HarperCollins in Publishing Tie-Up for Big & Small

LONDON: HarperCollins in the U.K. has plans to launch storybooks, sing-a-long books, coloring, activity and sticker books this fall for the CBeebies show Big & Small.

Big & Small follows the comic adventures of two unlikely best friends, featuring the voices of Lenny Henry and Imelda Staunton. With a song in each episode, the series targets kids 3 to 6. The HarperCollins tie-in publishing program will be inspired by humor, fun, songs, opposites, contrasts and perspectives. The launch will be supported by a high-profile marketing and PR campaign.

Other licensees already confirmed include Jumbo Toys for plush, jigsaw and games, ITV for DVDs and a CBeebies magazine. Other categories include music downloads and interactive games with more toys and apparel to follow.

Richard Haines, the category manager for TV and film at HarperCollins, commented: "We are delighted to be publishing Big & Small. The series is a real success with both children and adults and we feel that the humour, stories and lessons learned will translate brilliantly into books. We have a very exciting range of publications lined up that will encourage the imagination, humour and singing talents of Big & Small fans, whether they are small…or big!" 

Claire Harding, the brands and properties director at HarperCollins, added, "Big & Small is a key acquisition for us to enhance our existing preschool portfolio. TV brands are the biggest category in character publishing with growth of 49 percent year-on-year. We are also excited how the brand, its characters and values are translating into a strong publishing program that parents and children will enjoy reading." 

Anne Brogan of Kindle Entertainment said "HarperCollins’ love of the Big & Small stories and characters together with their understanding of the brand qualities have made them a perfect partner. The ambition and imagination that they bring to books featuring Big & Small is very exciting. Children love the characters of Big and Small and want to be friends with them. Our goal is for the brand to firmly establish itself in young children’s hearts and imaginations, and so become an enduring preschool property."