Cozy Christmas

Cozy Christmas by Coco Wyo (Penguin) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9780241764244

Perfect for screen-free time, here is a colouring book that will interest children aged 4+ years. It comprises 45 hand-drawn illustrations such as Santa vacuuming, Santa on a motorbike, Santa tucked up in bed, elves, reindeer, Christmas trees, and much more. Featuring high-resolution prints on premium quality paper, this book delivers clear, crisp images that perfectly capture the cozy aesthetic.

Alison Lester’s Wonderful World

Alison Lester’s Wonderful World by Alison Lester (Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $19.99   ISBN 9781760293130

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

I’ve managed to stay detached from the adult colouring-in craze, but it turns out I just hadn’t met the right colouring book. This breathtaking collection of black and white pictures by Australian Children’s Laureate, Alison Lester, has me rushing out to buy a set of pencils, pronto. Oh, but isn’t it for children, you say? Sure it is – for children aged 4 to 100! Fans of Alison Lester’s work (ahem, yours truly) will delight in the opportunity to -- dare I say it -- live vicariously, by personally recreating the beautiful spreads we loved in Magic Beach, Kissed by the Moon, Noni the Pony and Imagine.

There are fantastic tips from Alison for budding artists that make this more than just a colouring book. The endpapers are collages of Alison’s works, annotated with suggestions like ‘always leave a little bit of white in eyes to make them sparkle’ or ‘you can colour smoothly or roughly’. There’s also an introductory section, ‘My Drawing Tips’, with some background info on Alison’s love of drawing. She demonstrates the effect of different mediums by illustrating the same bird with a biro, paint brush, wax crayon, charcoal, etc. She encourages readers not to ‘stay inside the lines’, but to add their own drawings in amongst the pages.

Some will open up their favourite Alison Lester book and set it up beside their picture, copying the colours and textures as best they can. Others will completely reinvent the spreads with their own interpretations. Regardless, it is wonderful that she has offered us a chance to do so … and shared some of her artistic secrets too!

Captain Kangaroo's Activity Book

 Captain Kangaroo's Activity Book by Lothian/Hachette Australia, illustrated by Mandy Foot
PB RRP $12.99
ISBN 978 0 7344 1310 9

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Following the success of the in-house picture books, Come Fly with Captain Kangaroo (2011) and Captain Kangaroo and the Great Balloon Race (2012), Lothian/Hachette and Mandy Foot have again combined talents to produce a great companion activity book. While the picture books are aimed at a younger flying audience, many of  the activities in Captain Kangaroo's Activity Book will also interest and entertain the high end of primary age children. Parents will enjoy helping the under-sevens solve the puzzles and answer the questions, and may even find they have to stop and think twice!

Mandy Foot's colourful Aussie animal crew, luggage and hot air balloon illustrations are featured as shiny stickers centre-page, and a set of colouring pencils is attached to the easily-recognised cover with its white plane and Captain Kangaroo in the cockpit. There are various black and white drawings waiting to be coloured in, including a colour-by-numbers drawing to assist the indecisive. A travel diary, a passport to cut out once home and a word search puzzle based on air travel words are just a few examples they kids will enjoy.

Captain Kangaroo's Activity Book is packed with fun and is a happy and educational way to  keep boredom in check while in-flight. With 24 pages to choose from, kids are bound to be absorbed for hours on end.