HC Children's inks deal with Dr Seuss

HarperCollins Children’s Books has signed an exclusive deal with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to publish 45 classic titles in e-book format with synchronised audio.

HarperCollins has been the publisher of Dr. Seuss in the UK for more 60 years and the addition of e-books to the "illustrious portfolio" brings the brand to a new digital audience, it said.

The first tranche of eight Dr. Seuss e-books will launch in December 2017 for the festive season. Titles will include "beloved classics", How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and The Cat in the Hat.

"With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over 60 years", said the publisher. "Creator of the wonderfully anarchic The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss is a global bestseller, with over half a billion books sold worldwide. He has consistently ranked among the UK and Australia’s top ten favourite children’s authors."

Executive publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Ann-Janine Murtagh, added: “We are immensely proud to be the UK and Commonwealth publishers of Dr.Seuss, and we’re absolutely delighted to be building our long-time partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises L.P into the digital arena. Dr. Seuss’s classic titles have inspired and entertained generations of readers and the opportunity to reach out to a whole new audience through digital publishing is truly thrilling.”

President of Dr. Seuss Enterprises Susan Brandt said: “We’re absolutely overjoyed to know that HarperCollins are continuing Ted’s legacy by bringing his treasured stories to new digital audiences and adored fans alike.“

HarperCollins will publish the books in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the Commonwealth.