The latest craze in the publishing world is leaving out one key characteristic of most books: words.
Many adults are going back to the drawing board—literally. In the past couple of years, adult coloring books have been gaining popularity, steadily climbing up Amazon’s best-seller list until Johanna Basford’s “Secret Garden” coloring book became the top seller of all books in April, according to CNN. (As of Monday afternoon, “Secret Garden” sat at No. 2, with Basford’s “Enchanted Forest” coloring book not far behind at No. 7.)
Adult coloring books usually feature much more intricate designs and illustrations than those marketed for children in order to challenge grown-ups’ skill levels, and some are geared specifically toward providing a therapeutic outlet for adults. For example, “Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns” is the other coloring book on Amazon’s current Top 10 best-sellers, at No. 8 on the list as of Monday afternoon.
Though “Secret Garden” has been available for nearly two years, pop culture is just now jumping on the bandwagon, and with good reason—NPR reports that Basford’s coloring book has sold more than 1.5 million copies since its publication in 2013. Authors behind books-turned-TV shows “Game of Thrones” and “Outlander,” as well as comic book giant Marvel, are all set to release adult coloring books in October.
For the artistically inclined
Secret Paris
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Illustrated by Zoe De Las Cases, $16, 96 pages
Even if Paris isn’t your favorite place in the world, this book is sure to please any lover of feminine details and style. Some pages feature a Parisian scene, and some are just beautiful patterned designs. Perhaps my favorite, though, are the pages filled with varying dresses, tea cups, baking ingredients, beauty products, sunglasses and more in a fun and playful grid.
Also check out: “Splendid Cities,” illustrated by Rosie Goodwin & Alice Chadwick
—Annie Cercone, Redeye
Enchanted Forest
Illustrated by Johanna Basford, $15.95, 84 pages
This beautiful coloring book is like walking through a fairy tale without the bother of gender stereotypical princesses waiting to be saved by a prince. It features hidden objects to find throughout in case you’ve been missing another childhood staple, “I Spy” books. The details in magical forest scenes and woodland creatures are intricate and elegant.
Also check out: “Secret Garden” and “Lost Ocean” (Oct. 27), both by Basford ——A.c.
Where in the World
is Koneko Cat?
Illustrated by Asuka Satow, $14.99, 60 pages
Haven’t you always wanted to travel the world with your cat? Of course you have, and now you’re in luck! This fun and playful coloring book will take you on an adventure with quirky illustrations of a cartoon cat traveling to various cities and sites, from New York City to the Pyramids. —A.c.
Fantastic Cities
Illustrated by Steve McDonald, $14.95, 60 pages
With an amazing mix of architecture and geometric patterns from cities around the world, some pages are realistic views of cityscapes with intricate detail, and others are twisted and reimagined into amazing mandala-like illustrations. —A.c.
Outside the Lines
Curated by Souris Hong-Porretta, $18, 256 pages
This coloring book is perhaps the most unique and interesting I’ve seen. No two pages are the same, and it doesn’t follow a specific theme. The book is a collection of illustrations from many different contemporary artists with varying styles. The pages are creative and edgy, some having the potential to be framed on your wall if you focus reeeaaalllly hard while coloring them.
Also check out: “Outside the Lines, Too”
(Sept. 1) —A.c.
Color Me Crazy
Illustrated by Peter Deligdisch, $15, 96 pages
A wacky book filled with insanely detailed designs, this is the kind of book you could spend hours coloring and still not finish a page with all the tiny details and lines. But as the instructions of the book suggest, you don’t have to stay within the lines, and these illustrations give you the creative freedom to color as you please! —A.C.
For the pop culturally inclined
Color Your Own
Age of Ultron
Oct. 20, Marvel, $9.99, 120 pages
In June, Marvel announced it would be publishing a new line of adult coloring books based on its comics, starting with “Age of Ultron.” The leap from comic to coloring book is probably the most logical of the ones included in this list, and Marvel seems to be going all-out with their grown-up coloring book charge: “Little Marvel by Skottie Young Coloring Book” is due out in February 2016, and “Civil War Coloring Book” is slated for April. —E.D.
George R.R. Martin’s Official A Game of Thrones Coloring Book
Oct. 27, Bantam, $15.95, 96 pages
Get your red [insert art supply of choice here] ready, because your favorite fantasy series-turned-HBO drama is getting the coloring book treatment. “George R.R. Martin’s Official A Game of Thrones Coloring Book” will be hitting stores later this year, smack in the middle of the hiatus between Seasons 5 and 6. After all, if any TV show needs some stress-relieving therapy time, it’s “GoT.” —E.D.
Diana Gabaldon’s Official Outlander Coloring Book
Oct. 27, Bantam, $15.95, 96 pages
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Perhaps it’s no surprise that “Outlander” and “Game of Thrones” are following the same coloring book path, considering authors Gabaldon and Martin are besties. “Outlander,” the sexy Starz series set in 18th-century Scotland, should allow you to color in the landscape of the Highlands as well as other scenes familiar to both fans of the show and fans of the book. —E.D.
Breaking Bad:
Cookin’ Up Some Color, Yo
Oct. 29, Walter Foster Creative Team, $14.95,
80 pages
That title alone should be enough to convince you to check out this “badass coloring and activity book for grown-ups.” Though “Breaking Bad” ended its run nearly two years ago, its fans are still pretty passionate about Walter White and Co. The coloring book will include iconic scenes from the series, as well as word searches, crosswords, connect-the-dots, quotes and anecdotes from the show. —E.D.
Colour Me Good series
If TV shows and comic books aren’t doing it for you, and you’d rather spend some quality coloring time with your favorite celebrity crush, check out the Colour Me Good coloring book series by Mel Elliott. The books are dedicated to a single celeb each, including versions for Ryan Gosling, Benedict Cumberbatch, Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne, Tom Hiddleston and most recently Jamie Dornan of “50 Shades of Grey.” An Eddie Redmayne version is slated to come out Sept. 3. —E.D.
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