I was intrigued with the byline 'A Magical Tale to Colour' when I saw the description of Ivy and the Inky Butterfly by Johanna Basford.
Those of you who love colouring in books of the more complex variety (putting 'adult' before anything seems to change the connotations somewhat!). She has previous published Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest - which are intricate colouring in books.
In Ivy and the Inky Butterfly she combines exquisite pictures to colour in with a magical tale of Ivy who discovers a way into a secret world and embarks on a quest to follow the inky butterfly and return it safely to her grandfather's room of wonderful treasures.
The story has all the elements of magical places and talking creatures that make the adventure perfect for any little (or big) person with a fabulous imagination.
The book is printed on gorgeous, heavy, ivory toned paper which means that you can colour the pages in your preferred medium without worrying about going through the page.
I can see this being a gorgeous summer holiday project for reading and colouring so that it becomes a completely personalised 'self-as-illustrator' story. A great gift along with some really good watercolour pencils - my only trouble would be taking the leap into starting for fear of ruining it! (Thankfully my 8 year old son has no such fears).
Details - Penguin Random House and Virgin Books, October 2017 RRP $28.00 (plus many hours of colouring in!)
love you more than riding on a bumblebee with a magic mouse xxx
