HCG launches deal with CITIC to create Science Pop! series

Hachette Children’s Group has joined forces with Chinese publisher CITIC Publishing Group to create Science Pop!, a series of science information books, as part of “a unique, ground-breaking deal”. 

The educational imprints Franklin Watts and Wayland of Hachette Children's Group (HCG) will create, in consultation with CITIC, a range of 150 titles covering a wide range of science-based topics, from coding to genetics, aimed at children aged between five and 12. The collection will be introduced to the Chinese market under the brand name of Science Pop! and will be published over five years between 2021 and 2025, starting with 60 titles in 2021/2022.

Science Pop! titles are designed to educate and entertain children, to inspire and progress their learning and to equip them with real-world skills for future success. 

The deal was brokered by Susannah Palfrey, international business development director at HCG, with Alicia Liu, m.d. of Singing Grass, a business consultancy advising on access and development strategies for the Chinese market.  

Paul Rockett, education publishing director at HCG, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with CITIC Children’s Books to launch the Science Pop! list in the Chinese market. The demand for high quality information books for children has never been greater, and Science Pop! will provide a generation of readers with invaluable science learning and information.” 

Pan Yue, vice-president of CITICI Publishing Group, said: “In recent years, Chinese parents are paying increased attention to their children’s interest in popular science. Popular science offers significant benefits for children’s cognitive and intellectual development and is central to helping children develop creativity, logic and critical thinking skills... this will open the door to science for children.”