ABC Monstrosity: The Colouring Book

by Shea Proulx

"ABC Monstrosity" is a freaky drawing experiment designed to thrill adults and kids alike with colouring pages that teach and terrify all at once. As each new letter is introduced with a drawing of a familiar object or animal, the previous ones are continuously combined to create bizarre monstrosities.

Flip the book to see the same weird narrative play out in a simple 1-10 sequence, called "123 Monstrosity" featuring staples of good parenting that morph into crazy re-combinations. All the text in the books are hand drawn, giving it a funky comic book flavor.

This is my second book. Just like "Alice In The Womb," "ABC Monstrosity" is printed locally on quality drawing paper, which has been tried and tested by my growing audience of fans. It also includes another zany glossary. Once again, fascinating scientific facts are augmented with humor, but in this section of the books the tables turn. The detailed monstrosities have goofball nonsense definitions, and the science behind how we might define ordinary features in our lives is surprisingly complex.

I first began combing libraries for innovative, inspiring children's literature when my first daughter was a baby. I was sometimes inspired, but often dismayed by how little many authors seemed to care about attention to detail, and I started drawing these books just after becoming pregnant with my second little girl. I wanted to create something that was just as interesting for me to look at over and over as it would be for them.

ABC Monstrosity is both hideous and hilarious, because creepy creations make colouring into something not directed just at children, or adults. This book is fun for everyone!

90 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Shea Proulx spent her twenties going to forest-raves, living with a lot of strange people, and becoming over-educated at Emily Carr and UBC. Immediately after graduating with an MFA she discovered that she was totally pregnant. Juggling motherhood and artistic pursuits proved easier in Alberta, with the help of her mother, a fellow writer who really "gets" it. Her work is a nerdy trip, where memories and observations co-mingle to form sweet psychedelic spaces, and visual narratives steal the show.

Reviews

[Rocio Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a colouring book that is not boring. Its a book for creative parents and kids that like things beyond the flower and the robot. In a world where we are leaving behind imagination and creative thinking, this book is a breath of fresh air or a freaky fun exercise for adults and kids alike. My kids loved it!

[Candace Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fresh and inspiring - ABC Monstrosity is an ABC, and turn it over it's a 1-2-3 - but SO much more as this clever visual narrative tells a story for kids, while it teaches them with crazy made-up words and real science. The detailed art of Shea Proulx is in a comic book style that boys and girls will both be compelled to look at over and over again - but best of all parents will be entertained during every story time. I love it - so do my grand-kids and their grampa!