Coloring books for adults

Topics range from Buddhism to cats to enchanted forests sporting pictures of animals, birds, wooded areas and tree-lined mazes.

By KEREN PREISKEL
Topics range from Buddhism to cats to enchanted forests sporting pictures of animals, birds, wooded areas and tree-lined mazes (photo credit: KEREN PREISKEL)
Topics range from Buddhism to cats to enchanted forests sporting pictures of animals, birds, wooded areas and tree-lined mazes
(photo credit: KEREN PREISKEL)
I love nothing better than going into a bookshop, opening a book and becoming so engrossed that I lose track of what is going on around me.
It is a sad sign of the times that many bookshops are struggling to stay afloat with the likes of Amazon selling an infinite supply of books, often at cheaper prices, and the popularity of e-readers.
While I understand the practical appeal of such items and even own a Kindle myself, for me they will never replace the romance and sheer pleasure that one derives from reading a real book.
Many bookshops find that they having to diversify and stock items not traditionally found in their stores, such as school and office supplies, CDs, games, DVDs and even electronics.
This phenomenon has also hit Israeli bookstores, with chains such as Steimatzky and Tzomet Sefarim stocking a wide range of children’s games, phone chargers and printer ink. This may be immensely helpful for the beleaguered time-starved shopper, but these are not the usual items that one conjures up when contemplating what a bookshop sells.
One of the newest crazes to hit the shelves, both in Israel and abroad, is coloring books for grown-ups. Undeterred by the fact that this pastime has traditionally been associated with children, adults are adopting the trend with great enthusiasm.
Coloring is no longer the domain of only youngsters. In this day and age, when children and adult interests seem to overlap more than ever, there is no reason why adults shouldn’t explore activities generally perceived to be geared to younger minds.
I have to confess that as someone who loves art but regrettably can’t draw to save my life, I have always loved coloring and found it relaxing – even before it became a worldwide trend.
Coloring books for grown-ups tend to address specific themes in order to cater to different interests. With topics ranging from Buddhism to enchanted forests with pictures of animals and birds, wooded areas and tree-lined mazes, to more traditional topics such as the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and cats, there is hopefully a book to suit everyone (and if not, here is a great opportunity for you to publish your own coloring book).
This latest phenomenon seems to have gone global, frequently acclaimed as a form of alternative therapy (albeit a much cheaper one!). Psychologists say that focusing on coloring calms our mind and distracts us from our troubles and worries, while also stimulating our motor skills and creativity. Many of the coloring compilations leverage this perceived value, with titles such as Color Therapy: An Anti-Stress Coloring Book – Creative Coloring for Grown-Ups and The Creative Therapy Coloring Book.
This trend has unquestionably hit Israeli bookshops, as it is practically impossible to enter a book store these days without being bombarded with adult coloring books (with suitable coloring implements), including international classics such as Johanna Basford’s Secret Garden with the cover page appropriately translated into Hebrew. Given that the coloring-in industry sold 3.5 million books in France alone last year, perhaps this latest hit is therapeutic for bookshops and individuals alike.
So if you are in search of a novel way to unwind, grab those markers or crayons – and get coloring!