Coloring book

A book of outlined illustrations intended to be colored, usually with crayons, markers, or pencils. Pages may be printed on one or both sides and designed for children or adults.

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Line art: An image made primarily from distinct lines, without continuous tonal shading. Its clear contours make illustrated subjects easy to color.
The Little Folks' Painting Book: A nineteenth-century activity book by Kate Greenaway that invited children to color printed outlines. It is an early example of the format becoming a children’s pastime.
Adult coloring book: A coloring book designed for adult users, often featuring intricate patterns or detailed scenes. Its popularity expanded coloring beyond its longstanding association with children.
Activity book: A book containing interactive tasks such as puzzles, games, and drawing exercises. Coloring books are a focused kind of activity book centered on filling outlines.
Crayon: A stick of colored wax or pigment used for drawing and coloring. Crayons are a familiar medium for filling coloring-book outlines.
McLoughlin Brothers: An American publishing firm known for inexpensive illustrated books and color printing. Its mass-produced activity books helped bring outlined illustrations to a broad market.
Coloring book therapy: The use of coloring activities as a structured or informal tool for relaxation and expression. Coloring books are sometimes incorporated into stress-management and therapeutic activities.
Paint-by-number: A painting system that assigns colors to numbered sections of an outlined image. It shares the guided-fill format but typically uses paint rather than coloring tools.
Colored pencil: A pencil whose core contains colored pigment and a binder for drawing or coloring. Its controlled strokes suit both broad fills and fine details.
Kate Greenaway: An English illustrator and author known for books depicting idealized childhood. Her illustrated work was adapted into an early coloring activity book.