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10 Best Coloring Books for Kids Reviewed in 2024

last updated Aug 21, 2019

Color their world or, rather, let them color it. But you need to provide the materials if you don’t want your walls becoming your child’s canvas. Kids love the art of coloring. (Adults do too if the recent spike in Adult Coloring Book sales is anything to judge by!) Give your little one a book of big, beautiful pictures to fill in as they please. These top ten coloring books are sure to be a smash in any home!

In a Hurry? The test winner after 23 hrs of research

icon
My First Big Book
99/100 our score
Creativity
99
Materials
99
Educational Value
99
My First Big Book
Why is it better?

Big pictures

Simple but not boring designs

Drawn with thick lines

Lots of choices to cover any interest

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
My First Big Book
Test Winner: My First Big Book
Amazon Link
Researched Sources
32
Researched Sources
Hours Researching
23
Hours Researching
Products Evaluated
16
Products Evaluated
Last Updated:
By Justina Fuller:

These coloring books are sure to inspire the Pablo Picasso in your young child. From educational benefits to creativity, these books are some of the best on the market. To meet our high standards, we have replaced some of the items on this list with more highly rated and educational coloring books. Now, get coloring!

Sorting Options
Creativity Materials Educational Value By Default
Rank
PictureProduct
Name
Rating
Shops
#1
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
99
Creativity
99 %
Materials
99 %
Educational Value
99 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$6.82
#2
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
98.3
Creativity
99 %
Materials
98 %
Educational Value
98 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$8.05
#3
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
98
Creativity
99 %
Materials
97 %
Educational Value
98 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$7.34
#4
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
96
Creativity
97 %
Materials
95 %
Educational Value
96 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$11.13
#5
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
95
Creativity
96 %
Materials
94 %
Educational Value
95 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$5.39
#6
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94
Creativity
95 %
Materials
93 %
Educational Value
94 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$11.95
#7
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
93
Creativity
94 %
Materials
92 %
Educational Value
93 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$9.99
#8
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
92
Creativity
93 %
Materials
91 %
Educational Value
92 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$6.07
#9
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
91
Creativity
92 %
Materials
90 %
Educational Value
91 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$6.54
#10
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
90.3
Creativity
89 %
Materials
90 %
Educational Value
92 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (24.04.24)
Amazon Link
$4.49

10 Best Coloring Books for Kids Reviewed

1. My First Big Book

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
99
My First Big Book
Amazon Link
Creativity
99
Materials
99
Educational Value
99
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$6.82

Big pictures

Simple but not boring designs

Drawn with thick lines

Lots of choices to cover any interest

Not a jumbo book

Pages do not tear out easy

This book can provide good exercise for fine motor skills. The thick lines make the pictures easy to color which can help build their confidence. The pictures are fun and happy. They will also encourage educational conversation and hours of entertainment. You can also use it to help build on vocabulary. After cracking the spine, the book can be spread easily to color each side of the page. If you are a busy mom or a grandma with lots of visiting children, this would be a good book to keep stashed nearby.

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Creativity

The images are drawn with thick lines and a wide variety of silly, entertaining pictures. This book would be good for 3-5 year old, preschool age, as a gift or for use as daycare color sheets. The pictures are charming and sweet, drawn with a variety of interest in mind. The pictures are also gender neutral so boys or girls would love this book.

Materials

Coloring has many benefits for children, and this book is well-named. It is designed for new artists. There are 200 pages with nice, flat line drawings that are very child-friendly. The book contains quality paper with thick, crisp pages.

Educational Value

This is a good starter coloring book for new artists. Thick-lined drawing makes for easier coloring and being able to “stay inside the lines”. There are lots of nice, big pictures with a great variety of things to color and learn about in the process. It is definitely not boring. This is an excellent book for toddlers and can start a love of arts and crafts. The pictures will also provide a good learning tool for toddlers. They can identify the pictures and just start practicing holding a pencil or crayon. Also, markers can be used since they won’t bleed through the quality paper.

2. Dr. Seuss

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
98.3
Dr. Seuss
Amazon Link
Creativity
99
Materials
98
Educational Value
98
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$8.05

Introduces kids to Dr. Seuss

Sturdy book with thick pages

Happy, fun pictures

Good coffee table book when it’s done

Some of the pictures get lost in the binding

The pictures are printed on both sides of the page

Any parent will love this book because it introduces your child to an iconic author and can encourage them to check out his books which are so good for child development, as well as just being fun. This can be a great gift to share a piece of your childhood with your kids. It will bring back great memories and simply make you both feel good. The book is nice and chunky, well bound, with intricate designs, the kind you can just get lost in. This can be a fun treat to share with the grandkids.

