I have given the Gratitude coloring journal as a gift, and I'm equally as smitten with this Tranquility one- maybe even more so! This is a sturdy book (6"x8") with thick covers and a unique binding that allows it to lay open nice and flat. This is excellent for coloring right into the crease of the pages! The paper is of good quality, but I would advise only using colored pencils as I assume marker or watercolor pencils may bleed through. 110 pages are in this book and as I read through it, I get a feeling similar to that of a warm hug. It's a calming, reassuring, loving, steady and faithful message that is loaded with Scripture quotations and beautiful prayers that don't make me feel like they contain a to-do list. The prayers don't feel too fancy, wordy, or holier-than-thou and I feel they keep to the theme of tranquility and centering our life around the Lord, remembering and meditating on His goodness. |
Printed prayer & Scripture followed by blank lines with no specific prompt: 41 pages
Blank space provided with prompt to draw OR write: 4 pages
Blank space(s) with prompt to write a list of some sort: 4 pages
Blank space with a prompt to write lyrics from a worship song: 1 page
Prompt to read Scripture passages (not printed so you'd look them up) and journal about them: 1 page
General experience/feeling journal writing prompt: 1 page
Prompt to illustrate something specific: 2 pages
I really appreciated that the majority of the pages do not give specific prompts, but rather allow the user to reflect on the prayer and Scripture and jot down whatever they feel led to. Often, some of the prompts in journals don't seem to apply or may hit a nerve, and then the user is left with, "What do I do with this page? Skip it?" When the specific prompts are fewer and farther between I feel it allows more customizing. Also, I'm not great at drawing. I love to color, and I doodle occasionally, but I admit I was relieved it wasn't going to ask me to draw too often.
I feel there is a good variation of colored vs. black and white only pages also. There will be plenty of opportunities to color, sketch or doodle for the artistically inclined. Yet, the book looks beautiful as it is now so it will not be lacking if someone who prefers only to write gets a hold of it. There are some pastel pages, some with bright colors. Some whole-page colored photos, and some with splashes of color amidst line drawings. I also appreciate that it isn't all flowery and "girly" pictures. This is not meant to be rude, but a noteworthy personal preference to include a lot of variety in the photos. There are a fair share with nature themes or elements, but there are also clocks, an anchor in tossing waves, words, mirrors, a trophy, and some abstract doodle-type pages as well. I really had a hard time choosing which pages to include photos of. There are so many beautiful pages that I didn't include- they will be little surprises to those who choose to purchase the book.
***In the interest of full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I'm not required to give a positive review, my opinions are genuine!