 |
| Our new favorite book by Scottish artist Johanna Basford |
My girls love to color and it is an activity that I like to encourage. Coloring is great for working on hand-eye coordination, detail work and even color theory. And kids gain all this practice while completely enjoying themselves. When I purchased this book on Amazon last week, I knew that it would be a winner. At least, I hoped so.
The Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford is more than a winner: it is captivating. I was totally blown away by the intricate styling of this book. Every detail is sublime and every page opens up more discovery. It is part treasure hunt, part coloring book, part drawing class and altogether beautiful. And I wanted you all to see it for yourselves...
 |
| leafy mazes... |
 |
| botanical wonders, both already blooming and some for you to fill in... |
 |
| This one reads "Complete the floral pattern & add lots of inky details." Admirers are invited many times to join in the fun - create your own botanical wonders! Imitation can be a wonderful tool for education in any subject. |
 |
| ...garlands flow over the pages. |
Johanna Basford is a truly gifted artist. I really enjoyed watching her drawing process on Vimeo (see it
here). She arrives at some of her botanical inspiration from her time at Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran with her gardening grandfather.
 |
| My girl could not wait to get a hold of this book! |
 |
| She loves to fill in the lines, playing with colors as she goes. I just might start on the other page while she works :) |
 |
| One of the many hidden owls peeking out at you! |
I happened upon this video from the publisher, Laurence King. It gives an animated idea of the fun you could have with this book!
This is a beautiful book, whether colored or in black and white. But do not take my word for it: See
The Guardian's review in which they declare it a coloring book worthy of adults. Also, they very nicely offer some
free downloads of sample pages like
this one to have a try!
Or see forty more glowing reviews on Amazon:
The Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford
UK readers can find it on
Amazon UK.
Ooh, this makes me wish my daughter were still young enough to love both coloring and flowers! When she was around five years old, I bought her a Flower Fairies coloring book, and she loved that! I still have one of her colored-in fairies up on a kitchen cupboard (the Violet Fairy!). I loved those days when she and I would sit and color together--it was such a peaceful time! She's thirteen now, and I've had to stretch a bit in order to spend quality time with her!
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't you just love the Crayola erasable colored pencils? They're great!
Glad you like it Kim! I think I am going to buy some more for gifts for the other little girls in our life... and maybe to put away in my girls memories boxes. The book is that beautiful.
DeleteMaybe a nice winter coloring party even for a teenager? If you start coloring, she might just join in! :)
~Julie
My youngest niece would love this. Thanks for showing. I must see if I can source this over here.
ReplyDeleteI just added an Amazon UK link for you above, Angie. Glad you like it!
Delete~Julie
Oh my gosh, I love it! I used to spend hours and hours coloring, and you're right--it's great physical and mental therapy. That would be a great book to have sitting out in the sun room. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteGlad to share! :)
Delete~Julie
What a wonderful book, I wish something like that had been around when my daughter was young, she would have loved it!
ReplyDeleteShe might still like it, Pauline.... maybe for a touch of summer at Christmas time? ;)
Delete~Julie
I was thinking the same thing...great for adults too!! A fab coloring book indeed.
ReplyDeleteOoh..I love this book. Just put it in my calendar to purchase for my Goddaughter for her birthday in November...my 3 boys were never much into coloring. :( As a kid, I would spend hours and hours coloring!!
ReplyDelete