Grow with Peter Rabbit initiative continues during National Children’s Gardening Week

To mark 120 years since the publication of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved children’s classic, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Penguin Random House Children’s has launched Grow With Peter Rabbit in partnership with non-profit garden designers Grow2Know.  This initiative will green-up community spaces across the UK and continue Beatrix Potter’s legacy of conservation.

During National Children’s Gardening week (28 May – 5 June), the initiative will focus on encouraging children to Grow With Peter Rabbit through a series of digital tutorials, school resources and free workshops.

Dobbies are the official garden centre partner for The World of Peter Rabbit this year and will be hosting free Grow With Peter Rabbit workshops in 65 stores across the UK on Sunday 5 June. The workshops will provide a playful introduction to gardening, including making Peter Rabbit ears, exploring a vegetable patch and a demonstration of how to re-grow vegetables with an activity devised by Grow2Know.

The Grow2Know show garden was unveiled to critical acclaim at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week, while Dobbies scooped three awards for sustainability, innovation and their stand design.

Tayshan Hayden-Smith (pictured above), founder of Grow2Know, has devised four How-To videos to teach children and families simple gardening activities to try at home. These four videos are inspired by The World of Peter Rabbit and will be available online via the Peter Rabbit website from today, 27 May.

During National Children’s Gardening Week, influencers JB Gill – TV presenter and farmer – and Jake and Hannah Graf MBE – one of the UK’s most influential LBGTQ couples – will take part in the #GrowWithPeterRabbit challenge on their social media channels to demonstrate how easy and fun it is to grow your own vegetables at home using simple, upcycled objects and a packet of seeds.

Penguin Ventures licensees have been lending their support to the campaign, including Jardinopia, Enesco and Rainbow Designs, who have offered products and prizes to the campaign. Penguin Random House Children’s have also provided copies of the new picture book format of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Dobbies will be stocking a range of Peter Rabbit books and merchandise this year as part of the official partnership with The World of Peter Rabbit.

Izzy Richardson, Director Owned Brands at Penguin Random House, says: “Our intention with Grow with Peter Rabbit is to bring the joy and benefits of nature to young children and families in communities across the country. Our partnerships with Grow2Know, Dobbies and our licensees help us to reach and engage with a wider family demographic, whilst at the same time, help us to leverage our IP to continue to affect positive change and drive social impact.”

Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager at Dobbies Garden Centres, adds: “Dobbies is thrilled to be supporting the Grow With Peter Rabbit campaign. Our Little Seedlings Club brings the benefits of gardening to young people within our local communities and we’ve had a great response to the Peter Rabbit partnership. We can’t wait to bring the World of Peter Rabbit and the joy of gardening to families during National Children’s Gardening Week.”

Grow With Peter Rabbit launches today, Friday 27 May, with new How-To videos uploaded to the Peter Rabbit website throughout National Children’s Gardening Week; visit https://www.peterrabbit.com/grow-with-peter-rabbit/.

Dobbies’ Grow with Peter Workshops take place on Sunday 5 June and can be booked for free across stores nationwide here.

Peter Rabbit’s birthday celebrations continue with community gardening campaign

To mark 120 years since the publication of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved children’s classic The Tale of Peter Rabbit, publisher Penguin Random House Children’s has today announced a three-year partnership with non-profit garden designers Grow2Know CIC, on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (owners of The World of Peter Rabbit).

A pioneering non-profit dedicated to reconnecting people with nature and each other through the creation of community gardens, Grow2Know reclaims blank spaces and transforms them into gardens designed to contribute to local residents’ health, happiness and wellbeing.

The seed for Grow2Know was sown by North Kensington resident Tayshan Hayden-Smith (pictured) in response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017, when residents came together to green up spaces in the area to uplift and unify the community through nature – inspiring the creation of the Grenfell Garden of Peace.

The new Grow With Peter Rabbit initiative has been developed by Penguin Random House Children’s in partnership with Grow2Know to bring the benefits of gardening and spending time in nature to as many families as possible. Drawing on Peter Rabbit’s playful nature, as well as his insatiable appetite for vegetables, Grow2Know’s founders – semi-professional footballer, community activist and TV presenter Tayshan Hayden-Smith, garden designer and TV presenter Danny Clarke (aka ‘The Black Gardener’), and Ali Yellop, agriculturist, chef and herbalist – will design and deliver three Peter Rabbit community garden makeovers between now and 2024.

