The Second Creative Kids' Colouring Book

Ellen Pilon is a library assistant in the Patrick Power Library at Saint
Mary’s University in Halifax.

This is the successor to The Creative Kids’ Colouring Book by the same authors and illustrator, published in September 1983. In their Introduction to the second book, Christie and Patterson refer to the “46 drawing, designing and writing activities” contained in the book. Uncreative colouring enthusiasts will find little to occupy them or to justify their mothers’ spending $5.95. The pleasant, relaxing activity of choosing the right colour crayon and carefully colouring inside the lines to make a quick pretty picture is missing here. The authors feel that “traditional colouring books present a fixed, adult view of the world, with little scope for kids’ imaginations.” These books are the next step up for the avid colourer who has advanced to drawing.

The creative kid needs to read the caption, examine the beginnings of the drawing provided by illustrator Vanderlinden, and finish up. Most of the activities require straightforward drawing: a face on a puppet, a new wind-up Christmas toy, things on a beach. Some involve writing: draw a picture of a creature from another planet on his passport and give him a name and planet, make ten words from the letters in Newfoundland, show the secret message in alphabet soup. Others involve design, too: models’ clothes, the sides of a van, a Japanese fan. A few of the drawings seem hard: a girl in riding position needs a bike under her, “design a poster to show us why we shouldn’t smoke.” There is a wide range of subjects: food, fairs, space, clothes, geography, faces, sports, computers, rock music, fantasy, nature, holidays, hobbies. Two seem to call for the experience of an older child: drawing a grave’s headstone and designing an office for a man seated at a desk.

Although the authors suggest ages 5 and up for the book, older children of around 8 who are interested in drawing would probably derive most satisfaction and would certainly have stimulated imaginations and a lot of fun. Five is too young. Some drawing skill would be an asset. Those with no drawing ability would get discouraged quickly by all the space they need to fill. Each drawing should interest both boys and girls. The pages are well glued but will eventually fall out with repeated use. The book, a large 8½” x 11” paperback, won’t stay open flat; the creative kid (unless left-handed) will need to hold down the left side and flatten the right in order to draw. There are other creative drawing techniques that would work just as well and that would be free of Christie and Patterson’s “adult view of the world” criticism; for example, ask a child to illustrate his favourite book. The Second Creative Kids’ Colouring Book, however, would be a lot of fun for young drawers. It is a must for children’s libraries.