Andersen Press readies for a bumper Elmer Day celebration

Elmer Day is back on 28 May with a return to in-person and bookshop events around the country, a herd of new and exciting partnerships, and a new paperback edition of the latest Elmer picture book, Elmer and the Bedtime Story, by the late, great David McKee. Rounding off the celebrations is the first Elmer title available on Yoto, the interactive kids’ audio platform.

Elmer Day is Andersen Press‘s annual celebration of David McKee’s iconic patchwork elephant, encouraging bookshops, libraries, schools, nurseries and families at home to celebrate Elmer’s message of friendship, inclusivity and embracing everyone’s colours.

A free activity pack, which has already had over 1,500 downloads in the run-up to the day itself, is available here. The pack is a selection of activity sheets and ideas for games, lessons and story times featuring Elmer, with new resources from charity partners The Sleep Charity, with sleep hints and tips based on the latest Elmer book Elmer and the Bedtime Story, activities from LGBT+ charity Just Like Us extending Elmer Pride activity from 2021, and resources from anti-bullying charity partner Kidscape.

In-person events are also back following their temporary suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Elmer costume appearances and story times in Waterstones stores in Kensington, Altrincham, Manchester Deansgate and the Arndale Centre.

Chessington World of Adventures will celebrate Elmer’s Flying Jumbos ride with its special Mardi Grrra! event from 27 May, which will see Elmer and his own ‘Kolour Krewe’ take centre stage in the park with songs, dance and character meet-and-greets. For more information on the event, click here.

In the licensing space, kids’ audio platform Yoto has launched its first-ever Elmer title. The Elmer Collection will be made available for use with the award-winning Yoto Player and new Yoto Mini.

In addition, Dennicci has launched new babywear ranges with Matalan and Tu at Sainsbury’s, and Robert Frederick has launched Elmer storage boxes with The Works. Plush and toy licensee Rainbow Designs and greetings card licensee Danilo are hosting social media competitions.

Elmer Day is on 28 May 2022. To download a FREE activity pack, click on the link here: https://www.elmer.co.uk/elmer-day/

Rainbow Designs to launch new We’re Going on a Bear Hunt toys in Walker Books deal

Rainbow Designs is encouraging children to undertake their own Bear Hunt adventures this year as it launches its new We’re Going on a Bear Hunt collection of soft and wooden toys to the market.

Based on Walker Books’ classic storybook of the same title, the toys take inspiration from the adventurous tale that has been entertaining children for over 30 years.

The new range of toys will include a super soft Bear toy and Wooden Shape Puzzle featuring the Bear, Rufus the dog, and will be illustrated with paw prints and the Bear Hunt sayings, such as Splash, Splosh and squelch, squerch. New additions to the range will follow later in the year.

Anthony Temple, managing director of Rainbow Designs, said: “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is the perfect fit with our portfolio of prestigious and nurtured children’s brands and it is exciting to be kicking off Rainbow’s milestone 50th Anniversary year with the launch of such a joyful and iconic character range.”

Pindy O’Brien, licensing and retail development director (UK & Europe) for Walker Books, added: “We are thrilled to have Rainbow Designs launching toys for our classic “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”.

“The softness of their plush product and high quality delivers everything we’d want from our toy range. We are excited to have them on board as our EMEA partner.”

Rainbow Designs unveils innovative new pre-school toy line for The Adventures of Paddington

Rainbow Designs has lifted the lid on its new range of pre-school toys based on the new The Adventures of Paddington TV series. The innovative toy range has been developed by Phat Mojo and distributed in the UK by Rainbow Designs.

The new collection has been designed to engage a new generation of fans who are discovering Paddington for the first time through the new TV series.

Arriving this October, the highly-anticipated Adventures of Paddington preschool toy range will feature a soft and cuddly Deluxe Paddington Plush, standing at 33cm tall and wearing his famous red hat and duffle coat with real toggles, that can be removed for extra play value. The range will also feature fun and collectable 22cm soft toys of Paddington wearing his famous coat and hat and Paddington in his pyjamas, as well as Paddington figurines with movable arms, in outfits from the series and a super fun Double Decker Play Bus Set.

