Here in THE FUTURE, adults have finally learned that it’s OK to just sit and color for a while. Hooray for the end of coloring stigma!
We love coloring books here at Book Riot, especially now that they’re no longer buzzy fads and we can go back to enjoying them in peace. However, if you’re an image-conscious colorer, you can show the world what kind of sophisticate you really are by choosing a book that’s literature-themed. Grab your brightest pencils and prepare to relax with these fifteen literature-themed adult coloring books.
The only problem with literature-themed adult coloring books is that they’re overwhelmingly written by and about white people. That’s not awesome! For some names in diverse coloring, check out
Coloring Book Addict and
Autostraddle.
Those gorgeous illuminated letters from ancient manuscripts are now yours to color. For the full effect, throw on some Gregorian chants and wear your bathrobe.
There are a lot—and I do mean A LOT—of
Alice in Wonderland coloring books. This is one of the most original and creative.
Bait: Off-Color Stories for You to Color by Chuck Palahniuk, Duncan Fegredo, Lee Bermejo, Joelle Jones, and Alise Gluskova
Good old Chuck has created a series of short stories that you can color. No guarantees on which ones will make you want to pass out.
J.K. Rowling never said that Dumbledore’s robes
weren’t made of dazzling rainbow silk. In fact, she’ll probably come out with that in the next week or so. Lean in.
The beasties of
The Lord Of The Rings are particularly intricate and full of teeth and horns and things. May your pencils be as sharp as Andúril, Flame of the West.
Featuring lots of books and readers, this is a great way to revel in meta-book culture rather than choosing just one classic to dive into.
I imagine that Anne might have been a great colorer. Her super-tense foster mom could probably have benefitted, too.
Would you, could you, color stuff?
Would you, or is it too tough?
Break out those spooky colors! Or, you know, pastels. Something about
The Fall Of The House Of Usher in pink is a little more ridiculous than horrifying.
Featuring Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Angelou, and others, this coloring book will bring your Black female literary heroes to life on the page.
There are a bunch of tiny little book covers in the pictures for this coloring book. I like to individually mock them up as my favorite horror titles. Hey there,
Haunting of Hill House!
Winter is coming! Stock up your coloring books so that you won’t get bored by the fire.
This book was the official winner of the 2017 Librarians’ White Elephant Holiday Giveaway Bash. Readers, people fight over this book. Serious relaxation fun.
As with
Alice in Wonderland, there are a lot of Jane Austen coloring books. I like this one the best because its art is the best, plain and simple. In the sense that the art is intricate and elaborate, of course.
Who wouldn’t want to sit down and color with Granny Weatherwax? Zany colors of magic a must.
Coloring is already a very soothing activity. This tie-in to the work of Debbie Macomber will take that to the next level.