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Creativity

Dr. Seuss has held a cherished place in most everyone’s imagination and this coloring book passes that love to the next generation. The rhythm of words in his books have actually been shown to aid in child development and help with language skills. He gets children excited about reading because he makes it fun.

Materials

This is a beautiful book with two colors of foil on the cover to make it an attractive gift for fans of all ages. There are pictures from over twenty of his books, some of your favorite characters. The illustrations are detailed and playful, guaranteed to keep a child’s attention. Read them the books, then let them use their imagination to color the characters however their creativity grows.

Educational Value

This coloring book introduces Dr. Seuss to your children in a fun and creative way. There are plenty of details to color. The pictures are always happy and you can make them as colorful as you want. There are lots of scenes and patterns to have fun with. This would be perfect for Dr. Seuss Day at school. This book has a large variety of all your favorite Dr. Seuss characters which you can color with crayons or colored pencils. This is a whole new avenue of coloring book, it’s not like the everyday ones. The kids can have fun creating a masterpiece.

3. Here Come the Heroes

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
98
Here Come the Heroes
Amazon Link
Creativity
99
Materials
97
Educational Value
98
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$7.34

Nice, thick book

Perfect for little superhero fans

Contains stickers too

Lots of activities and coloring

Paper bleeds through

This coloring book is a great way to keep your child busy while you enjoy some quiet time. It can be a great filler gift or party favor. The coloring can be fun for parents who are ‘kids at heart’. The book has clean subject matter for young kids. They love stickers and games, and the variety of activities will keep them busy. It is a great deal for the cost.

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Creativity

This is a wonderful coloring book to celebrate every fan’s love of the DC Super Friends comics. This is a jumbo coloring and activity book featuring Batman, Superman, and DC Super Friends. There are over 200 pages and more than 50 stickers.

Materials

There is much more coloring than activity. The book contains coloring, simple games, puzzles, and mazes. This book is wonderful for kids to enjoy old school heroes with good moral standards and helpful. This book is very popular with Batman fans. DC Comic fans from five years old and up will enjoy this book.

Educational Value

This coloring book catches every child’s attention because the characters are recognizable. Every child daydreams about being a superhero. This book is perfect for younger kids and will keep them busy for hours if they are superhero fans. It is not overly complex or too childish for a six-year-old. They love having the images to color and stickers to play with. It is a nice thick book with plenty to do. The images are of good quality.

4. Scholastic Harry Potter

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
96
Scholastic Harry Potter
Amazon Link
Creativity
97
Materials
95
Educational Value
96
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$11.13

96 pages

Realistic, detailed drawings

Popular scenes from the movies

Crests and illustrations from the books

Lots of large, two-page spreads

Pages are double-sided and ink bleeds through

For older children and teens; a little too complicated for young kids to keep inside the lines

It’s been 21 years since Harry Potter first hit the shelves, and the fandom is still going strong. If you have little witches and wizards eager to get their hands on anything Hogwarts-centric, this coloring book is a great, carefully crafted activity to have around.

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Creativity

This intricate coloring book features scenes, props, symbols, settings, and characters from all eight of the Harry Potter movies. Explore Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, venture around the Hogwarts Castle, join Harry and Ron in the flying car, or dare to enter the Forbidden Forest.

Materials

These lifelike drawings bring J.K. Rowling’s enchanting world to life for kids and adults alike. Color the crests of each of the four houses, or help complete the picture of Harry and Voldemort’s final battle. This book is 96 pages total and intended for children 8 years old and up. Due to the small, careful detail, younger children may have trouble staying inside of the lines, but if that doesn’t bother you, this is really fun activity for fans of all ages.

Educational Value

Coloring can be a therapeutic and creative exercise. It helps children to sort colors and develop motor skills while staying inside the lines. For older kids, it’s expressive and gives them something to focus and calm them. This book also will inspire children to learn more and read the book series - helping them with their reading skills. In addition, they will learn new words and ideas that they haven’t seen before unless they have read the series. Leviosa!

