Also forthcoming is a new “multi-platform” house-created series from Scholastic, in the vein of their successful 39 Clues and Infinity Ring lines. SPIRIT ANIMALS is their first fantasy series in this format, and it launches September 10, 2013, with the first title–WILD BORN–written by Brandon Mull and another in January 2014 by Maggie Stiefvater. The series “centers around the fantasy world of Erdas where children who come of age go through a ritual to determine if they have a ‘spirit animal,’ a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. Four children from different cultures undergo an annual ritual and discover that they have been chosen for a greater destiny.”
New ways of creating and exploiting intellectual property across multiple platforms is a major theme of next week’s big Children’s Publishing Goes Digital Publishers Launch Conference on Tuesday, January 15, which opens Digital Book World Week. (Speakers on this theme include Harper Children’s business development and digital publishing vp Corinne Hellman; attorney Devereux Chatillon; Penguin UK publishing director for media and entertainment Eric Huang; Macmillan Children’s president Jon Yaged; consultant Swanna MacNair; and Jess Braillier from Pearson’s Poptropica.)
Also in the news is Reading Rainbow‘s announcement that they will add to their successful iPad app/subscription reading service titles from National Geographic Kids as well as a new section of books and “video field trips” about heroes, important historical figures and everyday people who make a difference. Platforms like this mean the retail landscape of digital children’s books is taking on a very different form from the adult market, which comprises a second major theme of our conference. We’ll feature Reading Rainbow ceo Asra Rasheed; plus Deborah Forte on Scholastic’s Storia platform; Kashif Zafar and Matt Warner from Nook Kids; Christian Dorffer from Magic Town; and Dominique Raccah on Sourcebook’s new Put Me Me In the Story platform.
The other major themes are new data and analysis (from Bowker, Bookigee, and the Codex Group) and case studies on marketing (and selling) to kids in the digital age, rounding out what’s become the premier US trade gathering for children’s publishing. We are close to sold out so register now while you still call. (Use our code PUBLUNCH to save 5 percent.) The same form lets you bundle in either first day of Digital Book World, or the entire event, which is also lining up as the best and broadest DBW yet.