Customer Reviews

Color Your Own Book of Kells (Dover Art Coloring Book)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most of this coloring book is as wonderful as I expected it to be. I like the selections from the Book of Kells that were chosen to be included, and there's a good variety. The subject matter can't be beat, but I have two small complaints. One, some of the smaller knotwork details are indistinct, even missing. I realize they may be missing in the original, but for a coloring book I really feel they should have been extrapolated for completeness' sake. Second, the Latin script pages aren't translated, and the old calligraphy is hard enough to read that I can't translate them myself.

Aside from these picky details, though, this is a gorgeous, fun coloring book, perfectly appropriate for the collector, either of coloring books or Celtophilia:)

I just received this and am rather disappointed. The lines are so tiny indistinct and spaces so tiny that it will not really function as a coloring book. I will probably buy fine-tipped colored pens for this, because I don't think anything else will work (and those may bleed... still not sure how to use this). I also got Sibbett's Celtic Design Coloring Book, which is much bolder and well-defined. It was what I had in mind when I ordered this one. I recommend that over this one.

I had hoped to see some of the intricate detail of the illustrations in the Book of Kells that I could study by coloring. Instead, the elaborate drawings are reduced in size to fit the book pages, and the fine details of interlocking lines and artwork are lost.

If you love the Book of Kells this is a great way to get a better understanding of it. I gave the book to my 15 yr old granddaughter who wasn't much interested but her 20 yr old sister loved it. I want one for myself.

I got this book as part of a 4-for-3 offer, and I found it a poor second to Ed Sibbert Jr's "Celtic Design Coloring Book," which is also published by Dover. Marty Noble also did Dover's excellent "Medieval Tapestries Coloring Book," which I would give 5 stars. I think he had a very difficult task with the Book of Kells book; the 28 illustrations include many full-size pages, and none of these are printed as a two-page spread, which would have enabled Noble to give clearer definition to the border designs. In contrast, Sibbett's book provides 37 illustrations from the Book of Kells and depicts them more clearly as one is on a two-page spread and the others are details (even if some are large details). Seven of the 28 illustrations in the Kells book are substantially the same as in the Sibbett book, and the two books also share another 3 illustrations in common, although the Kells book presents more of the page's framing details and borders than the earlier Celtic book. The illustration of St. Matthew is double-page in Sibbett and only a single page in Noble (and the pupil is missing from St. Matthew's left eye), and most clearly illustrates the difference between the two books. I am interested in these designs for embroidery and for my purposes, Sibbett is preferable. Those who want to see the effect of a whole page may find Noble's version is better. I feel Noble's version suffers from his assignment of presenting larger designs in a smaller space than Sibbett.

The product was received within the amount of time promised and in the condition stated.

Overall the entire transaction was as advertized. As a coloring book, the Book of Kells, offers an unusual subject and a lot of fun. I recommend it to anyone interested in Celtic art.

I gave this as a gift to my granddaughter, who was thrilled but then said it didn't have her favorite illumination. Not easy to color, but challenging and accurate. I would have given it five stars if the paper could tolerate watercolor or pen. Colored pencil only.