Simon Spotlight and Scholastic have announced they will each publish a line of books based on HIT Entertainment's new animated television series RUBBADUBBERS. Simon Spotlight will publish novelty and storybook formats and Scholastic will publish coloring and activity formats. The books will launch in the summer 2004 with Spotlight and Scholastic jointly coordinating sales and marketing efforts.
In September 2003, the TV series will premiere on Nick Jr. The series is developed by HOT Animation, makers of HIT's sensation BOB THE BUILDER. The show follows a group of bath toys whose imaginations lead them on various adventures, which encourage kids to be whatever they want to be.
"We couldn't be more excited to add RUBBADUBBERS to our list," said Jen Bergstrom, vp/associate publisher, media tie-ins, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. "RUBBADUBBERS is destined to make a huge splash and to become one of the hottest new shows for preschoolers."
"Scholastic is thrilled to partner with HIT Entertainment on this buoyant new series," said Ellie Berger, vp, deputy publisher, publisher, licensed publishing, Scholastic. "Our line of books will celebrate RUBBADUBBERS' theme of using the bath as a gateway into the world of imaginary play and opening the realm of possibility."
Hitting stores in early May 2004, Spotlight's line will include two 8x8 storybooks, UNDERWATER ADVENTURE: DEEP SEA REG and ALL ABOARD! TRAIN DRIVER TUBB ($3.50 each); two vinyl sticker books, IF ONLY ... and BEYOND THE BATHTUB ($5.99 each); two Super Chubby board books, A WORLD OF COLORS and A WORLD OF NUMBERS ($4.99 each); and one bath book, HERE COMES SPLOSHY! ($7.99). Five additional titles will be released in fall 2004. Also launching in May 2004, Scholastics line will include four color and activity titles, BATHTIME SCRAMBLE!; SPLISH, SPLASH, SPLOSH!; TUB TALES; and SPLASH OF COLOR ($4.99 each). Two additional titles will release in fall 2004.
The six-year-old Simon Spotlight has published more than 600 books, with a total of 107 million books in print. Launched in the fall of 1997, Simon Spotlight is Simon and Schuster Children's Publishings unit devoted to media tie-ins. It has series based on Nickelodeon's RUGRATS, BLUE'S CLUES, DORA THE EXPLORER, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE WILD THORNBERRYS, JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS and LITTLE BILL; HIT Entertainment's BOB THE BUILDER; and Jim Henson's BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE properties.
Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. It provides proprietary book and software distribution through school book clubs, schoolbook fairs and to classrooms, as well as through the retail trade. Since 1920, Scholastic has created educational materials for schools and has expanded its reach to include the distribution of books, software, toys, online learning services and television programming directly to the home.
Founded in 1989, HIT Entertainment PLC is a global studio, with divisions in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan, including broadcast production and distribution, video and audio sales, consumer products licensing and marketing. The firm controls all rights for such properties as ANGELINA BALLERINA, BARNEY, BOB THE BUILDER, KIPPER, PINGU and THOMAS & FRIENDS.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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