The successful The Adventures of Paddington television series is already proving a success with pre-schoolers, scooping Nick Jr’s number 1 show in the afternoon at launch and is still the number three show overall on the channel with 1.6 million viewers from March to June.

From October the popular series will also be aired on the free to view, Milkshake channel.

Zara Grindrod, sales director at Rainbow Designs, said: “Paddington is a wholesome, kind, adventurous and fun-loving character and his endearing adventures that he embarks on each episode very much appeals to that three to six age range.

“The new Adventures of Paddington toy range is all about inspiring preschoolers, igniting their imagination and encouraging learning through play by re-enacting Paddington’s adventures as well as creating their own escapades with Paddington.”

Rachel Clarke, SVP UK, licensing and retail at The Copyrights Group, added: “Paddington TV is a great new adventure for the Paddington brand and we are delighted Rainbow are bringing in the fabulous toy range from Phat Mojo to the UK market. We are excited to see this range launch along with the other innovative Adventures of Paddington ranges and categories launching from our partners.”

 

Rainbow Designs celebrates 70 years of Snoopy with new Peanuts collections

WildBrain CPLG has appointed Rainbow Designs its new plush partner for two distinctive collections starring Charles M Schulz’s iconic Snoopy and Woodstock characters.

The Everyone Loves Snoopy plush gift collection presents Snoopy and Woodstock in their traditional formats and is billed as ‘perfect for fans of all ages’. Meanwhile, the My First Snoopy collection has been created for babies and young children to encourage early developmental skills.

The infant collection features multiple variations of Peanuts plush toys, ranging from rattles and comfort blankets to 25cm baby soft cuddly toys.

The collaboration is perfectly timed, as the new show Snoopy in Space launched on Apple TV+ in November of last year. The STEM-based series celebrates the long history between Peanuts and NASA and brings Snoopy and the gang to the fore for a new generation as the brand gears up for its 70th anniversary in 2020.

“Plush has always been a key category for the Peanuts brand, with Snoopy plush often serving as children’s introduction to the brand,” said Tara Botwick, senior director, territory management EMEA for Peanuts Worldwide. “Rainbow Designs understands the importance of this connection and has a legacy of working with classic characters, which makes them an excellent fit for Peanuts.”

MD of Rainbow Designs, Anthony Temple, is delighted to have Snoopy and friends back home. “Snoopy has been an important character at Rainbow over the years,” said Temple.

“It is exciting to be commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Peanuts with the launch of two beautiful and iconic collections that will truly celebrate Snoopy and friends with Peanuts fans of all ages.”

The Everyone Loves Snoopy and My First Snoopy Collections will be available in all good toy and gift stores Autumn Winter 2020.

Rainbow Designs celebrates 70 years of Snoopy with new Peanuts collections

WildBrain CPLG has appointed Rainbow Designs its new plush partner for two distinctive collections starring Charles M Schulz’s iconic Snoopy and Woodstock characters.

The Everyone Loves Snoopy plush gift collection presents Snoopy and Woodstock in their traditional formats and is billed as ‘perfect for fans of all ages’. Meanwhile, the My First Snoopy collection has been created for babies and young children to encourage early developmental skills.

The infant collection features multiple variations of Peanuts plush toys, ranging from rattles and comfort blankets to 25cm baby soft cuddly toys.

The collaboration is perfectly timed, as the new show Snoopy in Space launched on Apple TV+ in November of last year. The STEM-based series celebrates the long history between Peanuts and NASA and brings Snoopy and the gang to the fore for a new generation as the brand gears up for its 70th anniversary in 2020.

“Plush has always been a key category for the Peanuts brand, with Snoopy plush often serving as children’s introduction to the brand,” said Tara Botwick, senior director, territory management EMEA for Peanuts Worldwide. “Rainbow Designs understands the importance of this connection and has a legacy of working with classic characters, which makes them an excellent fit for Peanuts.”

MD of Rainbow Designs, Anthony Temple, is delighted to have Snoopy and friends back home. “Snoopy has been an important character at Rainbow over the years,” said Temple.

“It is exciting to be commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Peanuts with the launch of two beautiful and iconic collections that will truly celebrate Snoopy and friends with Peanuts fans of all ages.”

The Everyone Loves Snoopy and My First Snoopy Collections will be available in all good toy and gift stores Autumn Winter 2020.