50-51 Publishing LSB 2020_muk.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 22/09/2020 20:12 Page 50
STATE OF THE NATION: PUBLISHING
By the book With books making up a significant part of Christmas gift giving, the licensed publishing category is optimistic of a strong end to the year. LSB looks at some of the latest activity.
Funding success for NSPCC The NSPCC has confirmed the success of its crowdfunding campaign which has raised funds to create a Pantosaurus story book to help schools and families have simple, yet vital, conversations that can help keep children safe. Pantosaurus is a bright yellow friendly dinosaur that helps parents, carers and teachers #TalkPANTS to help support children to recognise what abuse is and how Above: Pantosaurus will be they can speak up. appearing in his first story book. The new story book will be a huge boost for the dynamic, pants-wearing dinosaur’s mission to share his important message. The first Pantosaurus story book will be a fun, visual way to help guide schools and families though difficult conversations in a simple and child-friendly way. The ambition is to get the Pantosaurus story
Above & below: Little Brother Books is confident of retaining its position as the UK’s number one annuals publisher.
Little Brother Books looks ahead Little Brother Books is heading into its key Christmas selling season in “good shape to retain our position as the UK’s number one annuals publisher for the third consecutive year,” md Matthew Reynolds has told LSB. This year’s offering of 13 titles includes the addition of three exclusive new brands, best-selling gaming annuals, plus properties from the world of sport, toys and children’s entertainment. Matthew also stated that he is “very optimistic” about 2021 “although we appreciate it needs to be a year of recovery and consolidation for suppliers and retailers alike.” He continued: “We are already expecting the popularity of our gaming annuals, as well as World of Dinosaurs by The Natural History Museum to continue, with the number of retailers supporting these titles growing year on year. Similarly, we are delighted to see that O.M.G. and Kindi Kids are building momentum and we are confident that 2021 will be a big year for these brands with our retailers, as well as the launch of 44 Cats into our category.” The company has also been working on various new formats to build on its market offering and “further disrupt other areas of licensed publishing”, Matthew promised.
book into every primary that they visit, providing an essential resource. The licensing programme for Pantosaurus is launching with Edutainment Licensing at next month’s Festival Of Licensing.
PRH adds Bluey BBC Studios has named Penguin Random House as the master publishing partner for its hit preschool series, Bluey. PRH now holds global rights in all languages (excluding China and Chinese language) to the titles for the Ludo Studiocreated Bluey. The first three titles – two storybooks and one activity book – will arrive in the US on October 20. In the UK, Bluey books are expected to hit retail in the second half of 2021, following the show’s roll out on Disney+ in the region. Other regions will then follow on afterwards. “We are thrilled to be publishing Bluey and bringing a bit of the Australian sunshine to the UK,” said Francesca Dow, md at Penguin Random House Children’s. “Bluey has a unique charm that appeals to children and adults alike. Her stories are full of boundless energy, brilliant adventures and fun and, most important, are rooted in family experience, which is why they’ve been such a hit with viewers so far. “We are excited by the unparalleled success in Australia and look forward to creating the same sensation here in the UK. Our wish is for all young children and families to fall in love with Bluey, as we have done.” Left: The books will launch in the US in October and in the UK in 2021.
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020