The Reader’s Digest Association, based in Chappaqua, has announced new partnerships with NASA and DreamWorks Animation, creators of Shrek.

Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with DreamWorks Animation for the rights to sell Shrek-themed products in conjunction with the release of the film “Shrek the Third.”

Editors of the Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge, meanwhile, are collaborating with NASA scientists to integrate science, technology, engineering and math vocabulary into their annual competition.
For its first DreamWorks project, Reader’s Digest has produced the Shrek the Third Storybook & Viewer for children ages 4 to 8. Peering through a viewer in the shape of Shrek’s head, children can read the story while looking at scenes with sound effects. It’s being distributed by Simon & Schuster in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The U.S. retail price is $24.99.

In the fall, Reader’s Digest will publish the title in the book-and-magnetic-playset format, and it’s planning to release another title in conjunction with the movie’s DVD release late this year.

Reader’s Digest and NASA tout their partnership as an effort to improve science literacy in America by developing science-themed questions, such as “What is the derivation of the word astronaut?”

More than 2 million students entered this year’s Word Power Challenge, with the finals held in Orlando, Fla. A television special about the contest will air on NBC stations this summer, Readers Digest said.

“In today’s highly competitive world, students need to be able to communicate effectively across a wide variety of subjects,” said Kathleen Bordelon, executive director of the Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge, in a written statement. “Our partnership with NASA, a national leader in scientific innovation, extends the Word Power Challenge across the curriculum.”

NASA said the collaboration ties into their efforts to cultivate future explorers and innovators.