Not every book has to have words.
Not every book has to have words.
In fact, so many of us start our exploration into the world of reading on our own through “picture books” — stories conveyed to us by imagery. It is only as we become older that we eventually learn to assign “words” to the pictures we see. But even children’s books still use illustrations and images to capture our interest and imagination.
As children, we are also often provided coloring books — not only for our own entertainment, but to help us begin to express ourselves and our personal freedom through creativity, even if it is just wild scribblings outside of the margins (indicative of our youthful, manic energy). Thankfully, now, adults have been given “permission” from society to rediscover the creative and meditative benefits of the now-popular “adult coloring books.”
Now, imagine combining both the intricate details of an “adult coloring book” with a “picture book” story. This is what Kaua‘i artist and artisan Bon Moore recently created in her unique and beautiful “A Coloring Book.”
Contained within are designs which somehow feel both familiar and unfamiliar, seeming to be a blending of stylistic traditions of many different cultures and yet also maintaining a harmonious (even universal) pattern from their merging.
Some are patterns already set for coloring, while others are instead a unique symbol at the center of a mostly empty void in order to allow your creativity to build around it. This fascinating contrast of layouts is presented in such a way as if each different type were the key to unlocking the next part of the story — one whose meaning is defined by your own artistic explorations.
“A Coloring Book” is meant for anyone, of any age, to enjoy. We congratulate Bon Moore on a wonderful book, one which is already becoming popular in our bookstore.
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Ed Justus is the owner of Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe. Yuriko and Ed Justus are Kalaheo residents. Talk Story Bookstore is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
