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Puffin’s big brands including Wimpy Kid and Rick Riordan’s Camp Half Blood books have helped it to a 36% increase in sales year on year.
The announcement comes a year after the creation of Penguin Children’s Books, which includes Puffin, Ladybird, Frederick Warne and Children’s Character Books (which publishes BBC Children’s Books). Across the division, children’s sales are up 10%.
Digital output is expected to grow significantly next year. Children’s Books m.d. Stephanie Barton said: “We have done a lot of digital experimentation and we are learning from that and moving ahead with our digital plans.”
Puffin is to launch an iPad app for Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman which, unlike earlier interactive apps, has no audio or interactive elements.
Francesca Dow, m.d. of Puffin, said: “You don’t always need gimmicks for digital formats and there will be a space for having a calming experience on the iPad.”
The Snowman is likely to retail for £5.99, or £1 less than the paperback. Frederick Warne is also planning to create all 23 Beatrix Potter Tales as apps, also without interactive elements. The price has yet to be decided.
Other interactive apps with audio and “touch and feel” elements will be published into the preschool market.