Coloring books for adults become the new black

Coloring books once thought to belong only to children are now being used by adults, at least to release stress and for showcasing on social media.

After becoming popular in some Western countries as a recreational activity for adults and children alike, the coloring book is headed toward the Chinese market in the hope that the publishing industry here will make room for it.

A case in point is Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford. It has been popular among Chinese readers on all major online bookstores, including Amazon, JD and Dangdang, since a Chinese version of the book came out in June.