Draw Your Way to a Younger Brain by Anastasia Catris

Adult colouring books were definitely the big thing in 2015. I have a shelf of them myself and a lovely collection of colouring pens, which the children know they are not allowed to touch! It looks like the trend will be continuing this year and I’m excited to share three new books and a new art therapy series from Anastasia Catris, the creator of #ColourMeMindful.

Misplacing your wallet, forgetting where you parked your car, or getting your friend’s birthday wrong: these are just some of the many common memory slips we all experience from time to time. And such cognitive lapses don’t just plague the elderly: the most common worry of people over 40 is memory loss.

A recent study by Newcastle University showed that art therapy has greater benefits than puzzles and exercises when it comes to improving memory function. Engaging the brain in new and creative ways may be the key to a sharper ‘younger’ mind.

Helping to enhance your brain’s cognitive function through art therapy techniques, these 3 books contain 30 intricate line drawings of animals, with space on the opposite page for you to copy the illustration and some helpful hints to start you off. There is also the opportunity to colour in and to create some of your own illustrations as you progress. Gradually becoming more challenging, every page will help to stimulate parts of the brain that are vital for memory retention. With these books you will draw your way to a younger brain.

I’m no artist but I love the sound of these books. Like her previous books, these are small and the perfect size for popping in your bag. There are plenty of pictures to colour but there are also spaces to try something new, from adding spots to a Dalmatian, to giving a bald dog a new hair-do. My favourite is the book of Dogs & Wolves, but the Cats & Big Cats and Safari books are both beautiful too.

Three books, CATS & BIG CATS, DOGS & WOLVES and SAFARI, are published by Orion on 11 February 2016 in paperback, priced at £4.99 each.

You may be interested in some of our other Adult colouring book reviews:

Colour Me Mindful: birds, tropical and underwater by Anastasia Catris

Colour Me Mindful: Enchanted Creatures, Seasons and Butterflies by Anastasia Catris

Notebook Doodles Colouring Books for tweens

The One and Only colouring book for adults