GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

World of Warcraft Children's Book Series Coming From Scholastic

WoW: Traveler will be written by Young Justice's Greg Weisman.

12 Comments

Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft franchise is expanding into a new market, though it might not be the one you expected. The game developer today announced a partnership with Scholastic for World of Warcraft: Traveler, a children's book series based on the video game franchise.

The book series is being aimed at children ages 8-12, so it likely won't have the same tone as World of Warcraft the game, which is rated T for Teen. The first hardcover book is coming out this November in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, with a second to follow in 2017.

Traveler is set in Azeroth and follows a "young cast of Warcraft characters discovering the mysteries and majesty of the world around them."

The book is written by Greg Weisman, known for his work on Young Justice and The Spectacular Spider-Man. The first one features sketches from Blizzard's Samwise Didier, while the cover was done by another Blizzard artist, Stephane Belin.

"We're excited to be collaborating with Scholastic on a series that will bring Azeroth to life for a whole new audience," Blizzard story and franchise VP Chris Metzen said in a statement. "Greg Weisman is an accomplished writer who's really gotten to the heart and soul of Warcraft with the characters he's developed here-- we're thrilled with the work he's done on World of Warcraft: Traveler."

Here is the official plot description for Traveler:

"It's been years since twelve-year-old Aramar Thorne, a clever boy who is never without his precious sketch book, has seen his father. So when Captain Greydon Thorne comes ashore and asks his son to join him at sea, it feels as if someone has redrawn Aram's entire world. Before he knows it, Aram is aboard the Wavestrider with Lakeshire fading to a distant dot on the horizon. But the thrill of adventure quickly fades, as Greydon relentlessly schools Aram on how to handle his cutlass and how to relate with the strange and diverse creatures of Azeroth. In addition, Aram struggles to get along with the Wavestrider's crew--especially second mate Makasa, a tough teenaged girl who has been reluctantly placed in charge of him.

"Just as Aram starts to get his head above water, a band of vicious pirates attack the Wavestrider, turning his world upside down once again. As Aram tries to find his way home with his father's compass in hand, he'll travel across Azeroth's beautiful and hostile terrain, encountering creatures both terrible and wondrous. He'll seek to understand Azeroth's denizens as he draws them in his sketchbook, forming unlikely friendships along the way. But the journey is hindered by Greydon's compass, which never points north. If the compass isn't leading Aram and Makasa home--to safety--to what destiny is it leading them?"

Traveler is not the first World of Warcraft book series, but it appears to the first one aimed at children.

In addition to Traveler, 2016 will see the release of the Warcraft movie in June, while the next World of Warcraft expansion, Legion, comes to PC before September 21. The expansion, the game's sixth, raises the level cap to 110 and introduce a new class called the Demon Hunter, among other things.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 12 comments about this story