Random House and Disney Jump Into Hoppers Tie-Ins
Disney Publishing, along with master licensee Random House Children’s Books, sister imprint DK, and Chronicle Books, launched a seven-title tie-in program in advance of the March 6 release of the hit Disney-Pixar film, Hoppers.
The movie centers on Mabel, who learns that scientists have developed a way for human minds to “hop” into lifelike robotic animals and communicate with the real thing. She uses the technology to immerse herself in the animal world and learn its mysteries, and teams with a beaver to prevent a developer from taking over a beloved natural area. The voice cast includes Piper Curda, John Hamm, Tom Law, Bobby Moynihan, and Meryl Streep.
Chris Angelilli, senior VP and editor-in-chief, licensed publishing, for Random House Children’s books, said the Random House team were attracted to Hoppers the minute they heard about it. “From the adorable animals to the laugh-out-loud humor, to the heartwarming message of the film, we knew that it was going to be a hit with families and absolutely perfect for publishing,” he said.
“The film is wacky and unique, and it takes unexpected—and hilarious—turns that are surprising, silly, and memorable,” said Caitlin Pyke, editorial franchise lead at Disney Publishing. “It is always exciting to create books for amazing films and beloved franchises, but it is particularly thrilling to be part of something completely new that you just know audiences are going to fall in love with from the opening scene.” She added that there was a lot to work with visually. “The juxtaposition of nature and technology in the film was particularly fun to play with in our illustrations across various art styles.”
RHCB’s initial list includes a junior novelization, an 8x8 Pictureback (Hoppers: Home Sweet Home), two Step Into Reading early readers (Hoppers: The Pond Crew and Hoppers: A Friend Like You), and a Little Golden Book, all published on January 27. These are top-selling formats across the company’s Disney and Disney-Pixar releases. Sister imprint DK, meanwhile, published the Hoppers Ultimate Sticker Book, also on January 27, and Chronicle Books debuted The Art of Hoppers on February 10.
The film has grossed nearly $250 million at the global box office to date, making it one of the top two releases and the highest-grossing animated film of 2026. Meanwhile, both moviegoers and critics gave the film a 94% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes review site. Given the film’s robust box office and solid reviews, Random House is considering expanding the program with additional titles going forward.
Loyola Press’s 4U2B Problem-Solves with Princess Penelope
Loyola Press imprint 4U2B Books & Media is releasing four titles tied to the brand-new YouTube series Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things, created by Angela Santomero. This is the latest preschool show from Santomero, whose previous series include Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Super Why!
4U2B, which launched in 2022, is focused on entertaining, educating, and empowering children and families and cultivating a love of reading and lifelong learning while aiding caregivers in helping children develop self-awareness, social skills, responsible decision-making, and thriving relationships. “We’re very focused on the mission,” Joellyn Cicciarelli, publisher and president, told PW. “And what Angela does so beautifully is very aligned with the goals of this imprint.”
Santomero said, “My mission has always been to empower, challenge, and build the self-esteem of preschoolers while making them laugh.” She added, “I come from a family of teachers and I try to elevate what teachers do everyday by putting the very best preschool curriculum in a media brand that can reach millions of kids at once.”
When Loyola Press was thinking about launching 4U2B, executive editor Gary Jansen suggested that Cicciarelli connect with Santomero, whom he had known for years. At their first meeting, they realized they both shared a history with preschool TV icon Fred Rogers. Cicciarelli was his editor for two years, working with him on 12 books, including the Grow and Learn with Mister Rogers series. Santomero’s work is strongly influenced by Rogers, and Daniel Tiger is descended from the original Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and owned and co-produced by Fred Rogers Productions.
Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things stars a kitten who uses kindness and friendship to solve problems. “She’s a strong female heroine who is sparkly but is also a leader, and brave, and speaks her mind,” Santomero said. “Kids need critical thinking skills right now. I want them to grow up thinking that there’s a creative solution to every problem.” The show has attracted more than four million views in its first month on YouTube Kids, and further broadcast and streaming distribution is in development.
