The Goods

The Best Recent Coloring Books, from Classic Fairy Tales to Streaming Series

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Grace Lapointe

Senior Contributor

Grace Lapointe’s fiction has been published in Kaleidoscope, Deaf Poets Society, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, and is forthcoming in Corporeal Lit Mag. Her essays and poetry have been published in Wordgathering. Her stories and essays—including ones that she wrote as a college student—have been taught in college courses and cited in books and dissertations. More of her work is at https://gracelapointe.wordpress.com, Medium, and Ao3.

Coloring books are the only kind of bookish merchandise I buy regularly. I find them creative and relaxing. In 2021 on Book Riot, I wrote about rediscovering my childhood coloring hobby early in the pandemic.

Abstract patterns are popular overall, but I prefer coloring books based on novels, movies, or TV series. I find this style more interesting and less tiring than more intricate designs. If you also love coloring characters from your favorite series, you’re in luck. Random House Worlds and other imprints recently published coloring books based on popular streaming series. I especially enjoy recognizable scenes and characters. I’ll even match the colors of settings and clothing to the story if I remember them. Many line artists create art that closely resembles the actors.

I bought some of these titles and others are on my wish list. Their subjects range from streaming series and blockbuster movies to classic fairy tales. I hope you enjoy de-stressing with these books. They can be a fun way to engage with your favorite fandoms or even find new visual artists to support.

If I love a coloring book, I like to find and support more of the line artist’s work. Some line artists, like Wheeshan Ong and Selina Fenech, sell physical merchandise and digital downloads on their Etsy stores. I find it frustrating, though, when studios and imprints publish or reprint coloring books without crediting the artists upfront. This information is sometimes not easy to find elsewhere online, either. I’ve searched for diverse artists and credited them whenever I could.

Squid Game: The Official Coloring Book cover
cover image via Amazon.com

Squid Game: The Official Coloring Book: The violent versions of kids’ games in the popular, dystopian Netflix show are now in this coloring book, with illustrations by manga artist Acky Bright. $14

an anime-style illustration from The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Official Coloring Book
page image via Amazon.com

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Official Coloring Book: This LOTR prequel movie is drawn in an anime style, and so is the line art in this new coloring book! $14

cover of 
The Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy Coloring Book
cover image via Amazon.com

The Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy Coloring Book: HarperCollins has reissued this official LOTR coloring book, with line art by Nicolette Caven. Color Frodo, Gandalf, the Shire, the Dead Marshes, and much more. $14

a coloring page of a unicorn and a girl by Selina Fenech on Etsy
image via PrintableFantasy on Etsy

Selina Fenech’s work: Selina Fenech writes fantasy novels and illustrates fantasy coloring books—sometimes based on her own writing. All her coloring books, plus individual coloring pages, are available to download from her Etsy shop, PrintableFantasy. $1-15

Wednesday: Official Coloring Book cover
cover image from Amazon.com

Wednesday: Official Coloring Book: This coloring book, with line art by Mike Meskin, depicts scenes and characters from the hit Netflix show. I had fun coloring it, especially around Halloween last year. $10

a coloring page of Elphaba from the Wicked Official Coloring Book
page image via Amazon.com

Wicked Official Coloring Book: In this coloring book based on the Universal Pictures movie, you can color the Emerald City and all its inhabitants. Carolina Zambrano’s illustrations resemble Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. $14

The Greek Mythology Coloring Book cover
cover image via Amazon.com

The Greek Mythology Coloring Book by Jen Yoon: There are many beautiful coloring books of Greek myths, and this new one is a great pick, starting with Athena and her owls on the cover. $14

Bridgerton: The Official Coloring Book cover
cover image via Amazon.com

Bridgerton: The Official Coloring Book: Jacqui Oakley’s gorgeous line art illustrates the first two seasons of the extremely popular Netflix show from Shondaland. From portraits of characters to gardens, manor houses, and quotes, it has something for every fan and every coloring style. $13

Queen Charlotte, A Bridgerton Story: The Official Coloring Book cover
cover image via Amazon.com

Queen Charlotte, A Bridgerton Story: The Official Coloring Book: Netflix’s coloring book of their Bridgerton prequel limited series is also illustrated by Jacqui Oakley. Like the show itself, the book features younger and older versions of the main characters. $13

House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book cover
cover image via Amazon.com

House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book: This book contains character portraits, landscapes, and family coats of arms from the hit Game of Thrones prequel show on Max. $11

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