Read on for news about Boom! Studios’ licenses with Hasbro for Jem and the Holograms and My Little Pony, PI Kids’ acquisition of books in the Richard Scarry license, Red Racer adding the NASCAR license to its portfolio, a new Chuck E. Cheese title from Genius Cat Books, and more.
Roald Dahl Publishing Program Expands with ‘Twits’ Movie Tie-Ins
Penguin Young Readers Licenses, in partnership with the Roald Dahl Story Company and Netflix, is releasing official tie-in books for the new animated film The Twits, which launched on the streaming service on October 17. Netflix co-produced the film with property owner RDSC, which has been part of the Netflix corporate family since 2021. PYR Licenses’ sibling imprint Viking Books for Young Readers publishes Dahl’s classic titles.
“There’s so much love for Roald Dahl and the worlds he’s created, and we’re always looking for ways to introduce Dahl’s stories to more readers,” said Kelsey Murphy, senior editor at Viking. “The Twits is super beloved in the U.K. and, with the movie and the new publishing, it’s a good time to celebrate it in the U.S.”
Many fans in this country are aware of Dahl mostly through Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. “It’s great to see other Dahl titles, like The Twits, have more presence in the U.S.,” said Rob Valois, VP and editorial director, Penguin Workshop.
The film, a 3D-animated original story that finds new characters joining the classic favorites from the original book, is directed by Phil Johnston, known for Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph. The comedy-adventure film focuses on two orphans and a family of magical animals that rely on their wits and bravery to save the city from Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest people in the world and owners of the disgusting and dangerous amusement park, Twitlandia.
Fans will spot familiar Twit tricks, such the Wormy Spaghetti and the Dreaded Shrinks, in the movie, which features songs by David Byrne and Hayley Williams and the voices of Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale as Mr. and Mrs. Twit. “It has a modern feel, but it’s tonally connected to the original book,” Valois said. “It’s nice that The Twits is having its moment and more readers will find the series.”
The film inspired three tie-in titles. The first, The Twits: The Terrible Tale of Twitlandia, is a middle-grade novelization, a go-to format for movie tie-in programs. “With Dahl, we’re thinking about the novelization and what that will look like as part of this rich literary history,” Valois said. “We want to do something that feels worthwhile and necessary.”
The second title is a Twits-themed entry in the Would You Rather? joke book/game book series. “The idea came out of our first screening of the film,” Valois said. “The movie has these moments that made us think, this is a format we need to do. It felt special and different for a movie tie-in.” Finally, there is an 8×8 picture book, Trouble in Triperot!, a lower price-point format. The 8×8 and Would You Rather? titles came out September 23, and the novelization followed on October 17, the date of the film’s Netflix premiere.
The tie-ins join a variety of Twits books from Viking, including a scratch-and-sniff Stinky Edition of the classic book that came out in 2021 and the paperback release of The Twits Next Door, published in the lead-up to the film in August 2025. This follow-up to the original novel, authored by BBC Radio presenter Greg James and Chris Smith, was published in hardcover in fall 2024. The original book, published in 1980, has sold 16 million copies worldwide in 41 languages.
Jem and My Little Pony Make a Move to Boom! Studios
Boom! Studios has acquired the rights from Hasbro to create comics for two 1980s-origin properties, My Little Pony and Jem and the Holograms. Comics publishing for both IPs had been with IDW, having launched with that company in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
The licenses bring Boom! Studios publisher Michael Kelly full circle, as he was previously the long-time head of Hasbro’s global publishing program and was there for both properties’ debuts with IDW. “There’s no work I’m more proud of than Jem and the Holograms and the release of the comics with IDW,” he said. “They captured the essence of the property for a new generation and brought in new fans and fans of the original TV series. From the diversity of the cast to the genuine relationships between the characters, there was a lot I found to be very meaningful, and I think the audience did too.”
Boom!’s Jem program will start with a deluxe collectors’ edition of the entire IDW library of titles, launching on Kickstarter in November and available at retail thereafter. New storytelling will begin in 2026. While discussions with Hasbro are in the early stages, Kelly said opportunities include picking up where the original comics left off, doing a completely new reboot, and/or creating a series that provides closure to the original animated show, which ran from 1985 to 1988 and ended with some loose ends. “Nothing is set in stone, but there are lots of possibilities,” Kelly said, adding, “Our writing will focus on young adult/new adult, but everything will be accessible and appropriate for a late middle-grade reader.”
IDW’s My Little Pony comics came out two years after the debut of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic! TV series in 2010. “It’s hard to imagine now, but at that time nobody believed there was a market for My Little Pony comics or any comics that were not for 18-plus-year-old males,” he said. “It was one of the first to break those barriers.”