Each of the four glitter-embellished hardbound early readers currently planned stars a different main character. Books 1 and 2, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things and Dragon’s Marshmallow Mess, come out on April 21, with two more titles scheduled for November 3.
Santomero’s shows are known for having characters break the fourth wall, speaking directly to the viewer, with pauses incorporated to allow fans to consider solutions. The books capture this spirit as well, with the characters looking out from the pages at the reader and asking direct questions. Santomero herself appears in the books, as she does on screen to read the beginning and ending of each story aloud.
The emphasis on books in the on-screen storytelling and the availability of actual books as close as possible to the debut of the show were intentional. “Starting with a book was really important to me, because I do think that is where kids start thinking and where parents are already interacting with their kids,” Santomero said. “I want to capture the love of reading and the love of learning and the idea that the adventures you find inside books can come alive.”
The plot of the second book illustrates the concepts that drive the storytelling. When Dragon’s fire-breathing causes problems for everyone, Penelope and friends’ solution—having Dragon roast marshmallows—satisfies everyone while letting Dragon be Dragon. “Everything is cute and silly and fun, but the curriculum behind it tries to elevate kids using kindness in thinking about how to solve these problems,” Santomero said.
“The three themes that travel through all the books and all the shows are kindness, creativity, and problem-solving,” Cicciarelli added. “These are so important for kids today. It’s what the world needs right now.”
Tommy Nelson’s DudePerfect Program Expands into Fiction
Tommy Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is expanding its Dude Perfect publishing program with the addition of a Dude Perfect + Panda middle-grade sports mystery series. The first title in the series, Operation Trick Shot, releases on May 12, 2026, with a second, Match Day Mayhem, planned for September.
Dude Perfect is a family sports-entertainment company centering on videos created by twins Cory Cotton and Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, Cody Jones, and Tyler Toney, all former college roommates at Texas A&M University. Known for their viral trick shots and epic battles, their YouTube channel has 61.8 million subscribers and the group has amassed more than 18 billion views across all platforms. Over their 17-year history, Dude Perfect has starred in a TV series and a theatrical film, offered licensed products including outdoor toys, board games, and video games, and performed in sold-out arena tours.
Tommy Nelson first paired with Dude Perfect about six years ago when they pitched a compendium based on their YouTube content, Dude Perfect: 101 Tricks, Tips, and Cool Stuff, which was published in 2021 and has sold more than 300,000 copies. It was followed by a picture book, Good Night, Dude Perfect, in 2023. “Even at that time, they knew they wanted to go into middle grade fiction,” Shannon Marchese, VP and publisher at HarperCollins Christian, told PW. “The brand is so on-screen, and they knew they wanted an entertainment option that was off-screen. They knew the books would have a long life and they wanted to invest in that.”
All of the key elements that characterize Dude Perfect and appeal to readers 8–12 are integrated into the novels, including humor, high adventure, the mystery element, and sports, Marchese said. “We started with, who would the Dudes be if they were eightth graders? The characters model traits like kindness and teamwork that make you a good person and that you want to see in a 12-year-old boy.”
Panda is a mysterious costumed character (no one know who’s beneath the costume) who regularly appears in the YouTube content and has become a part of the team. “He’s a favorite at the tour and on the merchandise,” Marchese said. In the books, he takes on the role of a secret agent-type character who, behind the scenes, shapes what happens, with the Dudes unaware of his role in helping them succeed. “He’s nonverbal, but he’s got things going on.”
The first book, coming out May 12, is about basketball and features Cory Cotton, while the second (out Sept. 22) stars Hilbert and is about soccer. The latter is timed to the first stops on this year’s Dude Perfect live tour, and the company is talking to the tour operator about the possibility of selling the mysteries on-site. “A book is a great way to expand fans’ experience after the tour, whether they take it with them or buy it afterward,” Marchese said. Two more titles follow in 2026, one about baseball highlighting Toney as the lead and another about American football.
So far, all the Dude Perfect books have been for a broad audience, but in 2027 they plan to release a devotional title for their Christian followers. “They have been open about their faith journey, speaking to that audience at the end of the videos and on their tours,” Marchese said. There are also plans in the works for more mysteries and additional general-market fiction and nonfiction formats, including an update of the tips and tricks book.
