Licensing Hotline: April 2002

Dinnerware Reveals Secrets of Pistoulet

Jana Kolpen, author/illustrator of The Secrets of Pistoulet: An Enchanted Fable of Food, Magic, and Love (Stewart Tabori & Chang, 1996), is working with Pfaltzgraff to create a line of dinnerware. The products, to be introduced late this year, will reflect the look and themes of the 72-page fable/cookbook hybrid (designed and with photographs by Mary Tiegreen), which contains pull-out recipes, letters and maps. "It's a book from the heart," Kolpen said. "I believe [Pfaltzgraff] can transform the hope that one gets from reading Pistoulet to the table via dinnerware."

"It just seemed like a perfect match for our brand," said

Marsha Everton, Pfaltzgraff's president and CEO. "The table is the emotional epicenter of the home, and dinnerware is this artifact that sits in the middle of all these rituals and traditions of the table." Pfaltzgraff will convey the Pistoulet story through product packaging, by creating items such as spice and recipe boxes that reflect the story's theme of hope, and by bringing books into stores for sale or giveaways. The company is in talks with other manufacturers about additional items such as tea kettles, soup pots and table linens.

STC hopes to use the publicity generated by the dinnerware, according to Kolpen, to re-energize marketing for the book, which has sold 125,000 copies to date. Kolpen and Pfaltzgraff may expand the product line to include Pistoulet's sequel, The Legend of the Villa della Luna, as well as a third book in development.

Products for Little Ones

Two book franchises for young children are the focus of new licensing efforts. Bookstores are expected to be a key distribution channel for some of these tie-in products, with co-packaging, cross-merchandising and bookstore-related promotions possible.

Guess How Much I Love You, Candlewick's 12-million-copy—selling picture and board book, written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram, first published in 1994, is about to extend into apparel, bedding and toys, as well as linking with nonprofit groups for charity tie-ins, according to Rob Mejia of RJM Licensing, the property's licensing agent. Candlewick already produces a full gift line; licensees on board include Peaceable Kingdom (cards), Crocodile Creek (plush), The Art Group (prints), Candemar Designs (craft kits) and Portal (posters).

Tyndale House's inspirational property Little Blessings, targeted to girls ages three to six, is also poised for licensing, with the majority of merchandise expected to be sold through bookstores and the Christian market, said Kimberly Sullivan of licensing agency Z Strategies. The book series, written by Kathleen Long Bostrum and illustrated by Elena Kucharik (of Care Bears fame), launched in 1995 and has 18 titles so far, with 1.3 million copies in print, and more on the way. Tyndale will include a mini-catalogue for Little Blessings books and merchandise in its general catalogue, sent to 25,000 stores.

In Brief

Scholastic and New Line will coproduce a theatrical film or films based on Philip Pullman's fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials.... Nelvana has acquired licensing and entertainment rights for the Berenstain Bears and will develop a television series and other entertainment, including short segments for PBS Kids.... NewKidCo will release interactive software based on Dr. Seuss characters, starting with a GameBoy title this fall. Meanwhile, Random House relaunched www.Seussville.com, the official Dr. Seuss Web site.... Cartoon Network joined with Scholastic to launch Cartoon Network Magazine in February. It is distributed in Scholastic book clubs and fairs and some Barnes & Noble stores.... The World of Roald Dahl has signed four licensing deals in the U.K. Partners include jam and marmalade producer Robertson's for a book giveaway promotion, Europress for software, Camden Graphics for greeting cards, and Winning Moves for board and card games.... Max & Ruby, an animated series coproduced by Nelvana and Silver Lining Productions and based on the books by Rosemary Wells, will premiere on Nickelodeon this fall.... Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann, introduced as a doll in 1915 and in books in 1918, was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame last month. Raggedy Ann is licensed by United Media on behalf of Simon & Schuster.

Corrections

In the licensing feature "Extending the Brand" (Mar. 18), the correct name of Sonny Barger's beer is Sonny Barger Premium Lager. And Wolfgang Puck is the author of Live, Love, Eat!; the title was contracted with Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, the corporation that controls his brand.