My children love the Anti-coloring books from Susan Striker. These books are coloring books, but with a twist. Each page has a border, or part of a picture, and the creative prompt. The books are designed to stimulate children’s (or adults) creativity and to encourage problem solving and critical thinking.
So instead of a picture of a robot to color, the page provides a border and asks the young artist to design a robot that can manage one of their dreaded chores. Other pages have things like an outline of a present, you are asked to draw in a perfect birthday present.
Designing, inventing, coming up with solutions, and incorporating ideas to create something new are all higher level thinking skills. These books are exercise for the brain and for imagination. And what’s great is that it is fun. Kids are encouraged to be silly, inspiring, or creative. My kids and I think that designing a new playground is more fun than coloring in a picture of one. And coming up with an idea for an imaginary sea creature is more fun than filling in a picture of Nemo. Another page looks like a front page of a newspaper with headline like “Martians Land”. Some of the books are for general interest, and some are themes like Mysteries. One page in the circus themed book encourages children to design a banner announcing the arrival of the circus.
I love to give these books as gifts, and they make great travel toys. Kids who enjoy coloring like these books. And even kids who don’t like coloring, love to play with the anti-coloring books. Children love to page through and find something that tickles their imagination.
There’s even a book for grownups with pages to draw ideals jobs, worst dates, wishes and regrets.
Free Coloring Pages and Sheets