Diamond to distribute Penguin's Doctor Who books in U.S. and MexicoMedia Release -- Penguin Books UK has signed a distribution deal with Diamond Comic Distributors (DCD) to sell and promote its young adult and children's line of Doctor Who books and novels to comic book specialty stores, bookstores, mass-market merchandisers, libraries and other outlets in the United States and Canada.

"We're excited to be working with Diamond," said Juliet Matthews, Penguin UK's Media and Entertainment Publisher. "The growing audience of Doctor Who fans in the U.S. makes it an ideal partnership to extend our reach."

A division of Penguin Group, Penguin Books UK has published over one hundred books and novels in its Doctor Who young adult and children's line. In 2012, Penguin UK will release several new novels and books, including Doctor Who: Alien Adventures, book three of its mass market paperback novel series; a Doctor Who Activity Book, featuring puzzles, games and stickers; and Doctor Who: Where's the Doctor?, a seek-and-find book with lots of hidden surprises.

"Doctor Who has been one of the growing brand licenses for Diamond and we're happy to be selling the Penguin Books UK line in North America," said Bill Schanes, VP-Purchasing for Diamond Comic Distributors. "These books haven't directly available from any U.S. source except for those that might have imported a small quantity."

ABOUT PENGUIN BOOKS – Penguin Children's is the number one children's publisher in the UK with a portfolio that caters for every age from Ladybird's award-winning Baby Touch range to Puffin, a major part of the division with its strong author brands, to the newly launched young adult imprint Razorbill. Commercial success has been driven by hot brands such as the Diary of the Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson, Peppa Pig; perennial favourites such as Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Eric Hill's Spot the Dog; and backlist giant Roald Dahl. Penguin's licensing business is increasingly significant thanks in part to partnerships with new social networking brands such as Moshi Monsters and Club Penguin. In 2011 Penguin Children's announced the creation of a new group: Media and Entertainment with a view to growing Penguin's share of the children's licensing market.

ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture merchandise. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, servicing thousands of specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.

ABOUT DIAMOND BOOK DISTRIBUTORS (DBD)—DBD is a division of Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., and is dedicated to making a wide selection of graphic novels and other pop culture merchandise available to bookstores, online retailers, libraries, schools, mass merchants and other general retailers globally. DBD is the home to a number of world class publishers including Dark Horse, publisher of award-winning and best-selling creators & series including Joss Whedon, Janet Evanovich, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Conan and the Star Wars franchise; IDW, publisher of Transformers & True Blood; Image Comics, publisher of Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead; Dead; Oni Press, publisher of the widely successful Scott Pilgrim series; and many others. For more information, visit Diamond Books on the web at www.diamondbookdistributors.com.