Discovery Channel Publishing, a division of Discovery Communications Inc., is increasing its presence in the kids publishing business. The Bethesda, Maryland-based company recently inked a three-year deal with kids pubco Dutton Children’s Books to create a line of Discovery Channel books for kids. As per the agreement, DCP will produce the editorial content for the multiformat books, which will be based on shows, subjects and themes that appear on DCI cable channels Animal Planet and Discovery Channel, as well as its kids programming block Discovery Kids.

Some of the topics DCP will hone in on include exploration, natural disasters and endangered species. This year, DCP will nearly double its output of kids titles, from five to eight, starting in September with the release of four-pack Sticker Safari Books: Frog, Shark, Tiger and Wolf (US$4.99 each); two-book series Animal Savers Take Action Packs: Tiger and Wolf (US$6.99 each); Twister (US$8.99); and Earthquake (US$11.99). Dutton will handle all the packaging and distribution of the titles, which will be available at mass retail outlets, as well as in stores that make up the Discovery Retail Group (The Nature Company and Discovery Channel Stores, including its newest superstore, Discovery Channel Destination: San Francisco, which is slated to open its doors this July). All titles will be available to retailers in 42-unit floor displays.