Creative Haven Wildlife Color by Number Coloring Book (Creative Haven Coloring Books)

I really love the pictures and the paper quality in this book. If you are leaving the page in the book but want to use markers even though these are printed single sided, I would recommend putting a couple sheets of paper behind it so it doesn't leak onto the next page. I have also found that placing a manila folder under the page also helps with bleed thru and also adds a bit of stability to the page. The pictures turned out beautifully with colored pencil. I had to knock it down one star due to the fact that the color codes are mostly on the brown spectrum, which is completely understandable because they are of animals after all, but they did not actually list the names of any of the colors so it was sometimes difficult to know if the color was supposed to be on the brown tone or the grey tone. And so many of the colors were so similar that there only very slight color nuances between them. This book is listed as for the more experienced colorists, so expect to have to blend colors to get the right shade of brown in many circumstances. Otherwise, the pictures that I completed with my colored pencils turned out beautifully. Some are definitely going to framed and displayed. Pages are perforated to help remove them too. A definite plus in my book.

The pictures are very detailed. I don't know if everyone can be made happy with these books. People complain because numbers are light but then others complain that the number can be seen through the color. The numbers are very small and hard to see. That is because pictures are very detailed. I used a magnifying glass which worked great. The reason for only the three stars is that they really need to print the name of the colors. When you have five shades of browns for example it's hard to figure out which color to use. A few of Creative Haven books do list the color name so why did they stop? Maybe if more people complain they will change and put then on all the books. It's really crazy the less detailed books have the names and there not really needed. I don't understand.

I have really enjoyed coloring in this book, what I did was number my color pencils to match as closely as possible to the color chart in the book. This has made the color choice so much easier and relaxes me even more. I used this while at Chemo treatment and during my recovery time. Don't have to think much. The colors for all the pictures are similar but it fine with me. Like this alot. The numbers show through but I just don't care as I use this as relaxation therapy.

The art in this book is very detailed so I don't think a young person could color it, I know a teen could but the finished pictures are so beautiful. If you use markers instead of pencils the numbers want show through. I have tried with pencils and even though you can blend those so well the only way you can use them is to take white out and cover all the numbers and that takes so much time I tried it. I think if you take your time with these beautiful pages you will be very happy. Thanks to Tracy McDonald, Customer Care Specialist. for Dover Publications.com for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.

Not recommended unless you have 8 slightly different, barely distinguishable shades of brown colored pencils

Like you, I was frustrated not able to match color pencils with the color chart. Some of the colors are unique. I searched several high quality color pencils online and scanned thru their colors for a match with Wildlife color chart. I finally found the color pencil brand which matches closely on the Wildlife color chart...caran d’ache luminance. I ordered individual pencils that i needed for Wildlife and other color by number by the same author. The brand I found may or may not be the same one he used but at least it matched close enough for me to enjoy coloring his books.

I'm very disappointed in this color by number book for some of the same reasons others are but to me this book isn't detailed enough. A few are quite detailed but most look like pages from a child's coloring book. The more details make for a more realistic look. I've colored several and just can't be satisfied with the way they turn out. The Jaguar turned out okay but still not impressed.

Fun to color by numbers, but you don't have to follow that if you would rather color your own master piece.
Pictures are centered on a medium weigh bright white , single sided paper, with a boarder around each picture.
Pictures are realistic looking not cartoonish or mandala so it's suited more for adults apposed to children.
Marker's, sharpies, and some gel pens bled though paper. I used a few sheets of paper between sheets to alleviate ruining the next page and to help with not leaving indentations on the next sheet.

Definitely need 8 slightly different variations of brown. The pictures are not what I have expected from Creative Haven, very little detail on most of the pictures. I felt like my 5 year old could could color this and stay in the lines

~ One the numbers shine right through the colors unless dark colored pencils used ~ In addition there should be a pencil package to match with each book so the colors match brilliantly ~ I am still using this for down time entertainment however frustrated that I cannot find all the colors to match as close as they need to be ~ mgf