No more new books to look forward to.

However, death is no longer a setback for today's publishers, indeed, sometimes it makes their life so much easier in terms of new books and tie-in merchandising when they do not have to deal with the author.

There has been much angst in the US book and library circles, with news that publishers HarperCollins may be considering new titles in CS Lewis' much-loved Narnia series.

The reasoning behind such a marketing move seems to be, in the words of one of the HC Directors, that the whole children's market is geared towards new products.

Publishers also have realised the value of merchandising and advertising in recent years - turning a book character into a brand name such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Peter Rabbit, or of course, that famous bear, Winnie The Pooh.

Latest book news indicates that the old favourite Curious George, written back in the 1940s, is set to relaunch with new titles.

Even Pooh Bear is having a difficult time lately. There is a massive lawsuit pending between the Disney Corporation and the owners of the A A Milne rights.

The problem is that while permission was given for Disney to market the Milne characters internationally back in 1961, items such as DVDs, videos and PC games were not invented. And that's what the squabble is all about - a $4 billion squabble according to some.

In the last few years, the practice of writing 'sequels' to classics from long deceased authors has increased. William Horwood was given permission to continue the tales of Ratty and Toad from Grahame's Wind in the Willows.

Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Naughtiest Girl series have been continued with modern children's authors, as have Laura Ingalls Wilder's House on the Prairie series, and the Dr Dolittle series.

Click here for our Sequels and Series booklist.