Coloring books experienced a decline in popularity during the early 1900s, but made a comeback in the 1920s. This was partly due to the release of new and improved coloring books, such as those featuring popular cartoon characters. The 1930s saw another decline in popularity, but this was short-lived as coloring books rose in popularity again during World War II.
World War II was particularly difficult for children, so they used coloring books to distract them from the reality of war. To meet the demand, publishers have released several coloring books with patriotic and military themes.