Disney Mystery Coloring Book - Family Portraits: Full Review

Why this book is a winner

Honestly, there's a lot to love about this book. First, every coloring page has its own built-in color chart right next to it. No need to flip back to a reference table at the beginning of the book, everything is right there. It's a real comfort, especially when you're coloring in the evening watching a show and don't want to bother flipping pages.

Another thing I really appreciate: the white zones are solid. That means you don't need to buy a white marker like a Posca to fill in those areas. They stay naturally white, which is a huge plus when you know some books force you to buy extra supplies just for the white sections.

The illustrations are simply gorgeous. Alexandre Karam did a wonderful job, the Disney family portraits are beautifully designed and the color palette is really well chosen. Just keep in mind you'll need quite a few shades of the same color - you're going to need them!

And the cherry on top: there are double-page colorings. Jasmine and Aladdin, Ariel and her sisters... these large compositions look spectacular once finished. And since the printing is single-sided, you can even use alcohol markers on the single pages without risking bleed-through onto another coloring on the back. For double pages though, I'd recommend colored pencils just to be safe.

My favorite pages

While flipping through the book and solutions, I've already spotted the colorings I want to tackle first. The double-page spread of Jasmine and Aladdin at the end of the book has been calling my name since I opened it. Ariel and her sisters as a double page too - it's going to look amazing with those underwater colors.

For single pages, I love page 5 with Plumette, Lumiere, and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. And of course, Anna, Elsa, and Olaf together is a classic that's bound to look stunning.

And then there's Moana and her little sister on pages 1 and 2, and Bambi on pages 23-24. Honestly, it's hard to pick which one to start with!

A fun little bonus

Hachette added challenges at the beginning of the book! Things like "Complete 5 colorings featuring an animal", "Finish 5 double pages"... It's a small detail that doesn't seem like much, but it gives you extra motivation to keep going through the book. It adds a playful twist that I haven't seen in other books before.

Difficulty: accessible to everyone

Even though the book is well detailed, the zones are fairly simple and clearly defined. Beginners will be happy not to feel overwhelmed, and experienced colorists will enjoy it too because the final result is truly beautiful. It's the kind of book that works for everyone.

One small thing to note: the very tiny zones are already colored in because the color code couldn't fit inside them. This is completely normal in well-detailed mystery coloring books and doesn't affect the coloring experience at all.

The only small downside

I noticed a slight printing issue on pages 18 and 19: the ink is a bit lighter on the sides of the page. It's not dramatic at all, you can still see the zone boundaries and color codes, it's just a little paler than the rest. It's clearly a one-time printing flaw, not a design problem with the book itself.

Other than that, honestly, there's not much negative to say about this book. It's really well made.

My verdict

Disney Mystery Coloring - Family Portraits is an excellent book for anyone who loves the Disney universe. The illustrations are superb, the built-in color chart is a real convenience, the double pages promise spectacular results, and the accessible difficulty makes it perfect for both beginners and experienced colorists. Even though I haven't started it yet, I'm already convinced it will be one of my favorites. I recommend it without hesitation!