Kelly envisions that the new comics will focus primarily on Friendship Is Magic!, which ran until 2019. Kelly pointed out that when the My Little Pony brand came out in the 1980s, it was marketed for girls. “But Friendship Us Magic! is not at all that,” he said. “There is deep storytelling and strong characters that appeal to a wide audience. It just happens to star pastel-colored ponies that are girls.”
The lower end of the age range for My Little Pony is a bit younger than for Jem. “The complex sequential storytelling will keep it above a certain age, but it could appeal to those as young as eight if they’re comfortable in the medium,” Kelly said. Publishing plans also include deluxe editions of the backlist for collectors.
Boom! also holds the rights to Hasbro’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which it has been publishing since 2016. In 2024, it ended the original series and debuted a reinvention of the franchise called Power Rangers Prime. Kelly sees a strong future for that property, which currently consists of the mainline monthly series, collected for the trade every four to six issues, along with mini-series and one-shots that explore side stories or character arcs.
PI Kids Adds Sound to Richard Scarry’s Busy World
Phoenix International Publications’ PI Kids imprint has acquired the rights from Penguin Random House to publish sound books and other novelty formats tied to the Busy World of Richard Scarry.
“Richard Scarry’s super detailed illustrations have timeless appeal and gentle humor, and they let kids get really lost in the book,” said Susan Rich Brooke, chief publishing officer. “The illustrations are full of life. It makes sense to add sound to them and give the readers new ways to participate in the busy scenes.” Sound also adds value to the educational concepts, such as first words, that are a big part of the Scarry brand. “When you associate sounds with the words it reinforces the learning,” Brooke said.
In addition to early academic subjects, the Busy World helps kids understand social-emotional concepts and daily life. “It introduces them to concepts like community, professions, and the world around them,” said John Russell, VP of global licensing. “The stories really focus on cooperation, curiosity, and kindness, and those are more important in today’s world than ever.”
The enduring popularity of the brand was also appealing to PI Kids. “We’re always looking for evergreen properties that have staying power and where we can add a new dimension,” Russell said. “There are so many platforms now, with TV, streaming, and YouTube, and the barriers to entry are low. People are inundated with content, so something timeless like Richard Scarry stands out. Parents grew up with it and read it to their own kids.” PI Kids has been expanding its roster of evergreen brands with literary roots; in addition to Richard Scarry, it recently added the Mo Willems license and offers products tied to Eric Carle.
The Scarry program will include four titles. A Little Sound Book, a core PI Kids format, will release in 2026. That will be followed in 2027 by a new format, a shaped sound book featuring Lowly Worm and his Apple Car, as well as a sound book with a steering wheel module, a good fit with the Busy World and its many vehicles. The following year will bring a ready-to-read sound book with 10 sound buttons that allow fans to hear the entire story read aloud.
Red Racer Books Sets Pace for More Growth with NASCAR
Red Racer Books, whose mission is to become the go-to children’s publisher for books about auto racing, recently signed on as a licensee of NASCAR. ABCs of NASCAR will be published in February 2026, timed to the Daytona 500, the first and highest-profile race of the NASCAR season.
Red Racer launched the ABCs format—an A-to-Z introduction to racing, including the science and technology, rules and strategy, history and culture, people (from pit crews to engineers), and safety—with a non-licensed title about Formula 1 racing. It then took the concept to IndyCar and got permission to do an official IndyCar version of the format. The new NASCAR title represents the third ABCs title and second licensed version, and it brings the company’s books to their widest audience yet. “NASCAR is very family-friendly, and is even bigger than IndyCar in its audience and as a business,” said Andy Amendola, Red Racer founder and publisher. “It seemed like a logical next step.”
Licensed titles give Red Racer access to assets that ensure the details in the books are complete and accurate, which is important to Amendola’s goal of educating young readers in a sport about which he’s passionate. “This is merchandise with a purpose,” he said. “Auto racing is not as intuitive as a lot of sports. It’s harder to understand. So the book helps introduce kids to racing early. Even parents say they are learning something new.”
Red Racer’s IndyCar program, which launched in March 2024, now has three other books in addition to the ABCs title. Kat’s Magic Helmet: The Early Racing Adventures of Katherine Legge is an autobiographical story co-authored by Legge, one of the few female drivers in the sport, and illustrated by Ashleigh Mower (who designs Legge’s racing helmets). Joseph’s Big Dream: An Indy 500 Story is by Josef Newgarden, a driver who won the Indy 500 after 11 tries, and Good Night Racetrack is a tribute to the track and 100 years of the Indy 500 written by Newgarden and his wife Ashley. “I’ve had a great experience with IndyCar, and I’ve gotten my feet wet with licensing and how it works,” Amendola said.
The non-licensed Formula 1 program has also expanded, now including All About Race Cars: A Guide to Formula 1 Race Cars, and a board book, ABCs of Racing: Baby’s First Formula 1 Book, in addition to the title that started it all, ABCs of Racing: My First Guide to Formula 1 Racing.
