How to Choose a Coloring Book Gift Someone Will Use

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

A coloring book gift wrapped in kraft paper with colored pencils tied on top

The hard part of giving a coloring book is choosing one they'll open. Get three things right (what they love, how much detail they enjoy, and whether they have pencils at home) and you'll give a book they're eager to start.

1. What are they interested in?

Adult coloring books come in themes far more than difficulty levels, and people reach first for a book about something they already love. Think about what's around them:

A cat on every windowsill: a cat book.
Always in the garden, or on the porch at dusk: gardens, porches, cottages.
Loves a season: autumn, Halloween, winter holidays.
Reads folklore, history, or old stories: books with a story or a setting behind the pages.

If you're not sure, cozy everyday scenes (a chair by a window, a garden gate, a cup of tea) suit a wide range of people.

2. How much detail do they enjoy?

Here's where a gift can easily miss. Flip through the sample pages or "look inside" preview and look at the size of the shapes.

Bold and easy: thick lines and wide spaces. A page takes an evening or less. Good for someone new to coloring, someone who wants to relax without concentrating hard, or someone whose eyesight or hands prefer larger shapes.
Detailed: finer lines, lots of small shapes. A page can take several sittings. Good for someone who already colors and enjoys shading and blending.

If you don't know, bold and easy is the safer choice, since a book that feels like hard work tends to stay closed.

3. Do they already have supplies?

They already color: they probably have pencils they like. The book alone is a complete gift.
They're new to it: add a small set of colored pencils and a sharpener, so they can start the day they open it. A first coloring kit for adults explains what's worth including.
You're not sure: a small pencil set is never wasted; people who color can always use a second set for a bag or a trip.

A few gift pairings

Keep it simple. One book and one or two things that go with it feel more thoughtful than a big basket of supplies.

A book and a pencil set. The complete starter gift. An 80-color set of soft-core colored pencils gives plenty of choice.
A book and a mug with a favorite tea or cocoa. An evening in a box.
A book and a simple frame. For someone likely to hang a finished page. Our adult books are 8.25 x 8.25 inches and printed one-sided, so they can tear out a finished page for a square frame.
A printable set, printed on good paper and tied with ribbon. A last-minute gift that still feels handmade. Printed book or printable pages compares the two.

A coloring book beside a framed, finished coloring page of a sleeping cat and a box of colored pencils

Our books for adults

The Art of Doing Nothing: porches, hammocks, window seats, and an open garden gate. Bold lines and wide spaces, good for someone new to coloring or someone who wants an easy evening.
Cozy Cats, Through the Seasons: cats in gardens, on window seats, and by the fire, one season at a time. Intricate scenes for someone who enjoys detail and loves cats.

Not sure which? Download three free pages from The Art of Doing Nothing and try one yourself first.