Pearson PLC's (PSON.LN) book publishing division Penguin said Tuesday it has signed a deal to make a number of its English books available in electronic book format to readers in China, as the company prepares itself for the rapid rise in the use of electronic book readers like Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN) Kindle.

Penguin has signed an agreement with Beijing-based Founder Apabi Group to make over 2,000 book titles available to download.

The Chinese e-book market is primarily focused on libraries and academic collections but there is a small but rapidly growing consumer e-book market, the company said.

The Chinese e-book market in 2008 was estimated to be worth 200 million Chinese Yuan (GBP20.14 million).

Penguin e-book sales are becoming a "significant" part of the market in the U.S., chief executive of the Penguin Group John Makinson said at a briefing Tuesday.

"We're not at that point in the U.K. but it's likely that penetration in U.K. will track penetration in U.S.," he added.

In the U.S. about 1% of sales are via electronic downloads for e-readers. Kindle is yet to launch in the U.K.

Company Web site: www.penguin.co.uk

-By Erica Herrero-Martinez, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9353; erica.herrero-martinez@dowjones.com