Cozy and Collaborative

Cozy coloring books are one of the trends driving increased sales in the activity book segment within the publishing industry this year. These appeal to all ages, including a significant readership of adults who are looking for mindful activities and appreciate the cute drawings. Unlike the detailed, sophisticated illustrations in the adult or advanced coloring books that gained popularity with this same demographic during the pandemic, cozy coloring books are characterized by very simple, kawaii-influenced artwork. 

Most titles released in this segment feature original content, led by the vast Coco Wyo series, which is published by Random House and has accounted for about 25% of all coloring books sold in the U.S. this year, according to Circana Bookscan. But licensed titles have started to make significant inroads in 2026 as cozy coloring books are increasingly included as part of broader publishing programs mostly tied to entertainment/character properties.

A few examples:  

• HarperCollins imprint HarperPop is planning a Super Cozy Coloring title for May 2027 as part of its extensive DC Comics children’s book range, launched this year under license from Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products. HarperCollins also offers Pete the Cat: Cool & Cozy Coloring, part of its publishing program with author/illustrator James Dean, which is supported by a licensing effort.
• Macmillan Children’s Books has released cozy coloring titles for several of its licenses, including the Moomin brand, Calico Critters, and, most recently, Aurora’s Palm Pals. 
• Random House Children’s Books has started to include cozy coloring books in a few of its licensed publishing programs, including for KPop Demon Hunters, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
• Thunder Bay Press, the adult activity book imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group, is introducing cozy coloring within some of its licensed publishing initiatives, beginning with Star Wars the Mandalorian: Grogu Cozy Coloring in June of this year. 
• Mattel Press, the toy company’s in-house publishing imprint, released Pingu: Cozy Chill & Color, based on one of its own IPs, in September. 

These and other releases like them specifically mention cozy coloring in the names of the books. Other titles do not use that terminology per se but also fall into this same space; Thunder Bay’s Gilmore Girls Kawaii Coloring and Bob Ross Kawaii Coloring are two examples. 

Check out an article on trends in the activity book sector — where strong current sales are driven by cozy coloring and licensing, along with early education — in Publishers Weekly. Or, if you are interested in the intersection of publishing and licensing more generally, try the monthly Licensing Hotline column in PW. Sign up for the PW Children’s Bookshelf newsletter, where most of the Hotlines appear first, or take a look at a list of the publication’s recent articles on licensing here.