Coloring for All Seasons: Spring Published by River Grove Press on March 1, 2016 Genres: Coloring Books
Pages: 96
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
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“With the coming of spring, I am calm again.”
– Gustav MahlerSpring is that captivating time of year when the days get longer, the weather gets warmer, and plants come alive again. All across the globe, people shed their winter coats and step outside to celebrate this season with festivities and a collective appreciation of nature.
Coloring is a meditative pastime that has been proven to help practitioners focus and relax. By concentrating on specific patterns and hues, coloring can unlock creative potential and help alleviate stress. Each step of the way, from the initial choice of which shades to use to the soothing act of filling in each design, Coloring for All Seasons: Spring is an invitation to unwind.
We have carefully selected forty-six plates of spring flowers, butterflies, and animals to help immerse you fully in the season. Seasoned meditation practitioners and beginners alike will rejoice in Coloring for All Seasons: Spring. So grab your crayons, pencils, or markers and prepare to find a sense of inner calm. Within these pages of detailed patterns and inspiring beauty, we invite you to add some color to your world!
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Review
The coloring book craze has resulted in a lot of coloring books getting published: some good, some bad, and many indifferent. This spring-themed coloring book has several things going for it, particularly if you love flowers.
The images range from modern folk-art and pop-art styles to patterns reminiscent of floral wallpaper or chintz. Many of the pictures are floral patterns that appear larger than the page (in other words, the flowers seem to extend past the edge of the paper), but there are plenty of butterflies and a scattering of birds as well. Surprisingly, there are only two pages with rabbits, and none of nesting birds. One page, a pattern of folk-art cardinals and pinecones, appears misplaced from a winter-themed coloring book.
Some of my favorite pages illustrate quotes about spring: “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything” (Shakespeare) and “Ah, how wonderful is the advent of Spring!” (Longfellow), for instance. But the flowers illustrating Wordsworth’s “I wandered lonely as a cloud” aren’t the daffodils mentioned in the poem; instead, they appear to be day lilies — an odd choice.
It’s hard to tell from a virtual (e-book) review copy, but I believe each page is blank on the back — a real benefit for those who use markers as well as those who like to frame or display their finished pages. Since I was reviewing a digital review copy, I was unable to get any sense of the paper quality. However, the lines appear crisp and clean even when I enlarge the pages. And the variety of styles means you should find at least some pages that appeal to you.
Bottom line: I would really enjoy coloring some of these, but personally, I would tire of the theme before I finished the book.
Lola
I know what you mean, I like how many of these colouring books a theme, but if I only have that one I would tire of it. I have a forest themed colouring book and while it’s fun, I can’t imagine myself colouring it many pages in a row. Then again I don’t colour as often so there’s a lot of time between each page.
I do think the idea of season based colouring books is fun. Although I think they could get a bit more creative with the topic of spring besides flowers. And having the back of the page blank is always a good thing! I am not a fan of the double printed pages as I am always afraid the colours might bleed through. Great review!
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Saven Deception by Siobhan Davis
Lark_Bookwyrm
That’s basically how I felt – that this book has some strong points (one-sided pages, for instance), but also weaknesses (like repetition.) I’d rather have more variety, myself. I color in pencil so I’m less worried about colors bleeding, but I would like the option to frame or display the finished work.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I’m in love with the idea of these colors but not so great about actually doing them! This does look pretty but I’m not sure how much of it I would do either.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Once a Rancher – Review
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’m not so great about doing them, either – I’d usually rather read or knit. But sometimes I just get in the mood to color. I only have one “real” coloring book (as opposed to this one, which was an e-ARC): Secret Garden. It’s really beautiful.
Lark
I think it’s funny that adults are more into coloring these days than kids are. Do you think it’s because we’re nostalgic for the smell of Crayola Crayons and the reminder of simpler days? Or because it’s like meditating but in color?
Lark recently posted…On a Lark…
Lark_Bookwyrm
I think it’s more like meditating or knitting or other soothing, repetitive-but-creative handwork… especially since adults seem to use colored pencils or markers rather than crayons, so scent doesn’t seem to be a factor. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
My adult daughters love these coloring books. The Doctor Who book is tempting me 🙂
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Nonna’s Corner: Some of Sophia’s Favorite Books
Lark_Bookwyrm
Oh, I know – me too on the Doctor Who one! And the Harry Potter one; we gave that to Robin for Christmas, along with a set of pencils. But I’m holding out for the upcoming Lord of the Rings coloring book, based on the movie concept art, I think. 🙂