Read on for news about Boom! Studios\u2019 licenses with Hasbro for Jem and the Holograms and My Little Pony, PI Kids\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Roald Dahl Publishing Program Expands with \u2018Twits\u2019 Movie Tie-Ins <\/p>\n
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\u2019 sibling imprint Viking Books for Young Readers publishes Dahl\u2019s classic titles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much love for Roald Dahl and the worlds he\u2019s created, and we\u2019re always looking for ways to introduce Dahl\u2019s stories to more readers,\u201d said Kelsey Murphy, senior editor at Viking. \u201cThe Twits is super beloved in the U.K. and, with the movie and the new publishing, it\u2019s a good time to celebrate it in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many fans in this country are aware of Dahl mostly through Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see other Dahl titles, like The Twits, have more presence in the U.S.,\u201d said Rob Valois, VP and editorial director, Penguin Workshop.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cIt has a modern feel, but it\u2019s tonally connected to the original book,\u201d Valois said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice that The Twits is having its moment and more readers will find the series.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cWith Dahl, we\u2019re thinking about the novelization and what that will look like as part of this rich literary history,\u201d Valois said. \u201cWe want to do something that feels worthwhile and necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second title is a Twits-themed entry in the Would You Rather? joke book\/game book series. \u201cThe idea came out of our first screening of the film,\u201d Valois said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d 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\u2019s Netflix premiere.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Jem and My Little Pony Make a Move to Boom! Studios<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The licenses bring Boom! Studios publisher Michael Kelly full circle, as he was previously the long-time head of Hasbro\u2019s global publishing program and was there for both properties\u2019 debuts with IDW. \u201cThere\u2019s no work I\u2019m more proud of than Jem and the Holograms and the release of the comics with IDW,\u201d he said. \u201cThey 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boom!\u2019s Jem program will start with a deluxe collectors\u2019 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. \u201cNothing is set in stone, but there are lots of possibilities,\u201d Kelly said, adding, \u201cOur writing will focus on young adult\/new adult, but everything will be accessible and appropriate for a late middle-grade reader.\u201d<\/p>\n
IDW\u2019s My Little Pony comics came out two years after the debut of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic! TV series in 2010. \u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was one of the first to break those barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cBut Friendship Us Magic! is not at all that,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is deep storytelling and strong characters that appeal to a wide audience. It just happens to star pastel-colored ponies that are girls.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lower end of the age range for My Little Pony is a bit younger than for Jem. \u201cThe complex sequential storytelling will keep it above a certain age, but it could appeal to those as young as eight if they\u2019re comfortable in the medium,\u201d Kelly said. Publishing plans also include deluxe editions of the backlist for collectors. <\/p>\n
Boom! also holds the rights to Hasbro\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
PI Kids Adds Sound to Richard Scarry\u2019s Busy World<\/p>\n
Phoenix International Publications\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard Scarry\u2019s super detailed illustrations have timeless appeal and gentle humor, and they let kids get really lost in the book,\u201d said Susan Rich Brooke, chief publishing officer. \u201cThe 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.\u201d Sound also adds value to the educational concepts, such as first words, that are a big part of the Scarry brand. \u201cWhen you associate sounds with the words it reinforces the learning,\u201d Brooke said.<\/p>\n
In addition to early academic subjects, the Busy World helps kids understand social-emotional concepts and daily life. \u201cIt introduces them to concepts like community, professions, and the world around them,\u201d said John Russell, VP of global licensing. \u201cThe stories really focus on cooperation, curiosity, and kindness, and those are more important in today\u2019s world than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
The enduring popularity of the brand was also appealing to PI Kids. \u201cWe\u2019re always looking for evergreen properties that have staying power and where we can add a new dimension,\u201d Russell said. \u201cThere 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.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Red Racer Books Sets Pace for More Growth with NASCAR <\/p>\n
Red Racer Books, whose mission is to become the go-to children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Red Racer launched the ABCs format\u2014an 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\u2014with 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\u2019s books to their widest audience yet. \u201cNASCAR is very family-friendly, and is even bigger than IndyCar in its audience and as a business,\u201d said Andy Amendola, Red Racer founder and publisher. \u201cIt seemed like a logical next step.\u201d<\/p>\n
Licensed titles give Red Racer access to assets that ensure the details in the books are complete and accurate, which is important to Amendola\u2019s goal of educating young readers in a sport about which he\u2019s passionate. \u201cThis is merchandise with a purpose,\u201d he said. \u201cAuto racing is not as intuitive as a lot of sports. It\u2019s harder to understand. So the book helps introduce kids to racing early. Even parents say they are learning something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
Red Racer\u2019s IndyCar program, which launched in March 2024, now has three other books in addition to the ABCs title. Kat\u2019s 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\u2019s racing helmets). Joseph\u2019s 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. \u201cI\u2019ve had a great experience with IndyCar, and I\u2019ve gotten my feet wet with licensing and how it works,\u201d Amendola said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s First Formula 1 Book, in addition to the title that started it all, ABCs of Racing: My First Guide to Formula 1 Racing.<\/p>\n
Although Formula 1, with its vast licensing program, is not currently in Amendola\u2019s sights for an official license, he hopes to add additional racing IPs to Red Racer\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Cat and Mouse: Genius Cat and Chuck E. Cheese Pair for Kids\u2019 Book<\/p>\n
CEC Entertainment, licensor of the Chuck E. Cheese trademark, has launched a licensed children\u2019s book for ages 3\u20137 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.<\/p>\n
Based on a Chuck E. Cheese YouTube video, Just Stay Positive promotes optimism and resilience and supports children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The partnership came about due to a chance meeting at Licensing Expo 2024. \u201cWhat Genius Cat was doing really matched the brand values of Chuck E. Cheese,\u201d said Melissa McLeanas, VP of global licensing, media, and branded entertainment.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cIt\u2019s a spinach-in-brownies approach to publishing,\u201d said founder Karen Kilpatrick. She was a fan of Chuck E. Cheese before this opportunity came up. \u201cI brought my kids to Chuck E. Cheese. It\u2019s 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.\u201d Just Stay Positive is about having an upbeat outlook even when things don\u2019t go right. \u201cIt\u2019s an important message in these times, which seem heavy and uncertain,\u201d Kilpatrick said.<\/p>\n
CEC launched a licensing and entertainment division five years ago to expand its merchandise program and build on its entertainment content. The company\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cEntertainment 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,\u201d McLeanas said. \u201cChuck E. Cheese is so much more than the fun center experience. We\u2019re looking for opportunities to bring that experience to life beyond the four walls.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Brief<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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\u20137, 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Read on for news about Boom! Studios\u2019 licenses with Hasbro for Jem and the Holograms and My Little…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":92896,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[412,146,85,46,62476,62477],"class_list":["post-92895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-books","tag-books","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-licensing-hotline","tag-october-2025"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}