The World of Eric Carle Infant and Toddler Licensing Program Expands with Two New Licensees

The Joester Loria Group brokered a licensing deal with Jaxxwear, Inc. to develop high quality The World of Eric Carle newborn and infant onesies, rompers, and footies in the U.S. and Canada.

The Caterpillar and Friends collection will utilize The Very Hungry Caterpillar along with other fun characters from Carle’s beloved books to create contemporary all-over prints in a collection of 8 body styles per season for both boys and girls. The infant apparel line will be made with 100% Pima cotton and be hand-printed.

Jaxxwear’s washed 100% Peruvian pima cotton garments are highly durable, resistant to pilling and grow softer with wear. The collection will launch Fall 2013 at department stores and independent retailers throughout the country; sizes will range from newborn to 24 months and retail for $34-$48.

Additionally, Creative Baby has signed on to develop a line of infant and toddler juvenile products and furniture in the U.S. The World of Eric Carle products by Creative Baby will include high chairs, jumpers, walkers booster seats, foam table and chair set with interactivity ranging from $40-$130. The collection will launch Spring 2014 at mid-tier, specialty, department store and independent retailers.

Jaxxwear and Creative Baby complement a growing infant and toddler licensing program of toys, games and gifts at mid-tier, department and specialty stores in the US and Canada. Additional new product introductions coming in Fall 2013 include infant apparel for mid-tier, specialty and national chains by G&W, as well as feeding by Zak Designs and furniture by Levels of Discovery.

License To PR Appointed For The Very Hungry Caterpillar 45th Anniversary Campaign

The Joester Loria Group and its UK representation, Rocket Licensing, have appointed communications agency License to PR to execute the 45th anniversary campaign for The World of Eric Carle. License to PR has been hired for a ten-month project in which they will highlight this milestone anniversary for this iconic children’s publishing franchise and promote the brand’s licensed product lines.

License to PR will execute a major national PR campaign that will include high profile editorial product placement, media and celebrity seeding and sustained parenting blogger outreach.  Additionally, major creative initiatives and social media will support the 45^th anniversary and the annual international Very Hungry Caterpillar Day on Thursday, March 20, 2014.  License to PR will also work closely with Penguin, the publisher of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and all the official UK licensees over the term of the project, to ensure maximum media impact.

The World of Eric Carle Earth Day Activities

Beyond Books: The Independent Art of Eric Carle

Image via http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/

The Joester Loria Group is pleased to share that for the first time ever, famed children’s book author, Eric Carle, will have his extraordinary paintings, sculptures, and sketches from his personal collection, spanning more than 60 years on display to the public.  The collection is on view at the Tacoma Art Museum. Carle is one of the world’s top-selling writers and illustrators of  children’s books, having published more than 70 picture books illustrated in his unique collage technique.  More than 120 million Eric Carle books have been sold around the world, and a copy of the ever popular The Very Hungry Caterpillar is sold every 30 seconds. 

New Apparel Collection for The World of Eric Carle

Licensing Updates for The World of Eric Carle

The Joester Loria Group brokered a number of deals for The World of Eric Carle by renewing key longstanding toy and game partners, Kids Preferred and University Games, and signing new sticker licensee, Trends International, all of whom showcased their World of Eric Carle lines at Toy Fair last week. Kids Preferred has been a longstanding partner The World of Eric Carle for more than seven years with successful programs consisting of plush, plastic and wood developmental toys in leading retail accounts including Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Kohl’s, Sears, and  Barnes & Noble. For 2013, Kids Preferred will expand on its World of Eric Carle program with new developments including:

*An Easter bin program launching at Target in February 2013.  Assortment includes a soft book, teether rattle and bath squirties

*Expansion at Kohl’s with ongoing placement in semi-annual baby sale

*Growing Babies R’ Us program with  more than  20 skus

*A new collection of The World of Eric Carle toys that were previewed at New York Toy Fair last week

*More than 15 new product introductions including developmental and wood toys, soft teether books, tummy time play and bath items ranging from $8.00-$30.00.

*A new collection that will feature the iconic Very Hungry Caterpillar alongside other beloved characters from Carle’s books for the first time.  It will feature a refreshed color palette designed to meet current market trends.

University Games and The World of Eric Carle who first partnered in 2006 to create engaging and educational games and puzzles for kids that are now available at Target, Toys R Us, Kohl’s, K-mart, and Barnes & Noble have extended their partnership for another three years. Building on their years of success, University Games will continue to develop new and innovative products including:

*The Very Hungry Caterpillar Twirl and Toss game; Enjoy some fast-paced fun in this action packed game starring The Very Hungry Caterpillar.™

*The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Friends I Have card game. This game helps children build letter recognition and strengthen their reading vocabulary by using picture clues featuring Eric Carle’s beautiful animal illustrations.

*A variety of puzzles including two new floor puzzles, each featuring giant pieces and measuring 10 feet in length.

