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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43 Items found Print
Active Filters: Coloring Book, Used Books & Materials
Alice in Wonderland - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Lewis Carroll & John Tenniel
from Dover Publications
Coloring Book for 2nd-6th grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$5.94 $2.80 (1 in stock)
Ancient Near East - Coloring Book
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Ancient History (Location: HISW-ANC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Around the World - Coloring Book
by Winky Adam
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Nature / Geography Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAT)
$4.24 $2.00 (2 in stock)
Billy Yank - Coloring Book
by Alan Archambault
from Bellerophon Books
Coloring Book for 4th-8th grade
in American Civil War Era (1850-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
$4.21 $2.80 (2 in stock)
Christmas Around the World - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Joan O'Brien
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Holiday Coloring Books (Location: COL-HOL)
$4.24 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Color Your Own Impressionist Paintings
Dover Masterworks
by Marty Noble
from Dover Publications
for 3th-Adult
in Fine Art Coloring Books (Location: COL-ART)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Color Your Own Modern Art Masterpieces
by Muncie Hendler
from Dover Publications
for 1st-6th grade
in Fine Art Coloring Books (Location: COL-ART)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Early Composers
by Eric Tomb & Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$4.95 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Incas, Aztecs & Mayas
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-5th grade
in Ancient America (Location: HISW-ANAM)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Creative Haven Dogs - Draw and Color
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Fifty Favorite Birds - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Lisa Bonforte
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Bird Coloring Books (Location: COL-BIRD)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
From Antietam to Gettysburg - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$4.24 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Great Composers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Green, Paul Negri
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Fine Art Coloring Books (Location: COL-ART)
$4.24 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Hawaiian Kids - Coloring Book
from The Islander Group
for 1st-5th grade
in Nature / Geography Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAT)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Heroes of the American Revolution
by David Brownell
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Heroines of the American Revolution
by Alan Archambault
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Historic American Landmarks - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.94 $2.80 (1 in stock)
Historic Sailing Ships - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tre Tryckare Company
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Transportation Coloring Books (Location: COL-TRANS)
$4.24 $2.00 (1 in stock)
History of Flight - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Transportation Coloring Books (Location: COL-TRANS)
$4.24 $2.00 (1 in stock)
History of the Civil Rights Movement - Coloring Book
by Steven James Petruccio
from Dover Publications
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$3.39 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Indian Tribes of North America - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Native American Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAM)
$5.09 $2.40 (2 in stock)
Johnny Reb - Coloring Book
by Alan Archambault
from Bellerophon Books
Coloring Book for 4th-8th grade
in American Civil War Era (1850-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Let's Look Inside a Tepee
by Betsy Warren
from RanchGate
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Lewis & Clark Expedition - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Life in Ancient Egypt - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Life in Colonial America - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Life in Old Japan - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Lighthouses of the World - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Batchelor
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Architecture Coloring Books (Location: COL-ARCH)
$4.24 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Microbiology Coloring Book
by I. Edward Alcamo, Lawrence M. Elson
from Benjamin Cumming
for 9th-12th grade
in Biology (Location: SCI-BIO)
$11.20 (1 in stock)
Moon Exploration - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
My First Spanish ABC Picture - Coloring Book
from Dover Publications
for 1st-4th grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$3.99 $2.50 (2 in stock)
North American Lighthouses - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Batchelor
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Architecture Coloring Books (Location: COL-ARCH)
$4.24 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Old Ship Figureheads - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Batchelor
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Our Early Presidents - Coloring Book
by Alan Archambault & Nancy Conkle, illustrators
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-Adult
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Peterson Field Guide: Mammals - Coloring Book
Peterson Field Guide Color-In Books
by Peter C. Alden & Fiona Reid
from Mariner Books
for 3rd-Adult
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$9.34 $5.60 (1 in stock)
Plains Indians - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by David Rickman
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Native American Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAM)
$4.24 $2.00 (2 in stock)
Reptiles and Amphibians - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Samuel Gundy & Thomas C. Quirk, Jr.
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Reptile Coloring Books (Location: COL-REP)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Satellites - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$3.36 $1.60 (1 in stock)
Shakespeare Coloring Book
by Bellerophon Books
from Bellerophon Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
South Pacific Seafarers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Stonehenge and Other Megalithic Sites - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
United States - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Winky Adam
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.94 $2.80 (2 in stock)
Woodlands Indians - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Arkady Roytman
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Native American Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAM)
$5.09 $2.00 (1 in stock)