Julia Denos. Balzer + Bray, 2016

This picture book presents Swatch, a colour tamer. A unique premise, to be sure.

I adore the illustrations on white backdrops with loose brushstrokes of gorgeous colours throughout. But more so, I adore the images of Swatch. She has a sparkle in her eye, a spring in her step, wild hair and paint smears, splatters and lines on her body that change with each page turn. Swatch tames colours, luring them into jars. She finds in-between gray between her kitten’s legs and just-laid blue in a robin’s nest. The last colour that she needs to catch is yellowest yellow, but it refuses and fiercely reminds her that colours are wild. If Swatch would just open up those jars, a masterpiece could be born.

For creative souls, free spirits and adults who need a reminder to let their own little bursts of colour fly free.