Finding great coloring books for kids in middle school is a bit of a challenge. On the one hand, they’re a little too old for the kiddie books out there. On the other hand, they may be too young to really get into some of the adult coloring books with complex designs and mature themes. The key is to find a balance between the two! I think these 10 below do a pretty good job!
Read on for my top 10 picks for the best coloring books for middle graders!
Coloring Books for Kids in Middle School
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1. Harry Potter Coloring Books
There are quite a few Harry Potter coloring books put out by Scholastic, each with different characters and themes. My favorite right now is the Harry Potter Magical Places & Characters coloring book. It has 96 pages featuring places from the Great Wall Hogwarts to the Dursley’s living room, as well as just about all your tween’s favorite characters.
Check out a few more of my favorite Harry Potter coloring books!
2. Percy Jackson Coloring Book
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is on of my most recommended books for middle graders to read, so it makes sense that a Percy Jackson coloring book would make this list! It includes 96 pages of hilarious portraits & dramatic scenes.
3. Minecraft Coloring Books
If your tween is into the world’s most popular blocky building game, then grab this unofficial Minecraft coloring book! It features 62 pages of everything you find in a Minecraft world, from creepers and other ghastly creatures to jungles and deserts! If your middle grader loves this book, check out a few other fabulous Minecraft activity books!
4. Eragon Coloring Book
Another coloring book based on stories on my Top 10 list, the Official Eragon Coloring Book comes with 96 pages inspired by Christopher Paolini’s land of Alagaësia. It also includes a special note from the author, along with one of his own pieces of artwork to color.
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender Coloring Book
I’ll admit that I really don’t know a lot about Avatar: The Last Airbender because my son didn’t really get into this series. I do know that it was incredibly popular with a lot of his classmates, though. The Avatar: The Last Airbender coloring book is put out by Nickelodeon and includes 45 black-and-white images by artist Jed Henry.
6. Copycat Coloring
For tweens who feel overwhelmed by a colorless image, the Copycat Coloring book series is a great way to get their creative juices flowing. Each image has two pages: one that’s already done, and one blank coloring page. Tweens can either try to copy the one that’s done, come up with their own design, or do a little of both using the completed image as inspiration. They’re made by Barrons, a leader in educational activity books for kids.
7. Chronicles of Narnia Coloring Book
The Chronicles of Narnia Coloring Book features 96 stunning pages of quotes and art from all seven books in C. S. Lewis’s classic series. It also has some pretty cool detailed maps that your tweens can color and hang on their walls.
8. Little House on the Prairie Coloring Book
Okay, I’m buying the Little House coloring book for myself! I’ve been such a fan of the show since I was in middle school. I used to come home every day and watch it on PBS. I SO wish that one of the major streaming services would pick up the series so I can watch it again. This coloring book is a fun way to introduce your kids to the classic books and TV series.
9. Emoji Coloring Books
I will never understand the fascination with emojis, but even I can’t deny that tweens are crazy about them. My son has a huge collection of emoji pillows and key chains. Poop is his favorite, because of course. While there are a bunch of different Emoji coloring books, I prefer this one because it’s not specifically for girls or boys. It includes 50 pictures to color plus access to a digital version so you can print out the pages again and again. The digital edition is mobile app friendly, allowing you to important the pictures into your favorite coloring app.
10. Inspirational Coloring Books for Tweens
There are quite a few inspirational coloring books for girls, including my favorite: I am Confident, Brave, & Beautiful. It’s filled with uplifting messages that all girls need to hear. I’m really kind of sad that they don’t make any for boys. I searched, and even when I put in “inspirational coloring books for boys,” the majority of the results were specifically for girls. They even have a Proud to be a Girl coloring book, but no Proud to be a Boy. The closest thing inspirational coloring book I could find that’s more or less gender-neutral was a Quotes and Sayings coloring book from Ooly.
These are just some of my favorite coloring books for kids in middle school! Coloring is such a great way for tweens and teens to unwind after a long day at school! It’s almost as (if not more) relaxing than meditating, something that my son just can’t seem to do. I think he gets it from me because my mind never quiets down enough to find my zen, either.
Do you recommend any other coloring books for tweens and teens? Tell me your favorites!