View source for The Little Book of Colouring: Animal Kingdom by Amber Anderson

{{infobox1
|title=The Little Book of Colouring: Animal Kingdom
|sort=Little Book of Colouring: Animal Kingdom
|author=Amber Anderson
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Crafts
|summary=An adult colouring book which links a relaxing hobby with mindfulness.  The designs are not as complex as some we have seen but they're enjoyable to complete.
|rating=3.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=No
|pages=96
|publisher=Quercus
|date=August 2015
|isbn=978-1784296452
|cover=1784296457
|aznuk=1784296457
|aznus=1784296457
}}

After years of doing craft work which must be ''useful'', I've discovered the relaxing benefits of colouring.  I'm doing it to please me: it doesn't need to be perfect or functional.  No one but me is going to judge the finished article.  All it needs is to be done, slowly, peacefully and at my own pace.  The choice of colours is mine and mine alone.  If I want to drop the finished page into the paper recycling then that's my prerogative.  It's sheer indulgence on paper, lasts longer than a bottle of wine and does me more good.  What's not to love about colouring?

I do prefer the smaller colouring books: they're more portable.  You don't need quite so much table space and a page is finished more quickly.  That might sound rather odd but the one problem which I've found with the larger books is that a certain pressure develops to ''complete'' the page, which rather negates the purpose of what you're doing!  (It also says something about me...)  The Little Book of Colouring series from Quercus ticks a lot of boxes.

There are (currently) four books in the series and I've started on ''Animal Kingdom'' - I'm a sucker for anything on four legs, on or off the page.  The blurb on the back of the book claims that you can colour yourself calm wherever you are.  Each double-page spread has a motto - or ''affirmation'' - on one side and the design to colour on the right-hand side.  There's nothing too wordy - or too worthy - but they're thought provoking.  ''Stand tall even when you have made a mistake, help yourself up and give yourself encouragement to try again'' sits opposite a giraffe.  This also has the added benefit that if you do want to display your finished picture there's nothing on the back which is going to prevent you from doing so.

The publishers say that the books encourage mindfulness and soothe anxiety.  I'm not ''entirely'' certain about promoting mindfulness as I've found that if there's something I need to think about, colouring allows me to let my mind go free.  There's an excellent variety of subjects to colour: owls, fish, butterflies (one of my favourites along with the rabbits), elephants and bees to name but a few.  The pictures are not as complex as some and this suits my skill level and I've found that there's always something to suit my mood.

I've a couple of minor quibbles with the books.  I'd have loved a stiffer back cover for those occasions when you have to rest the book on your knee, but that would probably have increased the price.  Also, the book has to be held open and even then part of the picture is lost in the gutter: if you have stronger hands than me you might be able to break the spine and open the book flat.

As well as ''Animal Kingdom'' we've also seen {{amazonurl|isbn=1784296430|title=In Bloom}}, {{amazonurl|isbn=1784296422|title=Tropical Paradise}} and {{amazonurl|isbn=1784296449|title=Patterns}} which are all of a similar standard.  I'd like to thank the publishers for sending copies to the Bookbag.

For more adult colouring books which link colouring with mindfulness, have a look at [[Colour Me Mindful: Birds by Anastasia Catris]].  For another 'travel size' book try [[The Creative Colouring Book for Grown-Ups]].  If you're looking for more complex designs then [[Field Guide: Creatures Great and Small (Field Guides) by Lucy Engelman]] could tick all the boxes.


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