If you have been to any book or craft stores lately, you will know that adult coloring books are all the rage. And they cover myriad subjects: you can color gardens, tattoo patterns, animals, cities, and even outlines of indie musicians. Mandalas are perhaps the most popular category for these books.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Coloring Flower Mandalas is a collection of thirty hand-drawn outlines of beautiful flowers, including orchids, roses, lilies, poppies, sunflowers, - just waiting to come alive from the addition of colors.

The designs are manageable by anyone, but just intricate enough to pull you outside of your quotidian cares and into “the zone” of mindful/mindlessness.

The books are flying off shelves; apparently a lot of people have found that one can color oneself to calmness, so to speak. Craft stores have great collections these days of pencils and crayons and markers. It’s an inexpensive way to find tranquility, and in the process, create some beautiful decorations for your house.

Evaluation: This book would make a great present for yourself or others! Throw some colored pencils or “Gelly Roll” pens into the gift box! Or, ooooh, glitter pens! ( )