Just in time for the long weekend, Sue Coccia’s colouring book Colour Yourself to Calmness arrives in the mail! I’m not usually a fan of mandala-style colouring books — it can be really stressful trying to keep track of all those teeny tiny patterns! — but I’m definitely making an exception for this one.

Coccia’s illustrations within the primary outlines on each page aren’t actually patterns, but rather animals and nature images. Take for example this detail from Coccia’s illustration of a lynx. I’m afraid I don’t understand the significance of the deer (stag?), mushroom, and rabbit, but I absolutely love how the image makes me want to learn more about why the artist chose these particular images to go with the lynx. And whether or not I ever learn this, I do enjoy colouring nature images, and I’m excited to take my coloured pencils to these!

The Introduction gives us a glimpse into Coccia’s fascinating process: rather than starting with the outline and filling it in with her nature imagery, Coccia starts in the middle and works outward, developing the story as she goes. For example, the illustration for Frog has Bear in the center, who has “great inner strength [and] ois living abundantly along the love and protection of Turtle.” Dragonfly in Frog’s head represents transformation and enlightenment in Frog’s dreams, and the presence of Whale and Snake in the illustration also have meaning that feed into Frog’s broader association with prosperity, healing, and inner peace.

Each page also has a ladybug embedded in the image. This is Coccia’s signature; ladybugs represent good luck, happiness, and prosperity. See for example this detail from Raven’s page below. I love the powerful symbolism of the ladybug crawling upwards in between nighttime and rain on one side, and the sun beginning to peek out from behind the clouds on the other.

According to the introduction, Coccia’s grandmother was Cherokee, and the artist “uses Native American, Polynesian, and Aboriginal images to show that we’re all connected in some manner.” The pages of this book give us a glimpse into some of the meanings associated with each animal; I imagine folks who are more familiar with the various nuances of these meanings will take even more out of the colouring experience.

A couple more pages I’m excited to colour are below. Mostly because I just really like big cats and hummingbirds!

And if there are any animals you have a particularly soft spot for, here’s the full list of all the images:

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Thank you to Firefly Books for a copy of this colouring book in exchange for an honest review.