So the books got pulped. (Dorling Kindersley disappeared soon after, being reborn as the "DK" imprint under a new owner.)
In 2000, probably not long after this, my publishing company had a booth next door to Dorling Kindersley at Wizard World Chicago. They had brought WAY more Star Wars and other kids' books than they needed — which wasn't many, as it really wasn't that kind of show. But what surprised us all was when they bailed on Saturday, a day early, they decided to abandon all the inventory, setting it out with the trash. "Take what you want," they said. We saved some of it, and some of it went to the freebie tables. I've seen merchandise abandoned with a FREE sign on Sunday at a show before, but never an entire booth's supply!