**I won this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest opinion**

I love this book! The mandalas are beautiful and not too intricate. The designs are only on one side of the page, and the pages seem to be of an alright thickness (though I haven't tried coloring with markers to see if it bleeds through). I can see myself coloring in this for many a happy hour. I would recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars. ( )

Coloring books for adults are now very popular, the activity looked upon as a meditative way to relax, foster creativity, and reduce stress. Sales have skyrocketed for these books, as they no doubt also have done for the whole range of colored pencils and markers used to fill in the pictures.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Piersall combines the soothing patterns of mandalas with the relaxing practice of coloring, and I think the book featuring bird mandalas is one of her best yet.

Clearly, as with her other books, Piersall has a knack for tapping into ideas that promote relaxation and a “zone” of mindful/mindlessness. Coloring Bird Mandalas has an array of gorgeous (or soon to be gorgeous, when you are done coloring) bird images, including toucans, flamingos, peacocks, hummingbirds, owls and finches. ( )