The Penguin Group will publish a series of books based on the upcoming feature film and television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which is in production at Lucasfilm Animation. The books will debut this summer, in advance of the August 15th theatrical release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The license between Lucasfilm Ltd. and The Penguin Group marks the first global licensed publishing program based on the action-packed, CG-animated Clone Wars. The program spans multiple imprints within Penguin Group (USA), DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley) and Penguin Group (UK).

The Clone Wars takes place between Episodes II and III of the Stars Wars Saga and will be released in the U.S. by Warner Bros. on August 15th. International release dates will be announced soon. In the fall, The Clone Wars will continue as a prime-time television series on the Cartoon Network and TNT.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes audiences on incredible new Star Wars adventures, combining the legendary storytelling of Lucasfilm with an eye-popping, signature animation style.

Debra Dorfman, President and Publisher of Grosset & Dunlap and Price Stern Sloan commented: "We are thrilled to be Lucasfilm's publishing partner for this property." She continued: "Our entire group was creatively and emotionally invested in putting together the publishing and marketing plans for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This is one of the most exciting events in licensing in a really long time!"

Alex Allan, Category Publisher DK Licensing, said "we have had a long, creative partnership with Lucasfilm that has been wonderfully collaborative and fruitful. The Clone Wars franchise has exciting new content that is sure to appeal to a new generation of young readers around the world." She continued: "DK Publishing is really excited about taking this new material, which will encompass hundreds of hours of animation, into our bestselling nonfiction formats."

Eric Huang, Category Publisher Brands & Licensing at Penguin UK, added: "Penguin Group UK is delighted to be a part of the global Clone Wars publishing agreement shared across imprints and with our sister companies around the world. We're all massive Star Wars fans and are proud to be part of this next Star Wars franchise."

The U.S. on-sale date is July 26, 2008 and the UK on-sale date is August 7, 2008. The complete global publishing program includes:

Grosset & Dunlap (US)
The New Padawan (reader)
Battle at Teth (8 x 8")
The Battle Begins (picture book)
Intergalactic Adventure (activity book)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (movie novel; published in the UK by Puffin)
The Galactic Photobook

DK Publishing (US, UK)
Clone Wars: The Visual Guide
Clone Wars: Ultimate Sticker Book
DK Reader Level 1: Watch Out for Jabba the Hutt
DK Reader Level 2: Anakin in Action
Funfax (UK only)

Puffin (UK)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (movie novel)

Ladybird (UK)
Press Out 'n' Build
Intergalactic Adventures Book (activity book)
Prepare for Battle (activity book)
Official Movie Storybook
Front Row Seat Storybook