Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this book without a preview and I AM SO GLAD I DID. It’s marketed as a coloring book, but it isn’t technically a coloring book - it’s a children’s book you could color if you choose. And we choose! We definitely choose! But if you’re going to buy this book as a coloring book, there are things you should know FIRST.

The paper is smooth, medium to heavy-weight, card stock with a slight sheen. I’m sure you could use pencils, but if you like to layer a lot, you might have to adjust your technique because there is very little tooth to fill. Not every page has an image to color, although there are roughly 47 pages (including double-page spreads) that I would call suitable for coloring. Many of the rest of the pages have small designs you could color if you wanted. The artwork does run into the gutter and the book takes some effort to make it lie flat, because it is hard cover and the paper is thicker than most. The art is also very intricate, so getting into the small corners might be problematic, especially for colorists with visual impairments. Also, the book has some graphics and shading that are light blue-grey, so you don't get to choose all the colors. (see the elephant and the cheetah page photos.) Now that we have the coloring thing out of the way, we can talk about the children’s book side. In full disclosure, I admit that I regularly buy children’s books exclusively for the art, because I am a bibliophile and because there is no such thing as too many books. But this one is unique. It speaks to me particularly as a writer and an artist. The idea of a bohemian house party (starring animals) where the characters come together to create art thrills me! The thought of a never-ending supply of ink in the basement is a creator’s dream! The only thing that would be better is if this book actually came with a bottle of “Ink House” brand ink! Someone make this happen! The illustrations are unique and painstaking - believe me, I KNOW how long it takes to draw images like this - and perfectly coincide with the story. They don’t NEED to be colorized. They are absolutely gorgeous just as they are, which means that I need two more copies: one to keep pristine in my collection, and another for my 10 month old grand-daughter, Raven. You can also purchase decorative items with these illustrations on them, like clocks and teapots. See Rory Dobner's web page for details. (I have my eye on a clock...) As a general rule, I save a full five-star rating for the most extraordinary books. This book is one of those. You won't regret buying it! Dear Rory, (the creator) If you publish a true coloring book, I will be first in line to purchase it… probably more than once!