When I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing A Brighter Year’s mini coloring books, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. On the surface, the coloring pages looked super simple and like something I would be bored with. However, I’m glad I agreed to check these cute coloring books out. Not only is their small size super-portable, but it makes for a very addictive activity – perfect for taking along on summer road trip adventures.
Disclaimer:I received this product for review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
What Makes A Brighter Year’s Gel Pins & Mini Coloring Books Special
The brilliance behind A Brighter Year’s product is also what made me hesitate. Their mini coloring books have very simple outline designs. Each of the books fits in the palm of your hand. In addition to mini coloring books, they have coloring calendars, a spiral-bound travel coloring book, and even subscriptions. The images are 3″x3″.
I thought I would feel “meh,” because when I color, I like to use colored pencils and work on highly detailed images. However, these were quite addictive. Each one took just a little bit to finish, making it far more ideal for days when I want to be creative but don’t have enough time or energy to commit to something more elaborate.
They also, as it turned out, are perfect for kids who want to do something with mom real quick – like test out the fun little coloring books & sparkly gel pens. I got a huge kick out of how pretty something so simple could look, just check out how pretty the books and bee I colored look!
How We Use Them
I grabbed the bundle kit and the pins and found myself soon flocked by curious children. In the bundle package, there were 5 mini coloring books in the bestsellers bundle ($36.00): Tiny Eats & Treats, Little Moments, Birds Bugs & Botany, Pocket Pets, and Science & Space. I’d also chosen the glitter gel pens ($19.50). At first, we sat together and colored – great in its own right – and had a great time together.
Then, I pulled them out during our read-aloud time. I have ADHD and I listen much better when I draw or doodle or have something to fidget with, and over the past year, we’ve discovered the kids are the same way. These are great to pull out for times like that or long meetings. Bonus points: the 10-year-old who gets bad hand fatigue loved using these while listening to our chapter for the day.
While getting ready to write this post, I saw the image below, and thought that this is also a great idea. Have a group of friends over, talk, enjoy mocktails together and coffee, and color in the images. (They’d probably make for a fun Girl Scouts meeting too, with the older girls who want to visit – and then they could use their art as part of their Collage Artist badge.)
Pros
- Easy to start and finish in one session
- Good for hands and wrists that tire easily
- Great for short attention spans
- Handy to have on hand for long phone calls & read-alouds
- Lots of variety in the pages to color
- The pen colors are vivid and really pretty
Cons
- They’re a bit pricy, so out of my budget for Girl Scouts, in my budget for mom-treat that I hide where the 5-year=old can’t find it. You know what I’m talking about.
- The pens go through ink pretty fast. Don’t get me wrong, I do still have a lot of ink in them, but I’ll save them for a treat.
- Some of the images are meh. Most of them I liked.
Who Should Buy These
If you enjoy coloring – or even if you’re not big into coloring, but you like having something to do with your hands on long phone calls or in long meetings, these are a great choice. They also make fun stocking-stuffers (I know, it’s May, but if you’re reading this in November, keep that in mind). If you’re looking for a thank-you gift or birthday gift for a friend who has everything, these are a lot of fun.
If you’re a caregiver who is running on fumes – these are great. 5-10 minutes, that’s all it takes to color one of the pictures in – and I feel so much more chill afterward.
Final Verdict
A Brighter Year’s mini coloring books are a fun option. I have mine stashed at the moment, and will bring them out once in a while for read-alouds – and just for myself. It’s so easy to color 2, 5, 20 at a time. They’re the Pringles chips of coloring books. Once you start, you won’t want to stop.
Looking for portable creativity that works for the whole family? Check out A Brighter Year’s mini coloring books on Amazon!
