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Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) has hired licensing specialist Keith Pashley to bring the licensing programme for its Dear Zoo brand in-house.
Pashley will develop new retail partnerships and product lines based on Dear Zoo, written by Rod Campbell in 1982. The initial focus will be on a small number of key product categories, including apparel, nursery and toy and games, and will be supported by a refreshed style guide and brand new digital assets, said MCB.
Stephanie Barton, publisher 0-6 at MCB, said: “Dear Zoo is a 36-year-old publishing classic loved the world over, and to work with Rod Campbell on the next chapter of its development is a privilege and a pleasure. Our approach will be to stay true to the quality and values of the original work, and to have fun as we develop new products and Dear Zoo experiences for very young children and their families.”
Dear Zoo has sold more than eight million copies in more than 25 languages, and in 2018 sales through the UK Nielsen Bookscan were up by nearly 14% year-on-year, according to the publisher.
Pashley, who has an independent consultancy and has worked on brands such as Peter Rabbit, Paddington, The Snowman and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, reports to Michele Young, rights director at Macmillan Children’s Books.