Egmont is planning to launch a U.S. business next year following a move into third place in the UK children’s publisher league table, ahead of rivals Random House and HarperCollins, reports the Bookseller’s Katherine Rushton. “We are looking to develop a U.S. business, and we will look to establish a U.S. office early next year,” said group managing director Rob McMenemy. “That’s a big move for us.”

McMenemy highlighted the Lemony Snicket series and Nestle Prize-winning author Julia Golding as “significant contributors” to the company’s performance. The growth at Egmont Publishing was led by classic brands including the Thomas Story Library and Mr Men, and the acquisition of new licences for Bob the Builder and Lazy Town. Egmont recently launched a new research-based series fiction list, 2Heads.