Sales in the coloring category are soaring, alongside the number of titles offered, from one million units sold in 2014 to 12 million last year.
About 300 titles were offered in 2014, rising to 2,000 in 2015, according to Nielsen BookScan. Booksellers confirm the boom. At Bank Square Books, Mystic, Conn., owner Annie Philbrick said:
"Adult coloring books were crazy in 2015. They're coded under Art, and that section's sales increased from $6,969 in 2014 to $23,213 last year. Units sold increased from 300 in 2014 to 1,300."
Publishers of all stripes are making their marks on the genre. At Byrd's Books, the store holds monthly coloring nights at the arts center. They supply the materials and food, and folks bring their beverage. And they have date nights, ladies meeting for fun and for singles. They have relaxing, colorful evenings!"
One store owner offered two coloring book events at the store, one for adults and one for children. The only event that had participants was the one for adults.
Kids and adults go dot-to-dot
Other publishers are looking for the next children's-turned-adult crafting activity. Little, Brown has released two connect-the-dots titles (Dot-to-Dot: Journeys and Dot-to-Dot: Nature).
Barron's released one in February (Ultimate Dot-to-Dot) and one in March (Extreme Dot-to-Dot). Ulysses Press publishes Calming Dot-to-Dot.
Dover has continued its popular Creative Haven series (12 million copies sold) with Wild Animals Dot-to-Dot, which doubles as a coloring book once the dots are connected.
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