me. It means that I can take it to the coffee shop or on the train without taking up a lot of room.   Some of my favorite portable books are

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”145471025X” locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61UDnwXILDL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”125″] [easyazon_link identifier=”145471025X” locale=”US” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]A Million Bears: Beautiful Bears to Color [/easyazon_link]

Crafty

I really love useful and crafty coloring books where you can turn your coloring into something else.  Personally,  I wish I had more crafty coloring books in my collection.   The Color Me Fold Me book full of Christmas ornaments is great around the festive season, and there are many others on the market with a similar theme.

As I have always been fascinated with origami and the clever creations you can create these types of books and kits are also a fave.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”1539479870″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51YhUTZq9sL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”124″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1539479870″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Color Me, Fold Me: Coloring Book, Christmas Edition, Volume 1[/easyazon_link]

Useful

I love things that you can color and use and I have often spoken about how much I love the concept of coloring with a purpose.   To me, things that fall into this category are placemats, postcards (although I can never part with any),  frameable prints, stationery, journals, notebooks, and wall decals.      If you can color it in and get another use out of it rather than leaving it in the book or packet, then I am totally in love with it.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”841650444X” locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61Xb129pvYL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”841650444X” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Hidden Nature’s Frame Fantasia: A Colouring Book to Keep Your Favourite Moments[/easyazon_link]

Consumable

These are coloring books that are designed to be consumed, not treasured.   In this class, are sweary books.   I’d much prefer to color all the things that I want to say to people sometimes.  These books, for me, are a good way of easing frustrations and anger sometimes 🙂  Other books like those filled with gift tags, bookmarks and the like are also designed to be colored and consumed but I classify those as Useful.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”30″ identifier=”1530368324″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61vqyoTAsBL.SL30.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”23″] [easyazon_link identifier=”1530368324″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]Granny Swears: An Adult Coloring Book With Swears Grannies Would Say [/easyazon_link]

Practice

These are the books that you may be disappointed with, not in love with or just don’t resonate with.  Personally, I usually can find some redeeming feature in every coloring book, even if it is just a good one to practice with.    I might experiment with different products on the pages to see how they look, different mediums and different techniques.  It may not be a book that I want to cherish and love, but I’ll still find a use for it.

One book that is a practice book for me is  my Trolls Coloring Book.   Out of all the coloring books that I have,  I have had only a few with printing problems.     There has only been two that I have asked for replacement copies. One was my Trolls Coloring Book that fell apart when I was photographing it. The other one was my Beatrix Potter Coloring Book that had a printing error (repeatedly).    In both cases I was provided with replacement copies and use the error copies as practice books.

[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”152470105X” locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”http://coloringqueen.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/61sKCkn72uL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mygamingweb-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_link identifier=”152470105X” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”mygamingweb-20″]It’s Color Time! (DreamWorks Trolls) (Adult Coloring Book)[/easyazon_link]

I think it is good to have a balance of coloring books.    That way you have something for all your moods and to cover all the circumstances that you may find yourself in.

I would love to hear if  you classify your coloring books.

Happy coloring x

Lea

P.S.  As I have quite a few coloring books 🙂   I’m pretty sure that I’ve forgotten some that I want to mention in this post.

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