These four faith-themed coloring books for adults include two by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; two target a broader Christian audience.
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"REVERIE: A Coloring Retreat," by Mysha Denson, Cedar Fort, $12.99, 80 pages
This coloring book is filled with whimsical designs with accents familiar to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints such as CTR symbols, beehives and the Sacred Grove. The designs aren’t too detailed that the colors blend together but are difficult enough for adults to enjoy. With more of a doodle-type format, the drawings are ornate and fill the page with more design, not images. The pages also lend well to personal creativity, leaving blank spaces on some of them for the person coloring to add their own details such as a quote or photo. Easy to display, the pages are perforated for removal, and drawings are only on one side of the page.
"JOYFUL INSPIRATIONS COLORING BOOK," by Robin Mead, FaithWords, $15.99, 96 pages
These pages include very simple yet elegant drawings of nature, people and churches. The paper quality is excellent, preventing most bleeding. The pages are double-sided, so the book includes many options but isn't as display-friendly. Interspersed throughout are quotes from scriptures and ecclesiastical leaders of many denominations. Some drawings are more challenging and look like stained-glass windows. Some are simple everyday scenes that inspire relaxation and are not religious at all. The artist includes her recommendations for coloring products in the back of the book, as well as 10 fun and useful coloring tips such as different ways to use color and alternating the thickness of lines and medium of coloring products.
"TEMPLES: Drawing on Symbols," by Jeanette Siufanua, $10, 62 pages
This coloring book has nice-quality pages and vivid drawings with excellent ink quality. The left-hand page has a scripture reference, while the right-hand page has a drawing that coincides with the scripture. Some drawings are specific temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while some are of items common to LDS temples and their grounds such as flowers, stained-glass windows and ornate details. Some pages reference the Creation and other scriptural stories relating to the temple; others focus on Jesus Christ and his importance to temples. There is a reference page at the end to encourage study on the scriptures and topics found throughout. There is also a list of items to look for, such as temple symbols and the inspiration behind each drawing.
"THE BIBLE COLORING BOOK: Inspiring Scenes and Scripture from the Old Testament," by Tammie Trucchi and Claudia Wolf, Adams Media, $14.99, 192 pages
This coloring book includes scenes that alternate every few pages between Bible story depictions and scripture quotes, both from the Old Testament in the Bible. These depicted scenes are simple but charming sketches of different Bible verses. Some details are tiny, but most are simple drawings. The back of each drawing is blank, making it display-ready, although the pages are not perforated so they do not tear out easily. The pages are thin, so markers or gel pen will bleed through and budding artists may need a blotter page behind to keep from ruining subsequent pages.
Tara Creel is a Logan-native-turned-California-girl and mother of four boys. Her email is taracreel@gmail.com, and she blogs at taracreelbooks.wordpress.com.