NEW YORK and MIDDLETON,
Wis., July 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Scholastic, the world's largest publisher and distributor of
children's books, and American Girl®, a premium brand
for and about girls, today announced that it will launch an
extensive publishing program based on the iconic American
Girl brand beloved by millions of girls around the world. The
multi-year licensed agreement includes rights to publish books in
print and digital formats starting in January 2017, and marks the first time American
Girl has licensed the rights to publish books based on its
characters. Under the agreement, Scholastic will publish and
distribute books simultaneously in the
United States, Canada,
United Kingdom, Australia, New
Zealand, and Asia.
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The wide-ranging list of titles and formats spans ages 5-12 and
includes publishing for American Girl's popular Girl of the
Year™ line, including each character's novels, as well
as new formats for current and previously-released Girl of the
Year™ characters. American Girl is also partnering with
Scholastic to release a non-fiction chapter book series inspired by
the brand's historical BeForever™ line, a new original
series in middle grade, chapter book, and reader categories,
various novelty formats including treasury books, guided journals,
and American Girl-branded yearbooks featuring activities and
quizzes.
Since its inception in 1986, American Girl has devoted its
entire business to fueling connection among girls. To date, more
than 153 million American Girl books have sold, and more than 29
million American Girl dolls have sold through the company's
catalog, retail stores, and website, which attracts an estimated 52
million visitors per year. There are currently 20 American Girl
proprietary retail stores around the
United States which have welcomed approximately 80 million
visitors to date.
"American Girl has earned the loyalty and praise from parents
and educators and continues to create unforgettable memories for
millions of girls," said Ellie
Berger, Executive Vice President, Scholastic Inc. and
President of Scholastic Trade Publishing. "We are thrilled to
collaborate with the American Girl team to develop an exciting and
innovative publishing program that inspires, celebrates, and
empowers girls, while instilling a lifelong love of reading."
"Storytelling has always been at the heart of the American Girl
brand, and we continue to evolve the way we use content to speak to
girls today. Whether it's character-focused stories, popular advice
books, or even our AG Life YouTube series, our goal is to
support girls in a variety of life stages and help them reach their
full potential," said Katy Dickson,
American Girl President. "Partnering with Scholastic helps expand
our narrative and the reach of our empowering stories and
characters, allowing us to connect with even more girls across the
globe."
About American Girl
American Girl is a premium brand
for and about girls and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc.
(NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), the worldwide leader in the design,
manufacture, and marketing of toys and family products.
Headquartered in Middleton, WI,
American Girl offers an inspiring world of dolls, experiences, and
entertainment to empower and unite girls of all ages. Best-selling
lines include Truly Me™, Girl of the Year™,
Bitty Baby™, and the classic historical character line
BeForever™. The company sells products through its
award-winning catalogue, on www.americangirl.com, in its
experiential retail stores nationwide, and in specialty boutiques
at select Indigo™ and Chapters™ in
Canada and El Palacio de Hierro
locations in Mexico City. American
Girl's mission is to fuel belonging and connection among girls, a
goal that has already earned the loyalty of millions and the praise
and trust of their parents and educators.
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest
publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider
of print and digital instructional materials for pre-K to grade 12,
and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media.
The Company creates quality books and ebooks, print and
technology-based learning materials and programs, classroom
magazines and other products that, in combination, offer schools
customized solutions to support children's learning both at school
and at home. The Company also makes quality, affordable books
available to all children through school-based book clubs and book
fairs. With a 95 year history of service to schools and families,
Scholastic continues to carry out its commitment to "Open a World
of Possible" for all children. Learn more at
www.scholastic.com.
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SOURCE Scholastic