Although Formula 1, with its vast licensing program, is not currently in Amendola’s sights for an official license, he hopes to add additional racing IPs to Red Racer’s list. One that is in the early discussion phase is IMSA, which runs a Le Mans-style race called 24 Hours of Daytona and is owned by NASCAR.
Cat and Mouse: Genius Cat and Chuck E. Cheese Pair for Kids’ Book
CEC Entertainment, licensor of the Chuck E. Cheese trademark, has launched a licensed children’s book for ages 3–7 called Just Stay Positive with Check E. Cheese & Friends, in partnership with licensee Genius Cat Books. It debuted on September 23, timed to National Literacy Month.
Based on a Chuck E. Cheese YouTube video, Just Stay Positive promotes optimism and resilience and supports children’s mental health and family literacy. It is available in independent brick-and-mortar shops, libraries, and online channels, as well as through the Chuck E. Cheese online store. Each book contains 750 free e-tickets that are redeemable at the nearly 600 Chuck E. Cheese locations in the U.S.
The partnership came about due to a chance meeting at Licensing Expo 2024. “What Genius Cat was doing really matched the brand values of Chuck E. Cheese,” said Melissa McLeanas, VP of global licensing, media, and branded entertainment.
Genius Cat Books is a small, quick-to-market publisher focused on titles that are whimsical and fun for children but with content and messages that adults appreciate. “It’s a spinach-in-brownies approach to publishing,” said founder Karen Kilpatrick. She was a fan of Chuck E. Cheese before this opportunity came up. “I brought my kids to Chuck E. Cheese. It’s such a fun place. And when I started looking online at the YouTube videos, they really resonated with me. They were so aligned with our approach.” Just Stay Positive is about having an upbeat outlook even when things don’t go right. “It’s an important message in these times, which seem heavy and uncertain,” Kilpatrick said.
CEC launched a licensing and entertainment division five years ago to expand its merchandise program and build on its entertainment content. The company’s licensee list now numbers more than 30 companies across a variety of product categories, including nostalgic products for adults and toys, apparel, and games for kids who enjoy the brand today.
On the entertainment side, the company has more than 300 videos that run in its fun centers and on its YouTube Kids channel and a new dedicated streaming channel available on platforms such as Roku and FireTV. It also offers original music on all the leading streaming services. It recently announced a partnership with Happy Nest Entertainment, a joint venture of UTA and Stampede Ventures, to develop its first long-form content, The Chuck E. Cheese Christmas Special, set to debut this year.
While Just Stay Positive is its first foray into narrative fiction for children, CEC Entertainment released a Chuck E. Cheese party cookbook and a coloring and activity book early in 2024 with licensee Weldon Owen, a division of Insight Editions. The holiday special will likely lead to more opportunities for licensed products, including publishing.
“Entertainment and our characters are a huge part of the experience at our fun centers, but our content, including publishing, lets families take that experience and positive messaging home,” McLeanas said. “Chuck E. Cheese is so much more than the fun center experience. We’re looking for opportunities to bring that experience to life beyond the four walls.”
In Brief
Insight Editions has acquired the rights from King for an all-ages cookbook based on the mobile game Candy Crush. Tasty: The Official Candy Crush Desserts Book, which published on October 7, features more than 50 recipes inspired by the treats seen in the game…. DK published Marvel Studios: Cross-Sections on October 14 as part of its extensive Marvel publishing program. The book provides a detailed look at the inner workings of vehicles, weapons, and buildings, from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to Avengers Tower…. Alien Books is publishing two original comic book mini-series in 2026 based on Zorro, following the success of its Zorro Remastered crowdfunding campaign. The Zorro and Zorro Legacy mini-series, the latter set in the modern day, are published under license from Zorro Productions and distributed through IDW Publishing…. KimChiChic Beauty, the beauty brand founded by drag performer and now children’s author Kim Chi, is debuting a limited-edition makeup and merchandise collection inspired by Donutella Hamachi and the Library Adventures, a new novel for grades 3–7, authored by Kim Chi and Stephan Lee and published by Walker Books U.S. The collection includes three lip glosses in flavors inspired by the book’s three superheroes, a plushie keychain with gloss inside, another keepsake keychain, and custom stickers. Both the book and the collection debuted on September 30…. Moomin Characters and Annapurna are collaborating on an animated film starring the Moomins, the first-ever Moomins movie to be developed in the U.S. The film will be written and produced by Rebecca Sugar, creator of the Cartoon Network series Steven Universe…. Workman Kids published a non-licensed title, Wickedly Popular: Stickers for Your Inner Witch, on October 7 to capitalize on the popularity of the Wicked franchise and the anticipation for the release of the feature film Wicked: For Good in November. The title features more than 1,500 illustrated stickers.