The first Peter Rabbit-inspired garden is currently in development in a disused plot attached to St Clement & St James CE Primary School, Kensington: a school in the heart of the community where Grow2Know was founded, and the borough in which Peter Rabbit’s creator, Beatrix Potter, was born on 28 July 1866. The garden will be unveiled just before the school breaks up for the summer holidays. An illustration showing the design inspiration for the garden, by visual artist Kai McKim, is revealed today.

Interactive areas for children to read, play, grow and learn, inspired by the adventures of Peter Rabbit and friends, have been incorporated into the garden, which can be used by the local community to host workshops and events from this summer onwards.

Members of the public from across the UK will also be encouraged to Grow With Peter Rabbit from home during National Children’s Gardening Week 2022 (28 May to 5 June) when a series of filmed How-To videos, led by Tayshan Hayden-Smith, will be released.

TV presenter and farmer JB Gill will take part in the challenge on his social media, as will married couple Jake and Hannah Graf MBE, named by the Guardian as one of the UK’s most influential LBGTQ couples, who – alongside their current careers and parenting responsibilities – are vocal advocates for the trans community. Along with their families, they will be joining in with the Grow With Peter Rabbit challenge to demonstrate how easy and fun it is to grow your own vegetables at home using simple, upcycled objects and a packet of seeds.

In addition, primary school teachers across the UK will have access to specially created Grow With Peter Rabbit learning resources, meaning multiple opportunities for parents and children to engage with the 120th-anniversary campaign.

Supporters of Grow With Peter Rabbit include garden centre retailer Dobbies and London-based non-profit organisation Octavia.

Dobbies, the official garden centre partner for The World of Peter Rabbit this year, will be donating plants and materials for the school garden in support of the initiative, as well as hosting free Peter Rabbit workshops in stores nationwide.

Octavia, founded by the Victorian philanthropist Octavia Hill to support Londoners of all ages, is providing a contribution towards the build through its Better Lives Community Fund, which supports projects which reduce loneliness and isolation amongst young people in London.

Peter Rabbit is announced as first licence for My 1st Years by Penguin Ventures

My 1st Years has partnered with THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT to develop a DTR range in a deal executed by Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (owner of THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT brand and part of Penguin Random House).

Following the success of the print on demand personalised product range featuring PETER RABBIT from official licensees, My 1st Years will now develop a Direct to Retail range to expand their offering of bespoke products.  This is the first time My 1st Years has worked directly with a licensor on development.  The cross-category offering will include apparel and fashion accessories from Dennicci; nursery and homeware; stationery and gifts, all of which can be personalised by consumers and ordered directly online.

Susan Bolsover, Global Licensing and Consumer Products Director, Penguin Ventures says: “Our DTR for print on demand and personalised products with My 1st Years is not only a fantastic addition to THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT licensing family, but will provide gifters with a great opportunity to purchase something truly unique for even the littlest of Peter Rabbit fans this Christmas. We are proud to support an incredibly entrepreneurial and homegrown business whose extensive experience in the UK baby and infant market means Peter Rabbit is in great hands.”

“We have been delighted with the response to the Peter Rabbit licensed products that we currently personalise and so decided to grow the range by developing our very own licensed products,” says Amy Weaver, Head of Buying at My 1st Years. “As newcomers to the world of licensing, My 1st Years is thrilled to be working with Penguin Ventures on a brand as established and as well-loved as Peter Rabbit.  We can’t wait to share the new range which is designed and personalised at our UK studio in Northampton in time for customers this Christmas.”

The new range will be available before Christmas directly from the My 1st Years website.

Penguin Random House Children’s plans 120th birthday celebrations for Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter was first published in 1902 and since then the iconic rabbit in a blue jacket has gone on to win the hearts of millions of families around the world. The original Tale has sold over 46 million copies globally and has been published in 48 languages including Braille and Hieroglyphics.

