Nickelodeon International Stacks Up Book Deals

In Spain, Random House Mondadori has signed a deal to publish Dora the Explorer storybooks, activity books and novelty books. Following the successful exclusive with Carrefour on 10 titles, a full range of titles is now being rolled out through Carrefour, El Corté Inglés, FNAC and specialist bookstores. NCPI has also signed Dora the Explorer with Panini España for a branded magazine and sticker collections. NCPI has signed SpongeBob SquarePants with Editorial Everest in Spain and Portugal for chapter books, storybooks, coloring, activity and novelty books, as well as Media Live for novelty titles.

In the U.K., four major publishing renewals have been signed. Egmont Magazines will continue to publish the

Dora the Explorer

magazine and Titan will continue with its SpongeBob SquarePants title. Phidal Publishing will continue to release its

In a key international, three-year strategic partnership, NCPI is collaborating with Eaglemoss Publishing Group to create partworks and press collections for 40 properties. The first deal of its type for NCPI will see new partwork titles and press promotions developed for launch each year. The first product being developed is in the U.K. with Dora the Explorer Little Cooks Collection, a cooking and picnic collectible set, including silicon bakeware and a Dora the Explorer plate and cutlery set. The accompanying magazine features stories, activities and challenges, as well as easy-to-make recipes—all of which have been tested and approved by a nutritionist. The deal crosses territories including Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Oceania, opening opportunities in growth markets such as Russia and Brazil. The titles will also sell in traditional partworks markets, such as the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

"This is a significant new direction for NCPI which positions us perfectly to take an even greater share of a growing industry estimated to be worth $1 billion," says Paula Allen, senior vice president of global publishing at NCP.