How a book begins

Before a colouring page gets its first purple mushroom, it needs a story worth stepping into.

For Hootie and Tabitha, that starts with two creatures who would arrange their mornings very differently. One wants quiet. One has a plan. Put them near the same tree and listen for the BANG.

Start with what the characters want

A forest full of lovely things is a setting. A grumpy owl trying to enjoy his coffee while a cheerful cat gets busy nearby is the start of an adventure.

We look for moments that let the characters do something. Ask a question. Make a mistake. Listen. Help when helping is inconvenient. The funny bits and the friendship grow out of those choices.

Give each page a job

Some pages carry a big moment. Others leave room to notice a face, a forest path or an odd object in the background.

We think about what you should spot first and where your eye might wander next. Hootie’s expression has something to say. So does the space between him and Tabitha.

The page should invite a closer look without making the story hard to follow.

Keep the forest feeling like their home

Hootie’s things have their places. Tabitha’s cottage has rather more projects on the go. Those differences help the world feel lived in.

A cup, a shelf or a workbench can tell you a little about its owner. We want those details to belong in the scene, even when the scene is being very silly.

Make room for your colours

A colouring page has a second storyteller: you.

Clear lines help you find the shapes. Open spaces leave somewhere for your favourite colours. Smaller details give you something to return to when you feel like taking your time.

You can follow the book’s colour references, or take the forest somewhere completely different. Pink leaves are welcome here.

Check the journey, then pass it over

Looking at pages together helps us ask the useful questions. Can you follow the action? Do Hootie and Tabitha still feel like themselves? Is there something you want to colour?

That is the aim behind The Unlikely Friendship: a story to read, a world to notice and pages you can make your own.

Try a free colouring page. Add one small object that tells us who lives there. A tiny stool? A very large biscuit tin? You get the final say.