Penguin Random House Children’s will be celebrating Peter’s 120th birthday with a suitably adventurous, fun-filled campaign, creating a wealth of opportunities for families to party with Peter throughout 2022.

The Owned Brands team at Penguin Random House Children’s will launch a purpose-driven PR and digital campaign, working with high profile partners and ambassadors in the outdoors space to reaffirm Peter’s continued relevance and appeal to young families. Peter Rabbit’s role as children’s ambassador for the Queen’s Green Canopy will see Peter supporting tree planting initiatives throughout the year whilst celebratory Picnics for Peter will take place during the summer supported by key partners and at locations throughout the UK.

“With an incredible legacy that has endured since 1902, we wanted to use this milestone for the brand to celebrate Peter Rabbit’s continued relevance and resonance with today’s families,” says Izzy Richardson, Global Director, Owned Brands, Penguin Random House Children’s. “Our ambitious, year-long series of birthday celebrations will enable us to connect parents, young children and fans with The World of Peter Rabbit, helping to continue Beatrix Potter’s legacy for a new generation. Through new immersive experiences, digital and social content, consumer products and publishing, everyone is invited to celebrate with Peter in 2022.”

Penguin Ventures, the licensing team at Penguin Random House Children’s, will be growing a number of existing product ranges throughout 2022 in the UK including new apparel collections with expanded retail placement from Dennicci as well as new gardening lines from Jardinopia. In addition DNC are confirmed to launch picnicware and online retailer My First Years is signed for personalised infant product. A number of special commemorative ranges will also launch across plush, apparel and gifting categories.

Penguin Ventures has also confirmed a programme of experiential activations in the UK offering families immersive events throughout the year. A brand new Peter Rabbit Story Time Trail will launch in March and tour libraries and gallery spaces across the country, with venues booked up until July 2023 offering little ones the chance to step into The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Meanwhile the first Peter Rabbit themed entertainment parties will launch in 2022, in a new deal with children’s party entertainers Captain Fantastic, combining party games, magic and plenty of Peter Rabbit’s trademark mischief.

In addition, Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit, a brand new stage production, will be launching at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in the Lake District next summer. The show encompasses music, puppetry and live action, offering audiences an exciting and memorable theatrical experience.

Outside of the UK, celebrations will include a major touring exhibition of Potter’s original Peter Rabbit artwork in Japan with exhibition partner Toei, marking the first time the collection will have left the UK. The exhibition will tour three major cities from March through to November and is expected to attract over 160,000 visitors, and will be supported by a national media campaign. Additionally, a new permanent Peter Rabbit English Garden will open at Fuji Motosuko Resort in a deal brokered by Sony Creative Products with Fujikyuko Co. Ltd. The attraction will include a café, shop and museum. A new Japanese publishing partner, Hayakawa, has also been confirmed, reflecting Penguin Random House Children’s strategy to bring the World of Peter Rabbit publishing to family audiences in this key territory for the brand.

In Australia, a collectable 120th anniversary stamp pack will be produced by Australia Post and consist of 12 commemorative stamps. The pack will be available in around 1,000 Australia Post stores across the country. In addition, plush partner Jasnor will be launching a range of a special edition Peter Rabbit plush to commemorate the anniversary.

“The birthday moment presents a fantastic opportunity for both our existing licensees as well as new partners in the UK and other key international territories,” says Susan Bolsover, Global Licensing and Consumer Products Director, Penguin Ventures. “We have been delighted with the way in which licensees, promotional partners and retailers are supporting this milestone moment, helping create memories for existing and new Peter Rabbit fans alike, be that through products, experiences or events. There is much more to look out for in 2022!”

Finally, Penguin Random House Children’s will be launching a range of commemorative publishing throughout 2022 including a picture book edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, featuring Beatrix Potter’s original text and iconic illustrations. This new large format will be perfect for families to share together, helping new readers discover Peter at his most adventurous. The Tale of Peter Rabbit will be released in picture book format in April 2022, and will be supported with a creative and high-profile Publicity and Marketing anniversary campaign.

