HarperCollins to launch parenting books for Mothercare

HarperCollins has signed a deal with a social networking site backed by retailer Mothercare to launch a series of books on parenting over the coming year.

The mother and baby social networking site, called gurgle.com, has signed an exclusive five-figure deal with HarperCollins to publish three books in spring 2009. The books, which will retail at £12.99, will combine gurgle.com’s educational articles with user-generated content from the website.

Book titles will include Gurgle: pregnancy – how to enjoy it, Gurgle: feeding solved, and Gurgle: sleep solved.

The site launched in October last year and claims to have more than 40,000 registered members and more than 250,000 unique users per month.

Publishing director of HarperCollins Denise Bates says: “We have watched gurgle.com’s growth with interest as it has become a force to be reckoned with in the online parenting realm. The site’s brand values, and the very personal experience it allows all its members to share, will translate extremely well into a fresh, informative and upbeat series of books. The books will speak to parents in a unique tone of voice – their own.”