10 Books to Try | Happy National Coloring Book Day!

Yes, it is National Coloring Book Day, and to help celebrate, I'm sharing 10 of my favorite coloring books - some new, some old.
A little history about National Coloring Books Day. It was initiated by Dover publications (most likely we all have a book from them), and is now occurring annually on August 2nd in the U.S. but anyone can enjoy this special little celebration from around the world!
What is your favorite book?
101 UNIQUE MANDALAS: A Big Mandala Coloring Book: amzn.to/2V5FLHQ
Worlds of Wonder: amzn.to/3rMVUho
World of Flowers: amzn.to/3yesScP
Flowerscape: A Botanical Coloring Book: amzn.to/3fcwZ1s
Creative Haven Main Street Coloring Book: amzn.to/3ffAV1p
Botanicum Coloring Book: amzn.to/3zRliVV
Zendoodle Coloring Presents Gnomes in the Neighborhood: amzn.to/3zWkkHN
Kristy's Spring Cutting Garden: amzn.to/2WI7Wx7
Magical Dawn Coloring Book: amzn.to/3zTFlTD
Seasons Coloring Book: amzn.to/3j94F16

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Happy National Coloring Book Day my awesome friends! I hope you do something today that helps you relax and stay happy. . Please share your favorite coloring book of all time - I'd love to hear.

[@moniiibelle]

For which nation is that? The US?

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

@@moniiibelle Yes, the US. It was created by Dover publications (coloring book maker), but really, anyone in the world can join the fun!

[@cherrie34446]

Nice selection of books, I own 7 of them. I think I enjoy collecting color books as much as I LOVE coloring in them.

[@moiramichaud1160]

Thank you for sharing Kori and loved admiring your beautiful colored pages, just so lovely!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you Moira, so kind of you!

[@melitalaycock4241]

Wow, you are an artist I wish I could color like that so beautiful. Don't you ever worry about starting a book, if I could color like that I would be coloring daily and sharing mine, lol. Lovely books

[@steph7373]

Your pictures are stunning especially in flowerscapes! This whole video made me really happy so thank you for posting 💛

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe ty so much Steph. You're so sweet

[@samsmom1491]

I need to add that this video made me happy. There is a lot of negative things in our lives right now and I'm finding it hard to find "happy" content, but your video nailed it. You are so upbeat and positive. It's literally catchy and just what I needed most.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe, thank you so much. I'm glad it could make your day Jeannette!

[@mandycrago]

Happy colouring book day!!!!!!❤

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you! You too!

[@charlottekunkel8487]

Those are all awesome books! I don’t have them all, but I have a few. My current favorite is World of Wonders. Thanks for sharing!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

World of Wonders is a great one!

[@cellorosemusic12]

Excellent suggestions!! These books are all wonderful ❤️

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oh thank you!

[@JenniferHRoss]

I don’t know if you’ve seen it or not, but there’s an interview with Maggie Enterrios (Flowerscape) from April on the Happy Ever Crafter channel (maybe Happily Ever Crafter?). In it, Maggie demonstrates 3 different techniques in Flowerscape - gilding, monotone and patterned orb. It’s amazing. Totally inspirational. Also, as an update on the Holbeins and the lightfastness, checkout the video by Artist Jane Bush - she contacted Holbein and got the low down on the lightfastness testing (they do use the AST 6901 standard). Thanks for this video. You’ve enabled me with some stuff I hadn’t seen. My Amazon cart is sitting at $200 LOL. Love your channel and your amazing artistry.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Yes, I saw that interview! She's so adorable - love her work and seeing what she does. I did see the video on Holbeins. As I have stated a ton, however, lightfastness is not the reason I don't like them - it was just a side note issue I had. However, if they are using industry standards, that's great, but it doesn't change how the pencil works for me and how it doesn't work with my style. So even then, I wouldn't buy them and still would not justify the price (for me of course - not the world). LOL hopefully the enabling is good and not bad!

