A little magic is hiding from A to Z, and now it has its own field guide. The Magical Creature Field Guide is a printable coloring book styled like a vintage naturalist's notebook, the kind an explorer might carry through a misty meadow, sketching every curious thing they find. Instead of birds and beetles, though, its pages are filled with dragons, selkies, jackalopes and twenty-three more legendary creatures waiting for your colors.
This is the very first Autumn's Apothecary field guide, and this post walks you through everything inside: what kinds of pages you'll find, who it's for, how to print it at home, and a few cozy ways to use it.
What is The Magical Creature Field Guide?
Picture an old naturalist's field guide: cream pages, careful specimen sketches, little handwritten notes about where each creature was spotted. Now imagine that every entry is a creature from myth, fairy tale and fantasy. That's the spirit of this book.
Each letter of the alphabet introduces one magical creature, and each creature gets its own small chapter: a Field Notes entry to read and color, two original coloring scenes, and companion pages for writing and drawing your own discoveries. The line art is bold and clean with plenty of open space, so it's easy to color whether you love fine-tipped pencils or chunky markers.
Who it's for
The Field Guide was made for kids, teens and adults alike. Younger colorers tend to love the friendly creatures and big outlined letters. Older kids and grown-ups can take their time with the framed scenes, full of vines, wildflowers, mushrooms, sparkles and a crescent moon tucked into every border. And anyone who enjoys a little storytelling will find plenty to do on the journal and drawing pages.
Because it's a printable, you can print a page for each person at the table, so siblings don't have to take turns with the same book.
What's inside the 162 pages
Field Notes pages
Each letter opens with a cream-colored Field Notes page. There's a big outlined letter and the creature's name to color, a short entry of fanciful folklore, and charming specimen sketches such as a crest, a creature portrait and a curious keepsake: a dragon egg, a phoenix feather, a pot of leprechaun gold, a mermaid's pearl or a yeti footprint.
Here's a taste. From the guide's entry for D: "Dragons are legendary creatures known for their powerful wings, shimmering scales, and fiery breath. They are said to dwell in hidden caves and ancient mountains, guarding mysterious treasures and soaring through enchanted skies."
Two coloring scenes for every creature
Then come two original coloring scenes for each creature, 52 illustrations in all. Every scene sits inside a whimsical frame of vines, wildflowers, mushrooms, sparkles and a crescent moon, so the whole book feels like one cozy, connected world.
My Field Notes journal pages
Every page has a companion. Beside each Field Notes entry is a My Field Notes journal page for recording your own sighting, with prompts for the date, the weather, where you saw it, what it was doing, its colors and markings, and your secret notes.
Framed drawing pages and bonus pages
Beside each coloring scene is a framed blank page for drawing your own discoveries, 52 in all. There's also a bonus "invent your own creature" page, a "This Field Guide Belongs To" page, and a welcome page to start the adventure.
The Magical Creature Field Guide
A printable A to Z fantasy coloring book PDF: 162 pages, 26 legendary creatures, 52 original coloring scenes, plus Field Notes, journal and drawing pages. $9.99, instant download.
Shop the Field GuideMeet all 26 magical creatures
From A to Z, here's who you'll meet inside:
A AlicornB BasiliskC CentaurD DragonE ElfF FairyG GnomeH HippocampusI ImpJ JackalopeK KelpieL LeprechaunM MermaidN NymphO OwlbearP PhoenixQ QilinR RocS SelkieT TrollU UnicornV ValkyrieW Will-o'-the-WispX XiezhiY YetiZ Zephyr Fairy
Some come from very old stories, like the Norse valkyrie, the Scottish kelpie and the qilin of Chinese legend. Others are newer inventions, like the owlbear, which first appeared in tabletop fantasy games, and the alicorn, a modern fantasy name for a winged unicorn. The Field Notes entries are playful, made-up lore written just for the guide, so think of them as storybook fun rather than history.
How to print it
The Field Guide is one PDF file, about 69 MB, with 162 pages. You download it right after checkout and print your favorite pages at home, as many times as you like. No physical item is shipped.
- Page size: pages are 8.5 x 8.5 inch squares at 300 dpi.
- US Letter paper: print at "Actual size".
- A4 paper: choose "Fit to page". It prints at about 97%.
- Paper: for best results, print single-sided on heavier paper or cardstock, especially if you're using markers.
- Pick and choose: print just the pages you want, as often as you like.
Printing tip: Before printing a big stack, print one page first and check the size setting. Because the pages are square, a little white margin on a rectangular sheet is expected.
Cozy ways to use your Field Guide
Quiet evenings
Print a page or two, make a cup of tea, and settle in with your pencils. Coloring one creature at a time makes a gentle, screen-free way to wind down at the end of the day. If you like little rhythms like this, our Sunday reset ritual pairs nicely with a quiet coloring hour.
A family coloring night
Choose a letter, print a page for everyone, and color side by side. Read the creature's Field Notes entry out loud first, then let each person decide what colors their creature should be. There are no wrong answers: a purple dragon or a striped yeti is entirely welcome. Something warm from the oven, like a loaf of pumpkin bread, makes it feel like an occasion.
Homeschool or your own classroom
The alphabet structure makes the guide a natural fit for letter-of-the-week activities, storytelling and creative writing. Older students might use the My Field Notes pages to practice descriptive writing, then research where a creature's real-world stories come from. The license covers your own classroom, so you can print copies for your students. Please don't share the file with other teachers, schools or online groups.
The journal and drawing pages
This is where the guide becomes your own. Use the My Field Notes pages to "record a sighting": where you spotted a gnome in the garden, what the weather was like, what the creature was up to. Use the framed drawing pages to sketch a creature from a new angle, draw its home, or invent a cousin. And when you're ready, the bonus page invites you to create a brand-new creature, complete with its name, where it lives, what it eats, its magical power and how to spot one.
Field Guide FAQ
Is this a physical book?
No, this is the printable PDF edition. It's an instant digital download, and no physical item is shipped. A paperback edition is coming soon as Book 1 in the Autumn's Apothecary Field Guides series.
How many pages can I print?
As many as you like, as often as you like, for yourself, your family or your own classroom.
Can I share the file?
Please don't share, resell or redistribute the PDF. If a friend would enjoy it, send them the link to the shop page instead.
Will it print correctly on A4 paper?
Yes. Choose "Fit to page" in your print settings and it will print at about 97%. On US Letter paper, print at "Actual size".
What should I color with?
Whatever you love. The bold, clean line art works well with colored pencils, crayons or markers. If you're using markers, print on heavier paper or cardstock, single-sided.
What age is it for?
It was made for kids, teens and adults, so it works well for a whole family coloring together.
Enter the garden
Whether you color a single creature on a quiet evening or work your way from Alicorn to Zephyr Fairy, we hope the Field Guide brings a little everyday magic to your table. For more slow, gentle routines, try our five-minute morning ritual, and browse the Cozy Kitchen and Tea Time collection for something warm to sip while you color.