Montreal: Two Canadian animation tv series have been selected for the launch of PBS Kids Books, a new line of children’s books.

In a deal with Simon Spotlight, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, PBS Kids Books will publish Sagwa: The Chinese Siamese Cat, adapted from the series coventure between Montreal’s CineGroupe, Children’s Television Workshop and IF/X Productions of the u.s., itself inspired by the Amy Tan/Gretchen Schields novel; and Zoboomafoo, the preschool wildlife series hosted by the Kratt brothers and produced by Cinar Corp. in association with Earth Creatures Company and pbs.

Zoboomafoo premiered on pbs’ Ready-To-Learn network block in January. Sagwa airs in fall 2001. The books will be available in 2001.

The PBS Kids brand extensions also include online (pbskids.org), home video and tv. Simon Spotlight is a media tie-in company. Simon & Schuster is the publishing arm of Viacom.