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THE 10 WINNERS OF THE “SECRET GARDEN” BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY ARE:
Joan Mason (Comment #1768)
Barb (Comment #2035)
Kim Kas (Comment #325)
Carmen L (Comment #1113)
JoyK (Comment #38)
Angela(Comment #2)
Anne (Comment #556)
Torri (Comment #1274)
Karen Piveral (Comment #1544)
Kirsten M. (Comment #746)
Winners, please email your full name and shipping address to heather@heathersanders.com to claim your prize.
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I am a doodler. When I’m on the phone, sitting in church, or attending blogging or homeschooling conferences, I doodle in the margins and all over my notes. Some might say my notes, in and of themselves, are one giant doodle (I prefer font-tastic).
Though I doodle, I’m not an artist in the traditional sense; as in, I cannot draw, sketch, or paint, but I am enamoured by those who can–like Johanna Basford, whose hand-drawn, pen-and-ink illustrations in “Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book” are the newest mainstay on my schoolroom table.
While the kids have colored-in a few sections of the book here and there (Meredith used her fine-tipped markers to begin the owl above), ultimately, and I might add, quite selfishly, I’ve claimed this particular book as my own.
Full disclosure: I put my name on it–WITH A SHARPIE. It’s the only child in me coming out.
“Mine, mine, mine!”
I like to think of it as my personal therapy, which is why I thought of all of you. Not because I think any of you need therapy (that’s up to you to decide), but because there is something soothing about coloring; especially in a book so full of intricate designs.
Whether you are a mother, father, guardian, grandparent, person-who-just-happened-to-click-through-and-read-this-post, we all need those moments of calm in our day, right?
Each page of “Secret Garden” begs for a few minutes of your busy day, a handful of freshly sharpened colored pencils, pens with a fine-nib, or felt-tipped markers. I’m rather partial to my Uniball Signo DX (.38mm) pens
And yes, the kids can color too…if you want them to, of course. After all, coloring helps improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills, builds concentration skills, and in the case of my kids, enhances listening ability (they used to color when we did Read Alouds together).
As gorgeous as the flora and fauna inspired illustrations are, this is not just a coloring book–it also has an interactive element to it.
“Inside this book you’ll find a magical black and white wonderland of fantastical flowers and curious plants.
There are pictures to color in, mazes to solve, patterns to complete and lots of space for you to add your own inky drawings.
Peppered throughout the pages you’ll spot half hidden creepy crawlies and curious little creatures. Search between the blossoms to find the bumble bees, butterflies and birds that are hidden within.”
Basford grew up in rural Scotland with grandparents who were avid gardeners and a father who owned a fish farm.
In her book, this self-proclaimed “ink evangelist” illustrated many of the creatures that caught her attention as a child–bumble bees, seed pods, dung beetles, blossoms, thorns, gnarly apple trees, foxgloves, and spider webs (to name a few).
I’m fascinated by the number of hidden surprises I’ve discovered; some are obvious, and others are not so obvious–like the face I caught earlier in this floral motif.
Do you see it?
Other than the therapeutic value, what I like best about Basford’s “Secret Garden” is that I don’t feel the need to finish any page I start in it. I just pick it up, flip through it, and color whatever catches my attention. There is an ebb and flow feel to it.
More pages (including full spreads) of this “Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring” book are available for viewing on the publisher’s website, and the following video offers yet another way to get a peek inside.
Book Information
Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book
Author: Johanna Basford
Age Range: 6 and up
Grade Level: 1st and up
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Laurence King Publishers (March 26, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1780671067
ISBN-13: 978-1780671062
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF TEN (10) COPIES OF “SECRET GARDEN”!
Knowing this book would intrigue kids and adults alike, I wrote to the publisher and requested 3-5 giveaway copies. Within the hour, I received a reply offering 10 copies! Yay! So, before I go any further, special thanks to Laurence King Publishing for their generosity!
Ten (10) winners will win one (1) copy each of “Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book” by Johanna Basford.
HERE’S HOW TO ENTER:
To enter the giveaway, just answer the following question in the Comments section below:
What are your favorite art/coloring supplies for you or your school-aged children?
THE RULES/DETAILS:
» One entry per person, please.
» No entries after 12:00 PM (CST) on Monday, March 3, 2013.
» Winners will be selected at random and announced Monday after 1:00 PM (CST).
THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING! COMMENTS ARE CLOSED – THE WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED AT THE TOP OF THE POST!
Heather Sanders is a leading homeschooling journalist who inspires homeschooling families across the nation. Married to Jeff, Heather lives in the East Texas Piney Woods and homeschools her three children, Emelie, Meredith and Kenny.