*The Very Hungry Caterpillar Counting Floor Puzzle; Great for early math skills, this puzzle helps children learn the numbers 1-20 and encourages them to practice counting.

*The World of Eric Carle Alphabet Floor Puzzle, an alphabet floor puzzle that helps children recognize letters and creates an association between words and related images.

Additionally, the Joester Loria Group brokered a deal to bring The World of Eric Carle to the sticker category with a new licensee, Trends International.  Trends will develop a line of sticker formats including Grab & Go, Flip, and Bitty Bit Packs among others available in Summer 2013. Stickers will feature favorite Eric Carle characters including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear with prices ranging from $1.00-$3.99 The World of Eric Carle’s licensing deals were covered by License! Global Magazine.

Eric Carle Publishes A New Picture Book

Eric Carle, the beloved, international bestselling author of more than seventy children’s books including classics The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, will release a brand new book entitled FRIENDS, this Fall 2013.

Published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, FRIENDS is a deeply personal book for Eric Carle, one that explores the love that binds people and the obstacles they will overcome in order to be together.  Carle commented, “Friends dates back to 1952, when I was a 22 year greenhorn who arrived in New York City from Germany, speaking poor English and carrying a cardboard suitcase and a portfolio of my graphic designs. It was my good luck to meet Leo Lionni, then the Art Director of Fortune magazine, who became my mentor. Upon his recommendation I got my first job in the new world as a graphic designer with The New York Times. After that a loose and infrequent friendship with Leo developed that lasted until his death in 1999. Friends started out as a tribute to Leo Lionni, but the story somehow swerved into the story of another friendship, that of two small children. All friendships are somehow connected.”

“A new Eric Carle book is always an event,” said Michael Green, President and Publisher at Penguin Group USA, “but to have a story that feels so personal and that works on so many levels is especially gratifying. Eric’s art is as bold and vibrant as ever, and I know I speak for everyone at Penguin when I say we’re honored and thrilled to be publishing this book.”

Francesca Dow, Managing Director, Puffin UK, said, “We are excited and proud at Penguin in the UK to be publishing Eric Carle’s new book, with its wonderful art and timeless theme of friendship which readers of all ages will engage with”

The Joester Loria Group, the World of Eric Carle’s global licensing agent, is looking forward to eager for the release of Carle’s latest work, the new title will generate a lot of excitement for the author and help build excitement for the brand as we look We look forward to the towards another major milestone for Carle, the and the upcoming 45th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar in 2014.

Chronicle Books Celebrates The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day™ In The Bay Area

What To Expect at Toy Fair 2013

Toy Fair 2013, one of the largest and most important international toy trade shows, will take place from February 10 through February 13 at  the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Several Joester Loria Group clients will be presenting their latest brand licensing extensions in the toy category at the show. We’re excited to share this sneak preview of what you can expect from our clients at Toy Fair:

▪   The Bridge will be showcasing the latest Annoying Orange products including Talking Plush, Talking Plush Clip-Ons, Talking Keychains, Talking Collectibles, Mini Figures, Talking Playfaces and Talking Target Game (Dart Board) at booth 4B2 on the fourth floor.

▪   Play Visions also will present its latest Annoying Orange assortment of pens, motion stickers and tattoos at booth 477.

▪   Sakar will display Annoying Orange iPhone cases, headphones and iPad cases at booth 1731.

▪   Bendon Publishing will showcase Animal Planet color and activity books and flashcards at booth 5717.

▪   H.I.S. Juveniles will display Animal Planet car seats, stroller toys, neck pillows, travel blankets and bath toys at booth 5741.

▪   The Poof Slinky booth will feature MythBusters science activity kits that follow a “trial and error,” hands-on format, allowing kids to “bust” myths related to everything from aviation to air pressure at booth 1977.

▪   MythBusters The Game will be on display at the Wonder Forge booth 2761.

▪   Kids Preferred will be showing the full range of The World of Eric Carle infant developmental toys and plush at booth 2167.

▪   Mudpuppy will feature the full range of World of Eric Carle wooden magnetic sets and puzzles at booth 6305.

▪   University Games will highlight The World of Eric Carle puzzles and games at booth 1661.

▪   The World of Eric Carle Storytime Pal and Book Buddy will be shown by Zoobies at booth 1063.

The Eric Carle Musuem of Picture Book Art Awarded A Commonwealth Award for Creative Learning

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) has announced the winners of the 2013 Commonwealth Awards. Presented every two years, the Commonwealth Awards shine a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions that arts, humanities, and sciences make to education, economic growth and vitality, and quality of life in communities across Massachusetts.   We are thrilled to announce that The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the recipient of the 2013 Commonwealth Award for Creative Learning.

The Commonwealth Awards will be presented Tuesday, February 19, during a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House.  Congratulations to our friends at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. We are proud to work on the licensing program for a brand that contributes to the arts, humanities and sciences.

For information about the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art visit: http://www.carlemuseum.org/