 Atheneum merged with or was acquired by Scribner's in 1978, then MacMillan in 1984, before the acquisition by Simon & Schuster in 1994.There may have been previous uses of 'Aladdin' as a brand name in the book industry.Aladdin Paperbacks are aimed at readers aged 4 to 12 and most are reprints from other (hardcover) imprints, which include what Simon & Schuster term some of the most enduring children's books of the modern era.