Books

6 Great Adult Coloring Books To Get Your Cray-On

by Emma Cueto

Remember being a kid and spending hours with a coloring book and a box of crayons? Well, good news: There is a growing trend of coloring books for adults. What started as a novelty idea is growing into a big enough business that publishers are rushing to keep up with demand. All of which means that there's lots of selection to choose from!

Coloring is just one of the many excellent things from childhood that we should consider bringing back into our lives, of course, from running around in circles until we fall over to reading our favorite books over and over incessantly. Childhood was the best. And so it's no wonder that so many adults are turning to coloring books again. Making art is the best, and once you grow up and your drawings are expected to be actually good if they're going to go on the fridge, coloring books are a no-pressure way to flex your creative muscles and make something satisfying without having to stress about your lack of talent. As someone who can't draw worth a damn, I appreciate someone else doing the hard work and giving me lines to follow.

So what are some of the coloring books out there that you should check out? There's a wider selection than you might think. Here are six titles to get you coloring:

Secret Garden by Johanna Basford

This gorgeous book was one of the first to set off this adult coloring book craze, and has been selling tons of copies in both the US and the UK, where it was first published. And Basford has other coloring books out now or upcoming as well.

Click here to buy.

Color Me Calm by Lacy Mucklow

Coloring books are a great way to relax, let go of the stresses of adult life, and let your mind drift. So what could be better than a book designed with calm in mind?

Click here to buy.

Dia de los Muertos

Looking to celebrate November 1st with something vibrant, colorful, and relaxing? Love the aesthetic of the holiday but know better than to buy into the cultural appropriation that Dia de los Muertos celebrations often involve? Look no further. This is one of several books by the Adult Coloring Book Artists group.

Click here to buy.

Fanciful Faces by Miryam Adatto

Animal subjects and landscapes are great, but if you want to spend your time shading in some beautiful pictures of humans, this might be just the place to start.

Click here to buy.

Art Noveau Animal Designs by Marty Noble

On the other hand, animals are pretty cute, too.

Click here to buy.

Creative Cats by Marjorie Sarnat

In real life your cats are adorable but also prone to bringing dead birds into the house and knocking things over on purpose. The cats in this coloring book have no such problems.

Click here to buy.

Enjoy!

Images: Amazon (6)