Walk into any store and you’ll see coloring books with familiar TV and movie characters. There are also books with original characters made just for the book. Each has its place.
Licensed character books
Pros:
- Kids instantly recognize and love the characters
- Great motivation for reluctant colorists
- Fun for fans
Cons:
- Kids may feel they have to use the "right" colors
- Less room for inventing stories
- Characters may go out of favor as kids grow
Original character books
Pros:
- No "right" colors, so kids decide everything
- Kids invent names, personalities and stories
- New characters feel like a discovery
Cons:
- Kids don’t know the characters at first
- Need a cover and characters that catch their interest
Why originals can spark more creativity
With a familiar character, kids often copy the colors they’ve seen on screen. With an original character, they make every choice. That can encourage more experimenting with color and more storytelling.
Original characters to try
- Goofy creatures in Trace Then Color: Crusty Goobers
- Friendly monsters in Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Monsters
- Monsters, aliens and robots in Trace Then Color: Cool Stuff
All the characters in these books were created by author and illustrator Kevin Coulston.
The best of both
Many families keep a licensed book for fun and an original book for creativity. Both build skills.
Ask kids to name an original character after coloring. It turns the page into their own creation.
Questions parents ask
Are licensed books bad?
No. They’re great motivators. They just offer less creative freedom.
How do I get my child interested in new characters?
Funny or gross characters usually do the trick. See gross and goofy characters.
Do original books help imagination?
They encourage kids to decide colors and stories, which supports creative thinking.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
