A couple days ago I got a package of review books from Chronicle. Upon opening the box, I thought something like, "Oh great. These are not books I'd review." Well, I'm here to prove I was wrong. The box contained a coloring book, a Christmas book, and a tween handbook.

Here is the coloring book:

Squiggles: A Really Giant Drawing and Painting Book by Taro Gomi is the most fun coloring book I have ever seen. I didn't know coloring books could be this cool. I love it so much that I told my son he's not allowed to write in it. I'm serious. All right. He can still use it. I'm photocopying the pages for him to use, because I want to be able to use this book for years to come. There is a section where you design T-shirts. One prompt says, "Draw something that breathes fire". Other T-shirts are prompt-less. There are a bunch of blank floating head pages :) where you can draw in faces. This coloring book is certainly the most unique one I've ever seen. It's great. It's so great, even adult doodlers will enjoy it, I think.

Here is the Christmas book:

I wasn't very fond of a previous Olive title that shall remain nameless, so I didn't have high expectations for this one. However, I am a serious sucker for Christmas. This book was a very pleasant surprise. Olive, a dog, hears everyone singing the song that says, "All of the other reindeer..." and thinks they are saying "Olive, the other reindeer". Clever, huh? He decides he must be a reindeer afterall. Santa allows him to join the sleigh-pulling team. Like Rudolph, Olive is able to save Christmas from disaster.
This book is full of lift-the-flaps, scratch-n-sniffs, and an elaborate pop-up. Lots of fun.

Well, okay, I'm not a big fan of the third book in the box, so it shall also remain nameless. But 2 for 3 is good, right? Thanks Chronicle!