Care Bears Mystery Coloring Book: Full Review

A Book I Tested Honestly... Even Without Being a Fan

I will be upfront: Care Bears is not really my universe. Too many rainbow colors, too much cheerful pastel, it is a little intense for my eyes.
I bought it in February 2026 mainly to be able to write a proper review here.
Good news though: even without being a fan, I found things to genuinely appreciate. This book is really well made, and if you do love Care Bears, you are going to have a great time with it.

Specifications

Author: Eugénie Varone.
Publisher: Hachette Heroes.
Number of colorings: 50.
Number of pages: 112 (solutions included).
Format: 300 mm x 215 mm.
Difficulty: Easy.
Paper: Premium.
Print layout: Front side only.

What I Used

Given the gloriously wild colors of the Care Bears universe, I reached mostly for my acrylic markers.
They are perfect for vivid, opaque flat fills, and since the book is single-sided, there is no bleed-through risk at all.
For the white zones that are not fully solid, I used my usual go-to options: Posca, Tooli Art, or Molotow depending on what I had nearby.

The Outline Question

In this book, the outlines are not black but are colored to match each illustration. It can look a little unusual at first if you are used to the classic black line look.
But the fix is simple: instead of coloring the outline zones with the suggested color, just fill them in black. Problem solved, and the final result looks very clean.
It is an easy adjustment, not a real constraint.

Per-Page Color Swatch

Just like in the Pokemon book, every coloring page comes with its own color swatch on the facing page. Very convenient for planning your palette before you start.
One thing to keep in mind: if you use alcohol markers, that swatch sits on the front side of the previous coloring page and could be damaged by bleed-through. With acrylic markers or colored pencils, no problem at all.

Color swatch example from the Care Bears Mystery Coloring Book — Color swatch example

Coloring Page Examples

The illustrations are clear and easy to read, with zones large enough to color comfortably. The easy difficulty level is well respected: simple shapes, clearly visible numbers, approachable palettes that do not require a huge collection of tools.

Care Bears Mystery Coloring Book page example 1 — Coloring example - 1

Care Bears Mystery Coloring Book page example 2 — Coloring example - 2

Solution Pages

The solution pages are grouped at the back of the book. They let you see the finished color result the author had in mind, and can serve as inspiration for your own color choices.

Solution page from the Care Bears Mystery Coloring Book (1) — Solution - 1

Solution page from the Care Bears Mystery Coloring Book (2) — Solution - 2

Progress Tracker

At the back of the book, a tracker lets you tick off completed colorings and follow your progress at a glance. Handy across 50 colorings.

My Verdict

I am not a Care Bears fan, and yet I have to admit this book is genuinely well made.
The per-page color swatch, single-sided printing, accessible difficulty level, clearly readable zones: everything is done with care.
The little trick of coloring the outlines black instead of the suggested color really does improve the final look, and I would definitely recommend it.
If you love Care Bears or are looking for an easy, colorful book to relax with or give to a beginner, this one is made for you. As for me, I am going back to my Disney books xD

The visuals (illustrations, excerpts, photos) shown on this page are used for illustration purposes and remain the property of their respective authors/publishers. Trademarks and names belong to their respective owners. Colorings and photos are by Usako unless stated otherwise. Any reproduction, distribution, or commercial reuse is not allowed without the prior consent of the rights holders.