5. Paw Patrol 2 Pack

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
95
Paw Patrol 2 Pack
Amazon Link
Creativity
96
Materials
94
Educational Value
95
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$5.39

Two books so one can be shared with fans

Variety of activities

Perforated pages

Perfect for Paw Patrol fans

Nice sized book

Books are extremely similar to each other

Paw Patrol has a good motto, “no job is too big, no pup is too small”. That seems like a great message to encourage a child. These books are wonderful because a young fan can color in one and share the other one with a friend. They are fun to color, but there are so many other things to do as well. The drawings are well done and books would be fun for long car rides or keeping them busy when the weather is bad outside.

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Creativity

This is a 2-pack of coloring books featuring their favorite Paw Patrol members. Paw Patrol is an animated series starting in 2013. It features six rescue dogs led by a tech-savvy boy named Ryder. Paw Patrol is great for teaching kids valuable lessons, but it also inspires creativity and kindness. Children will enjoy conjuring up stories of their favorite Paw Patrol characters. They will also get to color in the best storylines and characters. These fun pictures and storylines could inspire even more creativity in your child, plus the pictures are adorable.

Materials

The books are standard size and 96 pages each. Have fun coloring and doing the activities with Marshall, Chase, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble and Skye and more characters as well. The books have coloring, games, word search, mazes, and coloring activities.

Educational Value

If you get this book for a little Paw Patrol fan, they will know that you know them well. This is a great book for fans. Not only are there pictures of their favorite dogs to color there is a vast variety of activities including games, word search, mazes, and miscellaneous games. The pictures have good detail but they are still easy to color. There are lots of activities to keep kids busy for hours, especially the younger ones. This is a great gift for young Paw Patrol fans and will be a great collectible for them even after it is all colored.

6. Disney Mickey Mouse 400 Pages

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94
Disney Mickey Mouse 400 Pages
Amazon Link
Creativity
95
Materials
93
Educational Value
94
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$11.95

Coloring and activities to do

Easy coloring

Fun stickers

Happy subject matter

The stickers are tiny

Not good paper quality

Parents love Mickey Mouse because he is a good influence on our children. Mickey is a symbol of childhood. He has good fashion sense, he is full of imagination and he is a romantic. This coloring book is the perfect size to fit into a diaper bag or backpack. There are fun activities to keep little ones busy in the dreary winter months. The pictures are detailed enough that older kids will enjoy them too. Even adults might enjoy doing some coloring relaxation. It is a pleasure for Disney fans at any age.

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Creativity

What childhood would be complete without a little Disney? This is 400 pages of coloring and activities to enjoy with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, and all their friends.

Materials

This book is designed for children age 3 and over, and you know it is going to be family-friendly material. It is manufactured by Bendon Publishing International who makes lots of coloring and activity books for children.

Educational Value

You just can’t go wrong when it comes to Mickey Mouse and his friends. They are part of childhood and have touched hearts for generations. This book is full of good, clean family entertainment. Any child over 3 (or even a child at heart) will love the classic pictures and fun activities. There is plenty of variety and nice, big pictures to color of all the Disney favorite characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck. Children can practice their creativity and showing off their artwork will help them build their self-confidence. Kids say even when they have read through it once, they enjoy reading it again and again.

7. Crayola Gigantic Color-by-Number

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
93
Crayola Gigantic Color-by-Number
Amazon Link
Creativity
94
Materials
92
Educational Value
93
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$9.99

Packed with entertainment

Fun to match the colors in the key

Includes 50 stickers

Can help kids practice numbers

Pictures are on both sides of a page

We love that these pictures encourage the family to discuss the pictures and work on them together so they are involved in good quality time.

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Creativity

Any book bearing the name Crayola is just a recipe for fun and this book is no exception. This is a color by number book which includes a fold-out key to follow. The numbers stay consistent throughout the whole book. There are also pictures which are color by letter and number, so this book is very educational for preschool children.

Materials

There are 224 pages of fun recommended for children 5 years old and up. The book works best with a box of 24 Crayola crayons which have the same named colors which are in the book. On top of the colors of the crayons, this book also has a bunch of fun pictures and characters. Your child will learn and color new animals and pictures, making it more fun. Plus, since there are so many pages, your child will never get bored!

Educational Value

This coloring and activity book is a sure winner since it involves Crayola. The color-by-number designs are excellent for practicing number recognition. Of course, if they are feeling extra creative they can always make up their own color system. There are lots of pages so they can have fun finding something new to color every day. There is a wonderful variety of images to choose from. This book is great for young artists who want to have fun coloring while practicing their colors, numbers, shapes and other symbols.

