Rosie Flo

My art teacher didn't approve of colouring-in books for kids, because she reckoned that working on other people's pictures doesn't teach you to draw for yourself. On the other hand, I think she'd concede when it comes to the Rosie Flo books. Every picture comes with spaces where the head, arms and legs should be, and it's up to you, the colourer, to draw them. This set-up seems especially suited to the sort of child who is never quite sure what to draw, and also has the great benefit that nothing is prescribed. The figures could end up black, white, short, tall, have big noses, long hair, straight hair, curly hair, or no hair at all... whatever the child wants.

Apparently these books are best sellers in the Tate museums, and I can quite see why.