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Chorion gets Trucking with S&S acquisition

20.06.08

Intellectual property group Chorion has acquired the licensing, merchandising and media rights to Simon & Schuster's newly launched Trucktown brand. Chorion plans to grow the property through an extensive online programme alongside the books, said Jeff Norton, Chorion director of brand development.

The company is also exploring the creation of toys that can link to the online games.Trucktown is the brainchild of author Jon Scieszka, who is also America's first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Norton said: "Jon's impetus was to create a reading programme that would get young boys interested in books and reading, so he developed this experience called 'Trucktown' where all the characters are trucks, but they behave as preschoolers would behave."

"Right now virtual worlds are very popular with young children," explained Norton. "So we are in the process of creating an online virtual world where children can 'become' a truck."

The first phase of the website has launched at www.trucktown.com with the second expected to launch next year. S&S published the first wave of Trucktown titles in January this year, with a further set of titles out this month.

Rights deal Simon & Schuster Chorion

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