Step away from the screen, Toronto. It’s time to go analog and crack open those pencil crayons. Whether you’re looking to de-stress or turn on the right side of your brain, we’ve rounded up the best local, independent shops that are getting in on the very welcomed adult colouring book trend – and to boot: a pub night for putting your new creative find to good use! [Photo courtesy of Room 2046]
Type Books is an adult candyland for the contemporary book lover, and here you’ll find a whole section dedicated to adult colouring books. Hot items include the purse and backpack-sized The Little Book of Coloring for Calm: 100 Mandalas for Relaxation in Minutes (perfect for shading away on the subway or in a coffee shop) and the Vive le Color! series (think: India, Japan, butterflies – all the good stuff). For all you Benedict Cumberbatch fans, keep your eyes peeled for the official Sherlock colouring book, The Mind Palace.
Steps from Rosedale subway station, Tory Wright’s small but mighty retail space carries an ultra-modern collection of stationery, books and curiosities for adults of all ages. On the adult colouring book shelf, you’ll find some top-notch options to get creative and unwind. For less than $10, try the whimsical Carnet De Coloriage or take a journey through the Enchanted Forest or maybe Rio, Amsterdam or London in Fantastic Cities.
While Kid Icarus may be known for carrying some of those most clever greeting cards in the city, this screenprint studio and paper shop carries adult colouring book favourites (The Tattoo Coloring Book is a particularly popular). If nature’s on your mind, spend a few hours shading in some great Canadian scenery with Legendary Landscapes; if you’d rather be on a boat, check out Drawing in the Sea.
Midoco has been a fixture in the arts, crafts and stationery world for Toronto’s east and west hoods since the 80s. Stock up on pencils and crayons and dive into one of the city’s most popular colouring books: All the Libraries Toronto. Now’s your chance to colour the Reference Library like you’ve always thought it should look.