[@samsmom1491]

My cart currently sits at $110, with five out of seven items related to coloring! That doesn't include the "saved for later" items that now count 80+ that are mostly in the coloring book/art media category.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

@@samsmom1491 lol sounds like my cart. I'm trying to stop myself from clicking buy lol

[@samsmom1491]

@@ColorfullyOptimistic I actually did that (hit checkout) once in my sleep and that NEVER EVER happens to me. Thank goodness I only had two cheap items in the cart. Sadly, neither item was for coloring. I thought to myself, jeesh!, if you're going to do something crazy like that in your sleep, why couldn't it have been one of those coloring books you've been chomping at the bit for. I now have my phone out of reach in case it happens again. 🙃

[@Elmcolors]

My fav is a tie between Romantic Country and Magical Dawn. Depending on my mood 😉 Happy Coloring Book Day!! Thanks for sharing 💗

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Both are excellent choices too! My favorites change often, except with Flowerscape! LOL

[@chroniccolouringdownunder7989]

Happy National colouring day!! I have too many books and still went silly in July 🤦‍♀️ Great video. Happy Colous, Sara xx

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Haha I went very silly in July - trust me, I get that lol

[@sonettelabuschagne816]

Happy national coloring book day, you have amazing books I love your coloring style

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe thank you so much Sonette! I hope you have some happy coloring today!

[@brody43214]

Just bought Flowerscapes and Botanicum thanks to your reviews. I love your idea of gel pen mandalas for relaxation. Trying that today.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Mandalas, for me, help me completely recharge. It is soooo lovely.

[@alisamartin1437]

Your florals are amazing! My favourites are World of Flowers, World of wonders, Fragile Earth and many more to name but just a few. Happy Colouring book Day. 📕 📚

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Those are all very awesome books! I have Kerby's latest, but haven't colored in it yet.

[@melissacrawford303]

So many great books! World of Flowers is next on my list to buy.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oooh you will love that one.

[@samsmom1491]

All that sparkling makes me giddy too! It honestly took me a while to relax with a mandala. I kept overthinking them. You're so right about them not being something to blend or layer, they exist for the colorists to enjoy and embrace their simplicity.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oh yeah, I just like to mindlessly color those. No fuss, no hassle, just fill in the lines and it is so relaxing.

[@sherreegaskell3891]

I colored along with you in Flowerscape, and although I'm lagging behind, I've loved the results. Once I got in to the limited color palette I loved it. Very relaxing! I love your work and hope you will share at least some of the future coloring you do in Flowerscape.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

That is so sweet of you, thank you! I love using limited colors in the Flowerscape book. It is so pretty on its own that everything pops and doesn't need a ton of colors.

[@francesposnanski1515]

I just purchased Kristy's Spring Cutting Garden. I want to experiment with watercolors. We shall see. I already own most of the other books you listed.😊

[@lindagraham]

Fantastic I ❤️ them all

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you! They are definitely my favs.

[@deb.e.mixedmedia]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. It is too hard for me to pick a favorite yet, although Worlds of Wonder has been a fave recently. 😊

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

That's a great book, and there are soooo many cute and quirky pages. I do love how she did some of her old school style in that one.

[@maryellenthompson8261]

You have a good selection. I have several of the same books as you and I love them all equally. My favorite coloring book of all time has got to be Johanna Basford’s World of Flowers. I reach for that one often when I feel the urge to color in one of her books.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oh that is a great book!

[@kellyskraftshaulsandmore]

New subscriber. Love your haul.

[@thecolouringzone172]

Love this video! I had no idea there was a national colouring book day..had a look it’s celebrated in the UK as well ☺️ favourite ever book at the moment is circle of life by Melpomeni Chatzipanagiotou 💖

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

I had no idea either. I had to double check on it to make sure I wasn't losing it lol. That's a great book. I haven't bought it yet, because I'm not sure it would be my style, but I love seeing what people have done in that book.

[@oneeyeopen5044]

Your flowers gape picture came out absolutely beautiful

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe thank you!

[@tsworldofadultcoloring]

I can't pick a favorite.....way too many books to choose from!!😆 Now because of you....I'm adding a few more to my "to buy" list!! 🤣 Happy National Coloring Book Day!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Haha sorry! Some of these are just so friggin cute.

[@mariesecoy6110]

The three florals you did in Botanicum are perfection! Coloring aside, my favorite book is Gnomes in the Neighborhood -- it's cuteness to the max.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe thank you. I totally agree. Gnomes is so adorable and just fun and quirky. I love that book.

[@GirlyTipsEtc]

Love this video thx for sharing!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you!

