The Diaries of Dennis the Menace to be showcased at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015
Raft of European publishing deals for the popular fiction series secured

As Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015 approaches, DC Thomson outlines international growth plans for its expanding children’s book publishing category. The licensor’s kids publishing programme for Dennis the Menace and Gnasher, the much-loved mischievous duo of iconic British comic The Beano, continues to flourish with the category enjoying chart topping success, strong sales figures and international recognition. In collaboration with leading British publishing house Penguin Random House, DC Thomson launched a highly successful kids’ fiction series entitled The Diaries of Dennis the Menace which became the UK’s best-selling young fiction launch of last year, selling over 130,000 copies across the range to date. Following the outstanding success of the partnership, the range has been extended into a selection of non-fiction titles that have introduced new publishing formats to the programme including The Beano: Official Sticker Book, Where’s Dennis (and Gnasher!) search-and-find book and The Beano Prankipedia.

Momentum continues to build for the acclaimed fiction range with Penguin Random House successfully securing a slate of pan-European deals for The Diaries of Dennis the Menace. To date rights for the series have been acquired by 20/20 Editora in Portugal, Artline Studios in Bulgaria, Ulpius-haz Kiado in Hungary and Slovart in Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Penguin Random House Rights Division will be showcasing the popular series at the upcoming Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Tim Collins, Head of Brands at DC Thomson comments, “The overwhelming success of our partnership with Penguin Random House is a true testament not only to the strength of the Dennis and Gnasher licensing programme but also the enduring popularity of the characters themselves. The duo’s mischievous spirit and humour chimes with audiences around the world and Bologna Children’s Book Fair provides us with the ideal platform to showcase the book series and build upon Dennis and Gnasher’s growing international presence.”