Coloring Books

Art purists are apt to criticize the use of coloring books as one more step in the democratization of art. Which is a fair criticism—coloring books were developed in the late-19th century as a means for bringing art instruction to the broader populace. The idea was that everyone, not just the elite or well-educated, could stand to benefit from learning basic art principles, and coloring books were a great place to start.

Or "paint books" as they were also called. Developers of the new medium used it to teach both children and adults concepts like coloring, tinting, shading, etc., with the intent of helping them toward greater understanding, and therefore increased appreciation and use of hidden talents. The only people who would complain about something as nice as that are codgers and snobs.

There have been plenty of both, but that hasn't stopped the spread and evolution of coloring books from a form of art instruction to an art form in their own right. Dover Coloring Books, for instance, are beautiful to look at even before they're colored in. Not that the initial intent of coloring books has been forgotten: the number of kids who've learned to draw because they first learned to stay in the lines is doubtless staggering.

We're all for the "democratization of art" insofar as it is represented by coloring books. Edith Schaeffer, in the book The Hidden Art of Homemaking, makes a biblical case for each Christian discovering and putting to good use the creative talents God has given them as part of creating man in His own image. Coloring books can and do help many find their hidden talent.

At Exodus Books, no one wants to be assigned the Coloring Books section during year-end inventory because we have so many of them. At over 500 titles, we think we have the biggest selection in Oregon—and we're always adding more. They're getting easier and more fun to browse as we continue to arrange and rearrange and re-rearrange the area, coming up with better ways to organize and display each title. Have fun browsing, and don't be shy about picking up some pencils and a coloring book no matter what your age and talents.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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87 Items found Print
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3-D Designs - Coloring Book
by Wil Steganga
from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
365 Promises From God's Word In Color: Scripture and Coloring Pages
from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$9.99
Alexander Hamilton - Coloring Book
by Steven James Petruccio
Clr Csm from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.99
Alexander the Great Coloring Book
by John K. Anderson
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-4th grade
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
Anatomy Coloring Book
by Wynn Kapit
4th edition from Pearson Education
for 9th-Adult
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$29.99
At the Construction Site Coloring Book
by Steven James Petruccio
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Architecture Coloring Books (Location: COL-ARCH)
$3.99
Beauty in the Bible - Coloring Book
by Paige Tate
from Paige Tate & Co.
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
Big Book of Geometric Designs and Illusions to Color
by Koichi Sato, Spyros Horemis
illustrated edition from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$7.95
Birdwatcher's Coloring Book
by Dot Barlowe
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Bird Coloring Books (Location: COL-BIRD)
$5.99
Bliss Flowers Coloring Book: Your Passport to Calm (Adult Coloring)
by Lindsey Boylan, Jessica Mazurkiewicz
Clr Csm from Dover Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
Cat Lovers - Coloring Book
by Ruth Soffer
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Mammal Coloring Books (Location: COL-MAM)
$3.99
Charles Darwin - Coloring Book
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$3.99
Color the Classics: Beauty and the Beast
Color the Classics
by Jae-Eun Lee
Clr Csm from Waves of Color
for 7th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$13.95
Color the Pacific Northwest
by Zoe Keller
Clr Csm from Timber Press, Inc.
for 5th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$12.95
Coloring Book of Ancient Greece
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
Coloring Book of Ancient India
by Bellerophon Books, Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in India (Location: HISMC-IND)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Cleopatra
by Bellerophon Books, Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
Coloring Book of Great Explorers
by Eric Tomb
from Bellerophon Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
Coloring Book of Rome
by Bellerophon Books, Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Rome (Location: HISW-ANRO)
$3.00 (3 in stock)
Coloring Book of the American Revolution
by Harry Knill
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
Coloring Book of the Middle Ages
by Bellerophon Books, John K. Anderson, Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
Coloring Book of the Odyssey
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
Coloring Book of the Trojan War: The Iliad Vol. 1
by John K. Anderson
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
Coloring Book of the Trojan War: The Iliad Vol. 2
by John K. Anderson
Coloring from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
Columbus Discovers America - Coloring Book
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Creative Haven Abstract Designs - Coloring Book
Creative Haven
by Brian Johnson
Csm from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Creative Haven Arabesque Designs - Coloring Book
by Nick Crossling
First Edition, Fir from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$6.99
Creative Haven Beautiful Birds - Coloring Book
Creative Haven
by Dot Barlowe
First Edition, Fir from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$6.99
Dazzling Designs - Coloring Book
by Koichi Sato
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Deadly Creatures - Coloring Book
by Jan Sovak
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Life Coloring Books (Location: COL-ANI)
$3.99
Deadly Insects and Arachnids - Coloring Book
by Jan Sovak
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Insect Coloring Books (Location: COL-BUG)
$3.99
Dinosaurs - Coloring Book
by Spizzirri Publishing Company
from Spizzirri Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Reptile Coloring Books (Location: COL-REP)
$3.95
Extreme Mammals - Coloring Book
by Patricia J. Wynne
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Mammal Coloring Books (Location: COL-MAM)
$3.99
Fairies and Elves - Coloring Book
by Marty Noble
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$4.99
Fairies Around the World - Coloring Book
Clr from Dover Publications
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
Fairies to Paint or Color - Coloring Book