[@pamelamiller9478]

Hi Kori . Thanks for the fun video! It might be hard for me to pjck a "favotite book" ,but I can definitely pick a favorite illustrator, and that would be Julia Spiri. 🙂

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Hey illustrator works too actually!

[@cowcollectr]

I don't have a favorite yet...the artist I go back to the most tends to be Linda Wright and her Charming books. I just got Romantic country and that looks like fun! I put Flowerscape on my Christmas wish list!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

The Linda Wright ones do turn out very pretty the way you do them!

[@emmacolours2020]

lovely choices

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you! 😊 Hope you're coloring something fun today my friend.

[@kellyskraftshaulsandmore]

New subscriber. Love your channel so far.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe ty and welcome to the channel!

[@CathrynTucker]

You are an incredible colorist/artist. I’m new to your channel. I enjoy your reviews.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Awe thank you so much Cathryn - so sweet of you.

[@JojozaHannaHawaii]

Happy national coloring book day!!🌺

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

To you to my dear! Hopefully you get time to color something today!

[@poetspicecolorwrite]

nice choices

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you Poet!

[@vondasmith8046]

My fav is the Ink House.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oooh that is a good book. I haven't bought it because of the paper - wish they had better paper in that book.

[@quitecolorist8274]

Kori, would you mind to color and do a tutorial in Main Street coloring book? I’d love to follow your tutorial on this book. I adore it so much❤️

[@quitecolorist8274]

No particular pencils, any will be perfect. Thanks Kori

[@leslied9801]

My favorite coloring book is Chiaki Ida's My Colorful Town.

[@anncurran4704]

My favorite book is "The Flower Year" by Leila Duly, closedly followed by a number of those on your favorite list.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oooh I have that one. It is a beautiful book!

[@katielybbert802]

Hi! I love your channel! Do you have picture of your flowerscape finished pages? I love that you said you were going to color the pages one at a time and in order with prismacolors because I said the same thing… It didn’t end up working out that way lol but its the thought that counts right? ;)

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

I don't have it just of this book, but my recent video about my favorite books of 2022 has it in there and I show the complete pages so far :)

[@janinejohnson6357]

Think o have a few of those nit the last one though enjoy

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you Janine - happy coloring to you my friend!

[@tinniaphillips4059]

I am just now watching this video! 2 weeks later lol. I have quite a few of those. I think my favorite is the ink house. But i love all my books. I tend to gravitate to the hard cover books or ones i know i like almost every page. I see a lot of colorists who like the creative haven ones and i just can't get into that style of artwork. Besides i am a paper snob and dont care for the paper in them. My printer is old so I cant scan on better paper and my hubby refuses to buy a new printer until ours is on its last leg lol.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Haha I hear you, I'm a paper snob too! Hey it doesn't matter when you watch it. I appreciate the support, truly!

[@TerryJ950]

Hi Kori, I was wondering which gel pens you used to color the 101 Mandalas - they all look so beautiful. Thanks

[@TerryJ950]

@@ColorfullyOptimistic Thanks so much for the links, you’re so kind. I actually just got into using gel pens and tried a few brands, including the Raeaon’s, but I only purchased the 24 set to try them out. I didn’t realize they came in such a big set. I agree, they’re very nice to use. Do you rank them equally or have a preference? Again, thanks

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

@@TerryJ950 I use them in combination with one another. They have colors that are slightly different from one another - with a few overlaps here and there. But, I honestly rank them both #1. Like if they stopped making one, the other would be there. Aen was the first out of the two I tried though, and I do like the finger rest where as the other one can hurt after awhile holding onto that plastic.

[@audreyshaw2463]

Happy National Colouring Book Day 🍁🍂🌻🍄 Being a total beginner, I don’t have many books. Johanna’s Worlds of Wonder had to be my first purchase, being that I live a couple of hours away from her🙂 I have a mandala book that I got in a bargain book/craft shop over here called The Works, I also use sparkly gel pens to colour in it. The hard cover books are on my wish list 😆 Enjoy your day 🤗

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oooh a few hours from her - where do you live? It takes time to build a collection, and speaking as someone who has a lot of books, it is almost better to NOT have a ton. Then, you find yourself like actually struggling to pick what to color, a lot of books sit there unused. Kinda sucks haha. I need to quit buying new ones and use the ones I have.

