Portable Color Me Calm: 70 Coloring Templates for Meditation and Relaxation (A Zen Coloring Book, 4)

This is appears to be a Portable version of Color Me Calm by Lacy Mucklow and Angela Porter. I don't have the larger version as yet (but will be purchasing it in the future), so I can't confirm that 100% of the designs in this book are also in the larger book. However, I looked at images from the larger book and I do see that a number of those images are also present in this book. If you have the prior book and you are looking for something new, please watch my video to be able to make an informed decision as to whether this book will work for you. I count 70 designs if you include the half-finished designs at the beginning of five of the chapters (the first one is fully colored.) There are only 65 designs which are not colored at all. It is a smaller sized book that is actually quite nice for taking on-the-go. The designs cover a wide range of subjects and are well printed for making coloring easy. There are many intricate and small details on these designs (perhaps from being sized down from the larger book), so I think that a steady hand and good eye are helpful when coloring in this book. The author and artist give information about coloring therapy and how colors effect us. There are also two colored samples at the beginning of each chapter. The last page of each chapter is a blank page in which we are encouraged to draw and color ourselves. The six themed chapters in this book are: Mandalas, Water Scenes, Wooded Scenes, Geometric Patterns, Flora and Fauna, and Natural Patterns. Each chapter has a number of designs that correspond with the title. I like that as some days I am in a mood to color a specific type of design and this makes it easier for me to find it. The product description currently mentions “Spirituality” but I could not find a chapter with that heading. Hopefully, this will be corrected sooner than later. If so, my apologies but I don't seem able to edit my reviews once my photos are attached, so this warning will remain regardless of corrections to the product description. The book is approximately 7.5 x 6 inches and is a full half inch thick. That makes for a tall book to color in but I found it doable if I positioned myself properly. I could not get the book to lay flat but as the designs were well away from the binding, I didn't have any problems getting into all corners for coloring. The designs are actually printed on one side of the page. The reverse side has a colorful line design that is the same for each page of the chapter. I consider that to be a very pretty page for possible waste. The pages are not perforated. The binding is sewn rather than glued, so pages can be removed (a number at a time) by snipping the threads. Unless I want to frame or give a design away, I will probably not be cutting these. I will be using the book as a carry around coloring book and I don't want it cut in pieces. All of my markers (both water and alcohol-based) bled through the page. My gel pens (Fiskars and Tek Writer) did not and didn't need more than average time to dry on the surface of the page. My various coloring pencils (both soft and hard leads) worked well on the paper. If you are using markers, you will need to protect the rest of the book from leaking ink as it went all the way through the page (even my trusty Staedler triplus fineliners.) I cut down a piece of chipboard to the size of the book and am keeping it in the book to carry around with me. That way, I can use whatever coloring medium I choose with it. I'm inclined towards ultra-fine markers and coloring pencils because of the small details.

With the coronavirus raging, delivery service all over the country is incredibly slow. With that being said, this is not the sellers fault, she got this book out right away, and it was packaged nicely when I received it today. It is small, however I knew that from the reviews. I like the size, I am new to adult coloring books and I think this is perfect to practice my layering and blending techniques! I am not really into mandalas and there a quite a few in this book, however the insect, animal and scenery drawing are lovely!!

As I've entered into the world of adult coloring, I have really come to appreciate these "portable color me" books. This is the second one I've purchased. I appreciate that these are small. They don't take much time to color and yet look nice when they're done. I don't feel like I'm tackling a huge masterpiece. Instead, it's easy to manage. I know that they're supposed to be portable, and they physically are. However, for me, they go a step further and are mentally portable. I am able to get calm as I "color" and just "be". And that, is a blessing. That is fun!

I accidentally purchased the portable version of this book when placing my order. Initially, I was surprised the book was so small because I was expecting something a little bigger and was prepared to return it to get the version I wanted. I decided to keep it and I now I can’t wait to order more. I’ve never owned a portable coloring book, but now I know why people love them. Pros I can finish a page quickly. Sometimes I get tired coloring in my other full size books, it can take weeks to finish one page. The whole book can fit in my purse so I can easily bring it with me wherever I go. The paper is thick enough to prevent bleed through. I love gel pens with this book. The drawings are easy to color and I can color without my glasses. This is my first coloring book that truly reduces my anxiety and stress. I don’t have the pressure to make the whole book beautiful or stress out about finishing a page.

Honestly, I ordered this size by mistake, but I ended up LOVING it!! I now wish all my books were this size. It is very easy to color in this book. The "soft" spine lets it lay flat while open. The drawings are just my style, and perfect for this size book. I started one as soon as I opened it.

I really like the portable size of this coloring book. Nice, simple designs. But shipping took over two weeks - much too long for Amazon Prime shipping.

First coloring book I've purchased as an adult. I bought one for each member of my team at work (along with a set of pencils) and decided to get myself one, too. I am hooked! I especially like using it when I fly, which I do not enjoy. A great distraction; very relaxing.

Totally love this book. Great size, incredible quality, and wonderful pictures. I have many coloring books and this is far and above the best one. The portability is an added bonus. I plan to buy the other ones in this series. Good value.