LocalLit book review: More than a coloring book, more than a journal

When my sister and I were growing up, we spent many happy hours coloring in commercial coloring books.

My favorites had Christmas themes. But I also loved one book with illustrations of Liddle Kiddles (I had two copies, one at a time). My godmother had given my sister and me a series (one book at a time) called “Designs to Color,” beautifully abstracted lines that looked like the adult coloring books of today.

Most coloring books are aimed at either adults or children. But Joliet fine artist Terri Ellinger created a coloring book any person of any age can use: “Coloring Book & Journal: Coloring for All Ages.”

Here is its Amazon description: “This book was created as a tribute to my love for coloring as a child. This coloring book are original sketches drawn with a fine line and medium line marker. No touch up was done in photoshop or with any computer assistance. I hope you enjoy the coloring pages, and every other page is a quotation and lines for you to journal your thoughts.”

When Ellinger’s book arrived in the mail, I actually gave it to one of my daughters, who likes to color and is in a period of self-reflection in her life.

This is what makes Ellinger’s book so perfect for really any age group.

The illustrations aren’t complicated like those of adult coloring books. Children can tackle them without feeling frustrated. Adults won’t need a huge time commitment to finish them — or not finish them when time gets away from them — making them feel the weight of one more project they didn’t complete.

The reflection prompt of the adjacent page has lines spaced just right for a child in the early penmanship stages. But it doesn’t look so childish that an adult might feel foolish adding their own thoughts.

And with the prompt in the center of the page, no one feels as if the page must be filled immediately. Reflections can be added, one at a time. Or perhaps the writer can add a goal above the prompt and its fulfillment at the bottom.

Coloring is more than just fun. Coloring actually brings benefits to the one who colors.

“Coloring Book & Journal: Coloring for All Ages” on Amazon.

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