[@audreyshaw2463]

@@ColorfullyOptimistic I live in the North East of Scotland, exactly half way between Aberdeen and Inverness 😊

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

@@audreyshaw2463 Oh nice! Scotland is on my bucket list of places to see one day.

[@oneeyeopen5044]

Thank you for sharing oh, I never knew there was such thing as coloring book day. That's rather cool. I wonder what you will be coloring today since its National coloring book day. Are you interested in selling your Castle art pencils? My niece would love to have a set of those. She's young and just started coloring. If you are let me know I'll purchase them from you

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

I'm actually working on that double page spread in Flowerscape today haha. I wouldn't mind unloading them, but I actually have to keep them. I have a long list of hair tutorials with Castle Arts right now to get through, and once I do those, most of those colors will be widdled into nothing.

[@kawora.gracie412]

I personally miss a Tomislav Tomics or Kerby Rosanes one. Sometimes i think Tomislav Tomics books like Zemljya Snova are very underrated!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oh I agree! They're beautiful 😍

[@nidhilatkar9813]

Your video helped me to choose the book and want to enjoy them..can you tell me pencil colors are good and if yes which one should I go with?

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Well pencils are unique to your coloring style. I use Prismacolor the most, Polychromos and Black Widows next.

[@Patracat]

Another awesome display of your coloring talent....sigh! I don't know which of my 20 or more coloring books are my favorites. They are all different. I guess Johanna Basford comes close.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Johanna makes wonderful books!

[@julieloucalcote1368]

Happy Coloring Book Day!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Thank you! You too!

[@PaperhugsbyKim]

Just picked up Color of Wonder and I'm loving it! So I purchased her Christmas book too...now may have to buy the floral book! How do you decide if you are going to use alcohol markers or pencils? How do decide which pencils you will use? Is it based on the paper or just your mood?!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

So, I'm kinda odd in how I approach a page. First, I pick the page, then I pick the element that drew me to the page. Might be a specific flower, tree, person, their eyes, I dunno. Something that took me to that page basically. That's what I start with coloring-wise. I color the thing that drew me to it. Usually, once I decide what I want to color, I know the medium. If I'm coloring in the book itself and not scanning and reprinting, then the paper in that book decides a lot about the pencil brand I will use. I only use markers on ones I plan to scan and print, because even nice paper like Johanna's would ruin the book with marker bleed. I really need to make a video of my chaotic process lol

[@PaperhugsbyKim]

@@ColorfullyOptimistic thank you!! It makes sense! I don't have a lazer printer but I do have marker paper! Lol...I have been using my Arteza or Primas right in the book because Joanna's book has nice paper...trying to learn how to blend and shade now.🤪

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

@@PaperhugsbyKim ah yes, so in Johanna's books I use almost all pencils because it is smooth and works with a lot

[@PaperhugsbyKim]

@@ColorfullyOptimistic I couldn't take it any longer.....I just purchased the Derwent Inktense Pencil set of 36...decided to ship to my office instead of my home...hubby works from home😉😉

[@bluewinter1969]

The Inkhouse and Forest Girl.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oooh Forest Girl is a great choice!

[@leahmcronald9196]

What is createspace paper?

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

It is like a cheap copy paper that a lot of books use on Amazon if they are Amazon printed.

[@donnacarver4751]

I absolutely loved World of flowers 💐 💕 I have finished it and I feel a sense of loss. I've got to order another because I have thought of so many different ways to color different pictures. Am I crazy for feeling like this? Does anybody else have that problem after finishing their favorite book of all time?

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oh wow you finished it! I have yet to finish a book but can't wait to one day.

[@mellomakes]

What is create space paper?

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

It is the type of paper Amazon uses for Amazon published adult coloring books. It's basically printer paper, but almost worst at times lol

[@mellomakes]

@@ColorfullyOptimistic thank you!

[@danielaacatrinei8027]

Mai convins să ami cumpăr și eu cartea world of wonder

[@debbienye3001]

Hi, did you have to practise a lot or are u just a natural.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Oh no no I had to practice. I've been doing this almost 6 years and just keep learning. Hopefully I can share it all with you guys and I'm always learning new things!

[@annettelockhart2949]

You cannot pay attention to everything…..if you have many books. You will know when a page is calling you.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Haha that's a great way to think about it actually. A book will find its way to me eventually! Plus it is all just about the mood you know? Sometimes you really want to color a page, while other times you just dont.