8. Toddler Numbers Colors Shapes

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
92
Toddler Numbers Colors Shapes
Amazon Link
Creativity
93
Materials
91
Educational Value
92
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$6.07

Large pictures

Simple illustrations; easy to stay in the lines

Helps with shapes and numbers

Thick paper

64 different images

Too simple for children older than 3, and some 3-year-olds

If you want a beginner’s coloring book with some academic weight to it, this is a great choice. Kids can have fun coloring creatively while also working on skills that will help them scholastically as they continue to grow and learn.

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Creativity

This fun coloring book is perfect for little tots between the ages of 1 and 3. It focuses on different shapes, numbers, and colors. Follow along with your child as they learn the difference between a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, star, heart, cross, and diamond. Work with them as they count and color their numbers, from zero to 10.

Materials

Each of the 68 pages is a full 8.5 x 11 inches, with large pictures so they have lots of room to work on keeping inside the lines. The paper stock is thick, so feel free to set them up with crayons, pencils, or markers, as the ink won’t bleed through the pages. The numbers and shapes all have cute, friendly little faces that your child will love bringing to life. The simple designs mean toddlers won’t be overwhelmed while they work on their basic shapes, colors, and numbers in a fun, new way.

Educational Value

This book works the fine-motor and sorting skills for toddlers. It has big, simple numbers and shapes printed on the pages, so kids can memorize while they color.

9. Disney Princess Jumbo

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
91
Disney Princess Jumbo
Amazon Link
Creativity
92
Materials
90
Educational Value
91
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$6.54

Includes 40 stickers

Designed with over 300 princess coloring pages

Affordable

Majority of the book is princesses rather than activity pages

Does not include Pocahontas

With over 300 coloring pages and forty stickers, the opportunities for your child to get creative are endless.

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Creativity

The Disney Princess Jumbo coloring will allow your child to experience the magic of Disney from the comfort of their own home. With over 300 coloring pages, your child can let their creativity shine as they color each page. More often than not, parents are disappointed when they purchase coloring books because they find them to be filled more with activity pages

Materials

You won’t have to worry about that with this book, as the majority of the pages are filled with princesses. The book also includes forty stickers. Your little one can get creative and use the stickers on the pages or personalize their favorite belongings. It is lightweight, so your child can carry this coloring book anywhere. It’s great for long road trips, waiting rooms, or even winding down before bed.

Educational Value

As your child grips their coloring utensil they will be improving their fine motor skills. When sharing a coloring page with friends and family, they will be increasing their social skills. Once your child finishes their work of art, they can easily rip the page out and hang it on their wall or the fridge.

10. Fun with Numbers, Letters, Shapes, Colors, and Animals!

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
90.3
Fun with Numbers, Letters, Shapes, Colors, and Animals!
Amazon Link
Creativity
89
Materials
90
Educational Value
92
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$4.49

Has over 100 illustrations to color

Fun and educational

Approved by parents and teachers

Might not be suitable for all ages

Make learning fun again for your toddler with the My First Toddler Coloring Book. This coloring book introduces your child to a variety of detrimental learnings like letters, shapes, numbers, and colors. It is a great introduction to coloring, too!

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Creativity

Your child will learn how to color inside and outside the lines with this fun book. From shapes to letters to numbers to animals, this book allows your child to explore his or her creative side while learnings new things as well. With the animals especially your child will love making up fun stories around them.

Materials

This coloring book is great for a present, but it is also great for teachers and parents. It has over 100 illustrations and things to color, so it will keep your child entertained for a while. Additionally, the book is made of durable paper - thick - so markers will not bleed through the paper. Overall, it is a durable coloring book that withstands even the most creative child.

Educational Value

This coloring book is one of the best ones on the market because of its creative ability to help children learn. This book helps children learn shapes, colors, letters, animals, numbers and more. The thick lines help reinforce ideas with children.

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Creativity

Why coloring? Well, first of all: why not? It’s just plain fun. But there really is more to it than giggles and colors galore. Artistic endeavors help children to express themselves, explore their own unique brand of creativity, gain confidence, and build empathy. The fine arts also help to hone other developmental milestones such as motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Materials

There are plenty of different utensils children can choose from when it comes to coloring. Crayons, markers, and colored pencils are all standards options. Crayons are probably best for the tots, while markers and colored pencils can be fun choices for older, more responsible children. If your child is truly trying to create outside the norm, consider getting them a watercolor set and printing out coloring pages online, or finding a book printed on thicker paper so the colors don’t bleed through.