Clr from Dover Publications
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$5.99
Faith in Color - Coloring Book
by Pearlyn Choco
from Paige Tate & Co.
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
Gargoyles and Medieval Monsters - Coloring Book
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 1st-3rd grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$5.99
Harry Potter Magical Places & Characters Coloring Book
Clr from Scholastic Inc.
for 6th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$15.99
Hearts Stained Glass Coloring - Activity Book
Clr from Dover Publications
for 1st-5th grade
History's Mysteries! Animals
by George Toufexis
from Dover Publications
for 4th-7th grade
in Animal Life Coloring Books (Location: COL-ANI)
$3.00
Horses in Battle - Coloring Book
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Horse Coloring Books (Location: COL-HOR)
$3.99
Illuminated Alphabet
from Dover Publications
for 1st-5th grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$6.95
Inspire: Proverbs: Coloring & Creative Journaling through the Proverbs
Clr Csm from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$14.99
Inspire: Psalms: Coloring & Creative Journaling through the Psalms
Clr Csm from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$17.99
Kaleidoscopic Design - Coloring Book
from Dover Publications
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$5.99
Let's Explore! Forest Animals - Sticker Coloring Book
by Dot Barlowe
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Habitat Coloring Books (Location: COL-HAB)
Let's Explore! Sea Animals - Sticker Coloring Book
by Jan Sovak
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Water Life Coloring Books (Location: COL-WAT)
$7.99
Little Butterflies Stained Glass Coloring - Activity Book
Clr from Dover Publications
Little Cats Stained Glass Coloring - Activity Book
Clr from Dover Publications
Little House Coloring Book
Clr Csm from HarperCollins
for 4th-Adult
in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM)
$18.99
Little Mermaid - Coloring Book
by Thea Kliros
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$4.99
Medieval Alphabet to Illuminate
by W. O. Hassall
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
Mix & Match Princesses
from Dover Publications
for Nursery-1st grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
Monkeys and Apes Coloring Book
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 1st-3rd grade
in Mammal Coloring Books (Location: COL-MAM)
$4.99
Monster Bugs: A Close-Up - Coloring Book
by Diana Zourelias
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Insect Coloring Books (Location: COL-BUG)
$3.99
Monster Reptiles - Coloring Book
by Diana Zourelias
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Reptile Coloring Books (Location: COL-REP)
$3.99
Monster Sea Creatures - Coloring Book
by Diana Zourelias
from Dover Publications
for 1st-4th grade
in Water Life Coloring Books (Location: COL-WAT)
$3.99
Mountain Men: The History of Fur Trapping - Coloring Book
by Jeff Prechtel
from Dover Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$3.99
My First Human Body Book
by Donald Silver, Patricia J. Wynne
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$3.99
New England Soldiers of the American Revolution
by Marko Zlatich, Illustrations by Donna Neary
from Bellerophon Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Night Before Christmas - Coloring Book
by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by John O'Brien
81st edition from Dover Publications
for 3rd-5th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$4.99
Official Dune Coloring Book
by Frank Herbert; illustrated by Tomislav Tomic
from ACE Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$17.00
Ojibway Indians - Coloring Book
by Chet Kozlak
from Minnesota Historical Society Press
for 3rd-9th grade
in Native American Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAM)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Op Art - Coloring Book
by Jean Larcher
First Edition from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$4.99
Optical Illusions - Coloring Book
by Koichi Sato
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Psalms in Color
from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$9.99
Renaissance - Coloring Book
from Bellerophon Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Richard Doyle's Fairy Land - Coloring Book
by Marty Noble
Clr from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$3.99
Rip Van Winkle - Coloring Book
by A. Rackham, P. Stewart, W. Irving
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Ruth Heller's Designs for Coloring: Ancient Egypt
by Ruth Heller
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Scenes of Olde New York Coloring Book - Coloring Book
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.99
Sea Animals - Coloring Book
by Pat Stewart
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Water Life Coloring Books (Location: COL-WAT)
$3.99
Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book
by Johanna Basford
Act Clr Cs from Laurence King Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$15.95
Spanish Search-a-Word Picture Puzzles
by Deb T. Bunnell, Kathy Casey
from Dover Publications
for 1st-2nd grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$4.99
Start Exploring the American West
by Emmanuel M. Kramer, illustrated by Helen I. Driggs
from Running Press
for 1st-5th grade
in Western Expansion (1800-1898) (Location: HISA-19WES)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Christopher Columbus - Coloring Book
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$4.99
Tale of Peter Rabbit - Coloring Book
by Beatrix Potter, Coloring Books
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
Teddy Roosevelt Coloring Book - Coloring Books
Dover Coloring Books
by Gary Zaboly
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$3.99
Tropical Birds - Coloring Book
by Lucia de Leiris
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Bird Coloring Books (Location: COL-BIRD)
$4.99
Unicorns - Coloring Book
from Dover Publications
for 1st-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$3.99
Velveteen Rabbit - Coloring Book
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$4.99
Visual Illusions - Coloring Book
by Spyros Horemis
from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Wedding Traditions from Around the World - Color Book
by Brenda Sneathen Mattox
from Dover Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Holiday Coloring Books (Location: COL-HOL)
$3.99
Wild Animals - Coloring Book
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Life Coloring Books (Location: COL-ANI)
$5.99
Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Coloring Book
by Coloring Books, L. Frank Baum
1st edition from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$6.99
World of Turtles - Coloring Book
by Claude Thivierge
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Reptile Coloring Books (Location: COL-REP)
$3.99