Every Friday I’m going to do a Top 5 list. Sometimes it will be about things I like and sometimes it will be things I have researched and compiled a list of. Hopefully it will always be interesting and/or fun.

First up, I have decided to go with my TOP 5 COLOURING BOOKS FOR ADULTS!

I find colouring a good way of occupying my hands when I’m watching TV so that I don’t fidget and it is a massive stress-reliever when my anxiety flares up. On days when everything is overwhelming, I can lose myself in the colouring pages and calm my racing pulse and settle the storm in my head. It is just the right mixture of concentration and mindlessness that is required. This means I have acquired quite a collection now and I definitely have my favourites that I always go back to.

Here are my Top 5:

5. The Optical Illusions Colouring Book by Beverly Lawson

This one is a total mind-bender and I have to do it in really good light or else it makes me go cross-eyed but I love seeing the patterns and illusions come to life as you add colour to them. It’s a nice variation on the usual colouring book fayre.

4. If The Cat Fits from Parragon Publishing

This doubles up as a grown up sticker book so that’s even better! Colour in the wallpapers and backgrounds through the book and then embellish with cats from the huge collection of stickers at the back. Purrfection!

(My Mum bought me this because I spent an amusingly large amount of my life being very confused by the phrase ‘If the cat fits, wear it.’ Because how does one know if a cat fits? And how does one wear it? Turns out it’s actually a cap, but whatever. Cat works too… *cough*)

3. 404 Not Found by The Oatmeal

Not just a colouring book, this is also an adorable story book and a ‘find the hidden objects’ book. I love The Oatmeal anyway so I did happy squeaking when Caius got me this one and it didn’t disappoint at all. (Actually, I think this one might be aimed at kids – or definitely kids as well as adults – I also have The Oatmeals very definitely adult colouring book which is called ‘Penis Fairies and Queef Storms’ and is probably at number 6 on this list. It’s a shiny hardback and looks dead smart which makes the hilariously innapropriate content somehow even more amusing.)

2. Harry Potter Magical Creatures Colouring Book by Warner Brothers

There had to be a Harry Potter one in here somewhere, it’s me writing the list after all. I love that this colouring book has a few full colour illustrations of the Magical Creatures themselves at the back of the book. Some are images in the colouring book and some are extras. They’re good for reference if you want to colour the pictures in ‘realistically’ and they’re just a neat extra touch in general. I have a mixture of beautifully done ‘accurate’ pages and a few ‘artistic license’ pages in mine so far… like, I have a pink Dementor in there for a start!!

1. The Art Therapy Colouring Book by Richard Merritt and Hannah Davies

This was the first ‘grown up’ colouring book that I got and it remains my solid favourite. My mum bought it for my birthday a couple of years ago and it has kept me quiet for hours since!! A variety of pictures and patterns, animals and objects – this book has a little bit of everything so no matter what mood you are in, you can find something you feel like working on. The paper is thick and good quality and it feels nice to work in. (Before this one, the last colouring book I completed was The Gruffalo’s Child which was definitely aimed at small people but was oodles of fun as a grown up who loves the Gruffalo. Mum bought me that one, too. Now I think about it, I’m pretty sure she bought me 3 out of the 5 colouring books on this list…)

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Am I missing your favourite off my list? I’m always ready to expand my collection – please share with me!!