Doubleday Book Clubs has acquired exclusive home book club rights to all new children's books published by Disney Press and Mouse Works, two lucrative imprints of Disney Publishing, the companies announced.
Until now, Disney's books have been sold to the book clubs, like Doubleday Book Clubs and Book-of-the-Month Club, on a book-by-book basis. The clubs sell books to members at discounted rates."This is very exciting," said Arlene Friedman, vice president and editorial director of the Doubleday Book Clubs, which has 3.5 million members in 12 clubs. Disney's books, she said, represented one out of every four children's books bought in North America.
This is the first time Disney Publishing has licensed home book club rights for its Disney children's publishing line to a single book club distributor.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed other than the fact that the Doubleday Clubs won a short-term renewable license on all new material from Disney Press and Mouse Works - about 90 new titles a year - and any of the imprints' old titles that come up for renewal.
Industry officials estimated the price tag on the deal at more than $1 million. Book clubs usually pay anywhere from $2,000 to $50,000 for the home book club rights to a particular book.
Book-of-the-Month Club was also involved in the auction, held late last year.
The Doubleday Book Clubs' March catalog will include several of new Disney books, including "Uh Oh, Dopey!" "The Lion King Puzzle Pop-Up Game Book" and "Winnie the Pooh Mask Book."