Licensed Products Ahead for Wings of Fire
Fans of Tui T. Sutherland’s Wings of Fire middle-grade dragon fantasy series will soon be able to enhance their reading experience with a range of licensed products, with the Joester Loria Group being named the property’s new global licensing agent. Writers House is Sutherland’s literary agent and helped broker the deal.
“We work closely with Writers House to identify key literary franchises with licensing potential,” Debra Joester, CEO of the Joester Loria Group, told PW. The agency has been building its literary division over the last several years, adding Miffy, Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and now Wings of Fire, after seeing success with Eric Carle for many years.
“Wings of Fire was presented by Writers House and quickly gained our interest, especially once we learned that a number of our staffers have kids who are obsessed with the books,” Joester said. “In addition to our internal team, the head of sales of one of our master toy licensees has a son and friends who are huge fans of Wings of Fire. Once we began exploring the property, we heard more and more similar stories. In speaking with Scholastic, we learned about the FunWing Fests and the thousands of kids who attend with the costumes and masks of their favorite dragon tribe. We quickly realized that there is a huge Wings of Fire fanbase and an exciting opportunity to deliver products and experiences for those fans.”
Joester expects the first licensees could be announced within 60 days or so, with apparel, toys, and stationery likely to be key early categories, and video games and collectibles also on the horizon. The new partners will join a few preexisting licensees, such as BullsiToys for plush cuff wraps and bag charms, and Trevco, for T-shirts sold online and through the FanWing Fests. “An indicator of strong demand, but also one of the things we will have to address, is the many infringing products,” Joester said. “It’s really extraordinary. I don’t recall ever seeing a property with as many infringing products across categories as Wings of Fire.”
The agency is currently working on a style guide. “It’s going to have to be very robust to include the many characters and dragon tribes,” Joester said. “The novels have some beautiful art, but we are creating a lot of new art to ensure that licensees can deliver great products.”
Merchandise will be distributed across all channels, including bookstores. The agency has close relationships with Barnes & Noble, which already sells some of the BullsiToys product, and Books-a-Million, and works with independent book shops as well. “For JLG’s literary portfolio, Target has also been a great partner,” Joester added. “The publishing department buys across titles for key franchises like Dog Man and Eric Carle, and other departments from toys to apparel are also very supportive.”
Published by Scholastic since the first book in 2012, Wings of Fire has more than 35 million copies in print in 16 languages; book 16, The Hybrid Prince, came out on March 3. Scholastic has also released 10 graphic novel adaptations under its Graphix imprint, as well as coloring and activity titles.
“We love working with literary properties that get kids into and keep kids reading,” Joester added. “Our goal is to amplify the readers’ connection to the books with merchandise, video games, and experiences that bring the stories and characters off the pages and, in turn, promote the books.”
In Brief
Random House Children’s Books will publish the first YA romance under the Star Wars brand, with the July 21 release of Star Wars: Eyes Like Stars by Ashley Boston…. Dynamite Entertainment launched a new Muppets comic book series under license from Jim Henson Productions: The Muppets Noir. Issue #1, featuring Kermit as Flip Minnow, P.I., was released on February 18…. Dr. Seuss Enterprises has signed Just Play as its master toy licensee for Dr. Seuss. The first products introduced will be tied to the Cat in the Hat feature film, set for a November 6 release. The deal includes plush, collectible figures, and arts and crafts, among other categories…. Kids’ digital reading platform Epic is adding titles from Paramount’s Nickelodeon division to its library of digital content, including titles tied to SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Dora, Rugrats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shimmer and Shine, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rusty Rivets, and Blaze and the Monster Machines.… Millimages and its U.K.-based licensing agent bRAND-WARD have signed Penguin Random House to a three-year worldwide publishing agreement (excluding Japan and Korea) with Molang, a French TV series based on a Korean character introduced on the messaging app Kakao Talk. The deal focuses on activity books, with the first list in the U.K. including three coloring titles: Molang Café Cuties (July 2), Molang Friends Cuties (Oct. 1), and Molang Dress-up Cuties (Feb. 7, 2027).
