Customer Reviews

Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book

The best book of its type EVER and what do they do? print it on the poorest quality paper EVER!! I totally agree with another reviewer when they said, ink pens, felt tips etc, ALL bleed onto the next side of the page. Should have a large label on existing book the covers saying "for use with coloured pencils ONLY" This book is absolute rubbish unless for the youngest of children who simply want to "scribble" What was the author thinking to allow this to happen to her stunning book? PLEASE, Miss Basford, if this book goes to a second printing, find another printer who will provide the correct paper, there really are hundreds our there!

I'm really glad my fiancee recommended this book to me as a little hobby I could spend my time on. I must admit the thought of buying a colouring book at the age of 28 had not even begun occur to me! But, having seen previews of the pages of this book, I knew immediately that it would be a great investment.

Having now started colouring my first page, I realise just how much fun I'm going to have and how long the book will last me. The designs are so detailed! One can spend half an hour just colouring in one tree on a page where that tree only takes up a very small proportion of the room.

It's so cool that my fiancee asked if she could colour in some of the pages herself. Luckily, the book is so large that I was more than able to let her have as many pages as she wanted.

I'd heartily recommend this to any person into art, drawing, crafts or magical/fantasy themes. This book really is a world you can escape into for a bit during those spare bits of time in a day.

This beutiful book had a gasp from me on every page! It is simply amazing. I bought this book because I love colouring but wanted something more grown up and artistic, this was the book for me! It also has many pages where you can add to the designs, so you get to draw as well, and a cute treasure hunt throughout. I couldn't believe just how many designs there are - even the nameplate and inside of the dust jacket are covered in lovely swirly flowers for you to colour!
The only thing I don't like about this book is the paper quality, although decent I feel as though a book designed for colouring in such detail should really be made with super heavy-duty paper so that pens don't bleed through. My fine tipped felt pens bleed through slightly so I will probably use pencils for designs that have other pictures on the reverse side. DO A PEN TEST ON A PAGE AT THE BACK! - I know I would have been so upset to find I ruined a design by my pens bleeding through!!
Be warned - this is not the book for you if you struggle with your close up vision, the designs are so intricate, so spaces that need colouring are no more than a 0.5mm across!
Thank you to the illustrater for a beautiful book that will provide months and months ( if not years ) of pleasure for me.

This book is let down by he very cheap feeling poor quality paper.... ink bleeds through so coloured pencils are better.

Its not difficult to write a review as I love Johanna's work anyway. I bought 2 copies, one for me to keep and one for my daughters birthday which I know she will love. Its nearly too nice to colour in but the temptation will kick in eventually. If you want a great present for your children, dont buy a generic colouring book, buy this. It will keep them entertained for days. Lovely book.

I was hesitant about buying this book after seeing so many people disappointed with the paper quality. However, the very first page only has publishing info on the other side and so it is perfect for testing pens. Sharpie permanent markers are visible from the other side of the page, but Staedtler and Crayola felt tips don't show through too badly, and of course colouring pencils, pastels and wax crayons would be fine. It is a shame that such a beautiful, beautiful, intricate piece of art was printed on such absorbent paper.

I bought this for a friend in the USA, whose daughter had told her she was too old to buy a colouring book! This book is lovely and suitable for most ages, although with such intricate drawings I think adults will get the most pleasure from it.

I loved this book not only is it a colouring book but it has little animals to look for, a couple of mazes and space to have a go at completing the designs yourself if you wish to. The only down side is that pro markers go through to next page and some other pens as well. I found it best to use pencils.the designs are so detailed and my favourite I photocopied on to card coloured in and framed it. I decided that I needed a second book so I had I coloured in and one not. As I suffer with arthritis I did find it easier for me to photo copy the designs so I could use my pro markers on them.

Gorgeous book - I keep flicking through and looking at the pictures and you see something different every time.

Like everyone else says; the paper is rubbish for colouring. Having read the reviews I was prepared and started using my Faber-Castel artist's colour pencils but the paper is too soft even for those. I love the bright colours you get with pens and the pencils just aren't up to scratch.

I suggest you buy two - one for the bookshelf and one you can split up, scan and print onto heavier stock paper so you colour with pens. Definitely worth buying for the beautiful work (and I wish there were more books like this) but be prepared for a disappointing colouring experience!

Johanna Basford's Secret Garden, Finally arrived! Her art is truly amazing, an amazing book that gives you the opportunity to dream away in art filled with faun and flora! Mrs Basford creativity knows no boundaries, this book is for young and old a true passage into a world of wonders!