Educational Value

It’s important that your child doesn’t plateau. In order to keep them growing, you must always be presenting them with new challenges. These coloring books feature pictures, shapes, and scenes in varying sizes and with varying levels of detail. Some have small, intricate lines that need color filled between, and some are much larger spaces to work within. You can help your child choose pictures that are best suited to their skill level. And don’t forget to utilize some of the best activity books for kids and pages included as well! These can range from games that focus on math to crosswords and tests of vocabulary.

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Parents, did you know?

The coloring books on our list cover a wide range of franchises that children adore, such as Disney, Pixar, Harry Potter, and Dr. Seuss. We also have some choices with more basic images that are bound to excite especially young children who are just learning the joys of coloring books and utensils.

Parents, did you know?

Why coloring? Well, first of all: why not? It’s just plain fun. But there really is more to it than giggles and colors galore. Artistic endeavors help children to express themselves, explore their own unique brand of creativity, gain confidence, and build empathy. The fine arts also help to hone other developmental milestones such as motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Parents, did you know?

. If your child is truly trying to create outside the norm, consider getting them a watercolor set and printing out coloring pages online, or finding a book printed on thicker paper so the colors don’t bleed through. For young children, scope out pictures with thicker lines and bigger areas to color. For older children, challenge them with slightly more intricate and detail-oriented pages.

Parents, did you know?

For toddlers, try the Toddler Activity Book, or the Crayola Gigantic Coloring Book. For young children, look at some of the Disney options. Some preteens are still nostalgic for Dr. Seuss, and for those that aren’t, the Harry Potter book is a great selection.

Parents, did you know?

Some of the coloring books come with free PDFs to download or two copies of each picture, but for the ones that don’t have them you can get a piece of thin cardboard (maybe the cover from an old coloring book or the back of an old tablet?) to put behind the picture while you are coloring it.

Other Factors to Consider

Age Range

We know that while you want your little one to be challenged, it’s also important not to hand them material that will consistently frustrate them. You also don’t want to give them anything that will bore them. Older children and preteens especially tend to shy away from material that feels “babyish.” We’ve provided an array of coloring books that we think will appeal to all ages

Brand

There are thousands of options out there when it comes to coloring pages! The key to picking a good coloring book is choosing one with images that will excite your child. They may be happy to color just about anything, but they’ll be ecstatic to color their favorite characters or pictures of animals they love.

Frequently Asked Questions

q: Do you have any special coloring techniques?

a:

If you want to play with a "softer" texture, try coloring with a crayon and then using a pencil eraser to blend it. Blending the colors to make them look softer or even trying to blend them into each other could be a fun experiment.

q: At what age do kids become interested in coloring?

a:

Parents have told us that children at about 18 months start enjoying coloring, as long as they have some close supervision and guidance.

q: How long have there been coloring books around?

a:

The McLoughlin Brothers are credited as the inventors of the coloring book, when, in the 1880s, they produced The Little Folks’ Painting Book, in collaboration with Kate Greenaway.

q: Do coloring books stifle a child’s creativity?

a:

Well, we are definitely not experts but the guess would be no. Coloring can open up new parts of the world that maybe your child hasn’t thought about and they can experiment with different color blends and ways to texture. A good suggestion might be to get a coloring book which has blank back pages so they can draw their own pictures as well.

q: an teaching my child to color help with handwriting skills?

a:

Teaching children to color inside the lines can help them with the dexterity necessary to print and write neatly when it comes time for that. It helps them practice control of their utensil, as well as a stronger sense of hand-eye coordination. It also boosts confidence, which is one of the most important factors when it comes to conquering any skill at all! Coloring also builds motor skills and focus. It teaches patience, can be a calming activity, and also helps to stimulate creativity and get different areas of the brain firing.

Sources

  1. Marc Schenker , The Surprising History of Emojis, Informative Article
  2. Jennifer Forsberg Meyer, Why Horses Are Great for Kids, Online Article
  3. Bex Frankeberger , Why Reading Dr. Seuss Is So Good For Your Child’s Development, Informative Article
  4. Education.com , What Dinosaur Discovery Can Teach Your Child, Online Magazine Article
  5. House Staff, Every Pixar Movie, Ranked from Worst to Best, Online Article