Penguin Random House Children’s appoints David Sprei as Commercial Director for Penguin Ventures

David Sprei will be joining Penguin Random House Children’s as Commercial Director for Penguin Ventures on 18 October. He will report to Francesca Dow, MD for Penguin Random House Children’s.

In this newly created role David will lead the Penguin Ventures business to further growth, working in close partnership with Susan Bolsover, Global Licensing and Consumer Products Director, and the Penguin Ventures team. Susan Bolsover will report to David.

David joins from his previous role as Director International Business Development ViacomCBS Consumer Products, focusing on new innovative & non-traditional partnerships across the portfolio. Prior to this David has held commercial and partnership roles at Viacom Velocity (MTV Europe), Instrumental and TBWA Stream, London.

Penguin Ventures is a separate business within Penguin Random House Children’s, which manages and exploits a portfolio of literary brands and characters, most notably Peter Rabbit, The Snowman and Spot, focusing on licensing and consumer products, retail activations, theatrical, exhibitions and commercial partnership strategies. In the UK Penguin Ventures’ most recent successes include a multi-year partnership with Cadburys as well as a global collection with Cath Kidston, both for Classic Peter Rabbit. The team also created a fashion and digital collaboration with Barbour for The Snowman, expanding upon Raymond Briggs’ timeless story through an innovative ad campaign, and were responsible for the UK, Australian and Japanese licensing programme for global box office smash hit movies Peter Rabbit and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.

 

Netflix inks deal with Penguin Random House for Brian Jacques’ Redwall book series

Netflix and Penguin Random House Children’s UK have signed a new partnership for Brian Jacques’ Redwall books, as the streaming giant details new plans to develop an animated feature based on the first book in the series.

Netflix has tapped writer Patrick McHale – known for his work on Over the Garden Wall and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, to pen the first animated feature. Netflix is also planning an event series based on the character of Martin the Warrior.

This will be the first feature based on Jacques’ book series, which chronicles the adventures of heroic animals that inhabit the forest haven of Redwall Abbey. The titles have sold roughly 30 million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to announce this deal,” said Ben Horslen, fiction publisher, Penguin Random House Children’s. “These perennially popular stories have been etched onto the hearts of millions of readers, and we are thrilled to partner with Netflix to bring those beloved characters on screen for families worldwide to enjoy.”

Alan Ingram, representative of The Redwall Abbey Company, owner of the Jacques intellectual property, added: “Brian often travelled the globe to tell his Redwall stories to young audiences, more often than not at their schools.

“Brian would have been very happy to see that Netflix shares his joy and desire to bring his stories to life as a new universe of films, series and potentially much more for audiences of all ages to enjoy. We are very excited to embark on this new endeavour with Netflix and Penguin Random House UK.”

Penguin Random House launches Peter Rabbit summer activity campaign Wild Wednesdays

Penguin Random House has launched a new summer content campaign for its beloved Peter Rabbit property under the moniker Wild Wednesdays. The initiative has been launched to provide families with weekly activities to enjoy at home throughout the summer.

Kicking the campaign off, Instagram influencers have been tasked to create weekly step-by-step tutorials, each inspired by Peter Rabbit’s love of the outdoors. These activities will include recipes using foraged berries and herbs, tutorials to create a big hotel and a vegetable patch, and nature arts and crafts.

The campaign will also promote Puffin Books’ newly launched Hoppy Holidays activity book and Rainbow Toys’ Peter Rabbit plush range.

“We recognise that many families won’t have the opportunity to go on holiday this summer and following the success of our Easter #AtHomeWithPeterRabbit campaign, we’re keen to continue to support parents with new family-friendly activities,” said Izzy Richardson, global brand director, Owned Brands, Penguin Random House Children’s.

“We’ve worked with some brilliant influencers to create fantastic ideas that parents and children alike will love creating at home during the holidays.”

In addition Peter Rabbit will be a partner for the National Trust’s new Play Week campaign. Play Week will run from August 3rd to 7th and will offer National Trust members activities and suggestions, with a new play theme every day.

Peter Rabbit colouring and activity sheets will be included alongside downloadable Audio stories from the newly announced audiobook, Beatrix Potter: Complete Tales. These have been made available exclusively to the National Trust to inspire play, ahead of release on September 17th.