Animalia gets first licensee
By Staff -- Playthings, 1/29/2008 7:48:00 AM
LOS ANGELES—Penguin has signed on as the debut licensee for Animalia, the children’s television series that recently debuted in the U.S. on PBS Kids Go.
Penguin, whose Australian division published Graeme Base’s bestseller upon which the TV series is based, will offer storybooks, activity and coloring books, readers and novelty books. Penguin also will publish educational books that expand on the curriculum material developed for the PBS Kids Go! broadcast, according to U.S. licensor PorchLight Entertainment.
The first products in the multi-year agreement are expected to be available at retail stores in the U.S. this fall through Grosset and Dunlap, an imprint of the Penguin Young Readers Group.
“We’re thrilled to see Animalia grow beyond the TV screen and are proud to be partnering with Penguin to bring this stand-out property to kids and families in exciting new ways,” said Bruce Johnson, PorchLight’s president and CEO. “Penguin is the perfect licensee to translate the visual depth of the series and its unique content and messaging into one-of-a-kind books. The strong language arts aspects of the TV series also will come to life in this format that is sure to capture kids’ imaginations.”
Animalia stars two contemporary kids, Alex and Zoe, mysteriously transported to a sophisticated and magical world populated with intriguing talking animals that’s come under threat by a mysterious force. Alex and Zoe, along with their Animalian friends, embark on a journey to restore stability to the land.
Books based on the series will debut in Australia and New Zealand in August, territories where BBC Worldwide is overseeing the property’s merchandising.
