Lyra Colour Giants Unlacquered 12 Assorted Standard Black and White

You get 12 Colour Giants in an assorted standard mix that includes black and white alongside the core colours. Each pencil is round, thick barrelled and unlacquered, so the wood is left bare. The extra thick lead is strongly pigmented, laying down bold colour that suits everyday drawing and colouring.

Black is handy for outlines, dark detail and deepening a shade, while white can soften a colour or blend edges on toned paper. Having both in a 12 pack means a child can define shapes and adjust tone without a separate purchase, which makes the small set more flexible than colours alone.

A 12 pack is a sensible first set: enough range to cover most drawings without the cost or bulk of a large box. It fits easily in a bag or on a small desk, and if a child takes to it you can move up to the 18 colour box later. See the 18 set at /products/lyra-colour-giants-18-unlaq-assorted-in-wooden-pencil-case.

It refers to Lyra's regular selection of everyday shades rather than a special theme like metallic or a single family. You get a practical spread across yellows, reds, blues, greens and browns plus black and white, so the set handles general colouring and drawing rather than one narrow purpose.

Colour Giants use an extra thick core in a wide round barrel, which is why the colour looks so bold. Because the barrel is chunky, a standard sharpener will not take it. Use a jumbo sharpener with a wide hole, and turn the pencil gently to keep a clean point on the soft lead.

Unlacquered barrels keep the natural wood surface, so they feel matte and warm rather than glossy. There is no coloured varnish coat, which some people prefer for a plain, natural look. The pigment on the tip and the barrel label still show which shade you are picking up.

The wide round barrel and soft, bold lead suit young children building confidence, as well as older ones who like quick, saturated colour. The thick core needs little pressure, so it is forgiving for small hands, while the black and white give more scope for anyone wanting to shade and outline.