Do You Doodle? The Drawing Alternative to Coloring Books

Ranked #4,829 in Arts & Design, #76,235 overall

An Alternative to Coloring Inside the Lines

All kids have coloring books, but not all kids are content to just color inside the lines. Nor should they be. Do You Doodle? is an amazing book in which each page is somewhere between a blank page and a coloring book page. The reader is prompted to complete the picture, requiring them to use their own imagination finish the picture with their own drawings. They can use colors, or just a pencil to "doodle".

I spotted this book in a store and the cover peaked my interest. I opened the book, and on the first page I gazed upon, I knew I would be taking it home with me. I had a little boy in mind who isn't really into coloring books much right now. I knew that this book would peak this six year old's interest in a way that ordinary coloring and activity books don't. It would let him guide the page.

I was right. I brought it along to a restaurant where he often gets a bit impatient before the meal comes. He was immediately engrossed in it. He was explaining what he was drawing and why. He was smiling and laughing when he flipped through the pages - he already knew what he would draw there.

Do You Doodle? is an extraordinarily creative book that presents partial drawings with a prompt that encourages the reader to complete the picture. It is not a dot-to-dot type of picture, or one that is seeking a specific outcome. The drawings are open ended so that it is the readers choice how the image turns out. Doodling as a child can be all it takes to spark a lifelong love of art.

Do You Doodle?

A Drawing Book

Kids drawings help them express emotion, as well as allow them to exercise their imagination and exercising the imagination is exactly what Do You Doodle? encourages. This book makes them think about what they are doing rather than blindly coloring whatever is there. They have to make choices. And, after all, drawing is a learned skill which takes practice.

Do You Doodle?

Amazon Price: $3.86 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $0.01

For great buys, check Amazon's used section for unused copies.

Check out more sample pages from this book.

Introducing Nikalas Catlow

Author of Do You Doodle?

introducing Nikalas Catlow
by nikalascatlow | video info

5 ratings | 2,479 views
curated content from YouTube

Nikalas Catlow's official site

don't miss it!

Nikalas Catlow Illustrator
Nikalas Catlow's official site
Do You Doodle (available from Amazon.com)

Two Pages from Do You Doodle? 

More Doodle Books by Nikalas Catlow

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A Few of My Favorite Pages

These are just a few of the over 200 images that I thought were just great. You can get an idea of the type of prompts included in this book, and how they encourage reasoning, imagination, and creativity.

Help Me Escape

Showing a man standing in a box. - This picture encourages them to not only draw something, but to reason what would work. How could he escape the box? A door? a rope? a ladder? a barrel of monkeys?0 points

What can you feel?

Showing a hand reaching into a box. - They will have to figure out how to draw something that has a specific texture. A good opportunity to discuss what kind of things your hands can feel - soft, rough, hot, cold.0 points

Fill the pot to make a spell

Showing a cauldron on the fire. - Time to think up some weird or gross things!0 points

What's being made?

Showing factory conveyor belts.0 points

I can see it!

Showing a sailor in the crows nest with a monocular.0 points

Give me a tattoo

Showing an arm.0 points

We're surrounded!

Showing four frightened children in the center of a wide space. - A great opportunity to discuss what kind of things are scary.0 points

Put the fire out

Showing four firemen around a fire. - It would be interesting how they decide to show the movement of the water.0 points

Show the reflection in the lake.

Showing a house, tree and car, in front of water. The squiggly reflection of the tree is already drawn. - This is a tricky one for little kids, but they'll give it a go. Flipping over the image takes a bit of reasoning. This is a good opportunity to encourage them to really observe nature.0 points

10

Treasure Map

Showing a blank open scroll labeled.0 points

11

What's for sale?

Showing a storefront window display with a boy walking through the door.0 points

Childhood Doodlers Turn Into Grown Up Artists

doodle21 by *_filippo_*
flikr0585 by flikr
D stands for Doodle by KaiChanVong
Thanksgiving doodle by Original Bliss
Frazzled by karindalziel
090306_zendoodle_xxinternalchaos_env2b by miahalf0
doodle6 by *_filippo_*
curated content from Flickr

Do You Doodle?

Do You Doodle?

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Yep, all the time.

LensbyLisa says:

Yes, especially when I am on the phone!

Pastiche says:

Oh my yes, I doodle and draw every day!

rostudios says:

Love to I'm addicted

HarmonyArtMom says:

I doodle with my favorite pens all the time. Great lens.

theraggededge says:

I should say so! We have to give it special labels now - like Zentangle!

Nope, never.

deldobuss says:

I need to start! I never though I could draw but doodling is right up my ally!

 
view all 9 comments

More Books for Doodling

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Children and Drawing

On Coloring Inside the Lines
My son just turned 4 and started preschool. I notice that all or most the other children are holding their pencils properly and coloring well within the lines. My son still grips his pencil and scribbles all over the place...
How to Teach Children to Draw
I explain that drawing ability comes from practice. I call it "practice" so it isn't as intimidating as final products. This essay explains some practice processes that lead to better drawing skills. Sometimes children want to develop their practice into more elaborate finished work...
Drawing Development in Children
Timeline of drawing development in children from ages 2 through 16.

Guestbook

  • LensbyLisa Sep 13, 2011 @ 10:19 pm | delete
    Blessed on my "I love that word" squidangel quest. The word I chose was drawing. I am always looking for ideas to get my kids involved in drawing, and this book looks great! Thanks for sharing your review!
  • ShamanicShift Jan 26, 2011 @ 9:20 pm | delete
    Doodling is self-expanding fun -- blessed by a SquidAngel!
  • theraggededge Jul 8, 2010 @ 5:11 pm | delete
    My kid has this book. He used to spend ages in it. It's a great way to get their imaginations firing. Squid angel blessed :-)
  • d-artist Apr 18, 2010 @ 3:23 pm | delete
    what a fun lens! 5* I love doodling and have most of mine saved for years, some have turned into paintings...will have to look into the book.
  • tagsforkids Apr 18, 2010 @ 8:22 am | delete
    Great book. I wish I would have had that as a kid, perhaps my artistic skills would be much better today! But hey, not to late to get the grandkids started. Thanks!
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