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Haynes in new children's drive

Motor manual publisher Haynes will launch its first range of illustrated children's books this autumn.

The list sets out in October with the Pirate Manual and the Spy Manual (h/b, £12.99), both written by Andrew Parkinson. Aimed at the seven to 11 age group, the books claim to contain everything a child needs to know to become a pirate or a spy. Both books come with additional material such as a spy's tool kit that includes bugging devices and periscopes.

The children's list is one of a number of recent initiatives which have seen Haynes expand out of its traditional publishing programme. In the past year it has launched a military and aviation list, and a list which uses the Haynes car manual format on subjects such as baby care and teenagers. It has also recently signed a number of licensing agreements to exploit its "cool, retro‚" brand, including a deal with high street retailer Next.

In a interim management statement put out today, Haynes reported that UK and Europe sales of the core UK manuals ended its third quarter, to 29th February, down 7%. It added that sales in the year-to-date remained 3% ahead of last year. "As has been well reported economic conditions remain very uncertain. In the absence of further economic deterioration, the group believes there is a realistic possibility of improvement in the second half of the year. The continuing weakness of the US Dollar is, though, a source of concern."

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