Univision, Televisa & Scholastic launch “EL CHAVO” books for kids

Univision Enterprises, Televisa and Scholastic announced a licensing agreement to manufacture, distribute and market bilingual children’s books inspired by “El Chavo Del Ocho,” the highly popular comedy series that airs in the U.S. and in Spanish-speaking countries worldwide. Scholastic will publish both print and eBook versions of chapter books, along with joke books, story and sticker books.
 
“El Chavo: Locos Por La Lucha Libre” (Crazy for Wrestling) and “El Chavo: El Partido De Fútbol” (The Soccer Match) are now available in-store and online throughout the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and Canada. “El Chavo: La Carrera De Autos” (The Car Race) will be available in-store and online in January 2015. The series is designed for children between the ages of four and eight and will include the characters from the Television series “El Chavo Animado.” All three titles will also be available in the school market through the Scholastic Reading Club and Scholastic Book Fairs.
 
“We are thrilled to finally be able to take our beloved Chavo to the publishing world and give the children of America the opportunity to play and enjoy with their families, as well as to learn about their memories and stories through these books,” said Maca Rotter, managing director, Televisa Consumer Products. “For more than 40 years, the Hispanic family has grown watching the show and now, thanks to Scholastic, consumers will get what they really want to share with their kids.”
 
“‘El Chavo’ has been a big part of Hispanic households for generations,” said Rick Alessandri, executive vice president, Univision Enterprises. “This new partnership with Scholastic, the leading publisher and distributor of children’s books, allows us to bring ‘El Chavo’ and all of its colorful and quirky wonder to children, in a new and engaging way through books. The storybooks will encourage children to read, which is an important part of our Company’s education efforts.”
 
“Everyone at Scholastic is truly excited to work with Univision and El Chavo,” said Debra Dorfman, vice president and publisher, Licensed Publishing, Scholastic. “We have been following the animated series for several years and feel the time is right to launch bilingual books based on this popular property. Parents and grandparents will be eager to read and share these bilingual books with their children and grandchildren.”