The Meredith Corporation of Des Moines, Iowa has signed a multi-year deal with Marvel Enterprises to develop and publish a portfolio of children's books ranging from sound storybooks and coloring books to picture books, all based on Marvel superheroes.  The initial offerings in this new children's line will be released in the spring of 2005, and will feature many of the Marvel characters including Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, The X-Men, Iron Man, and Captain America.

Meredith Books, a division of the Meredith Corporation (a major media and marketing company), will publish the new Marvel-based children's line.  Meredith Books has published over 300 volumes including the New York Times bestseller, Trading Spaces: Behind the Scenes.  As might be expected given its origins in marketing, Meredith Books has specialized in turning brand name properties, such as The Home Depot, the Food Network, and Better Homes & Gardens, into books.  The agreement with Marvel should allow Meredith to expand its publishing business into the children's book marketplace, while providing Marvel with additional licensing revenue and creating additional exposure for its top superheroes.