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It wasn’t long ago that we reported on a flurry of overtly political kids books — like Help! There’s a Liberal Under My Bed! and Why Mommy is a Democrat (because “Democrats always share their toys”) — which more or less used our spawn as canon fodder in the current culture wars. Now there’s an even more insidious (and hilarious) kiddie publishing trend afoot: deeply ironic, tongue-firmly-in-cheek coloring and activity books, the true meaning of which is certainly lost on the very young. For instance, the Pat Robertson and Friends Coloring Book (pictured above, already colored in by artist Josh Neufeld), in which the titular pastor cavorts with Teletubbies, exhorts God to pack the Supreme Court with conservatives, and so on. (By now, the elementary school set is already thinking “adults are insane, I hope I never grow up!”) Well, there’s more to come, Junior … read on!
The Gangsta Rap Coloring Book
Featuring kingly portraits of slain emcees like Tupac and B.I.G. Entourages of scantily clad ladies are notably absent, however (what gives?) — a possible (and rare) concession to Concerned Parents Everywhere.
The George W. Bush Coloring Book
Remember back in 2001 when Will Ferrell stopped doing his George W. Bush impression on SNL because it suddenly seemed inappropriate? Those days are long gone, friends — witness Comedy Central shows like Lil’ Bush — and this coloring book. (Does Crayola make a color for “hubris”?)
The Heavy Metal Fun Time Activity Book
Is this an activity book or a history lesson? After all, what kid is going to know their Judas Priest from their Iron Maiden?
Comments (12)
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This totally reminds me of this coloring book I saw called “Color me Arnold” about, you guessed it, the Governator himself.
Because who wouldn’t want to color in Conan the barbarian?
posted by Colin on 8-27-2007 at 11:32 am
There is definitely a Law & Order colouring book a friend of a friend published, including plenty of pages of Brisco pointing at dead bodies.
posted by SteveP on 8-28-2007 at 8:11 am
Oh my goodness — the Law & Order coloring book really appeals to me. I googled a little and found it online. The artist did a great job and it’s hysterical. Gotta love Brisco’s one-liner “it stopped ticking when he took a licking”
http://www.brandonbird.com/lno_color.html
posted by Sid Morrison on 8-28-2007 at 12:33 pm
HA! That is too funny! My sister gave my boyfriend the gangsta rap coloring book as a gag gift!
posted by joo on 8-28-2007 at 1:06 pm
The instant I saw the “Heavy Metal” coloring book, I was instantly reminded of the “coloring book” Strong Bad E-mail from Homestar Runner. It’s the LIMOZEEN coloring book! Leather black! Big hair blonde! And more!
posted by Freezair on 8-28-2007 at 10:18 pm
When TCAS (the airborne anticollision system now required internationally in all passenger aircraft) was underdevelopment, we had a coloring book showing the history of the system.
posted by Kathryn Ybarra on 8-28-2007 at 10:23 pm
This is my first time checking out your mental floss pages. I did several quizes and was pretty impressed by the broad span of knowledege required to do well at the different topics. I wish I had just left it at that. I was curious about the coloring books – what today’s editors/publishers consider inappropriate. You’ve done a service for the devil here and it should not be allowed anywhere near kids. Don’t people have minds anymore??
posted by Nancy Papp on 8-29-2007 at 9:29 pm
I submit Coloring Book Land: Coloring Outside the Lines of Good Taste
I think this one wins for most inappropriate. The cover is pretty innocuous, but the pages inside will offend even the most hardened of people. It’s fantastically horrid.
posted by Emily Churchman on 9-1-2007 at 12:31 pm
There’s also the big coloring book of vaginas from Big Book Alt Press…
runway strips, clamshells… f*in hilarious.
posted by heather Hermann on 12-3-2007 at 3:29 pm
I have the official Oliver North Iran Contra Scandal Coloring book. It’s hilarious. I have been saving it F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
posted by qt314159265 on 8-28-2008 at 7:47 am
Being something of a metalhead myself I would love a copy of that heavy metal coloring book… for… my kids… yes, for the kids.
posted by Joel on 1-8-2009 at 9:04 am
…
Alas, the fantastic comments and article are lost on me, for mine eyes cannot see beyond the “colors” for the real, true COLOURs they are!!!
American spelling be damned, you shall pry my excess vowels from my dead body.
*swirls away*
posted by Kat on 2-22-2009 at 12:03 am