DK Launches Interactive Preschool Formats for ‘Gabby’
DK is adding its name to the list of licensees for the hot preschool property Gabby’s Dollhouse, debuting three titles this year for children ages three to five in time for the release of Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, the first theatrical film based on the property, later this year. “It’s such a huge success globally, and it has great storytelling for pre-K,” said Olivia Lawrence, managing editor at DK.
The first of the three titles is Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Ultimate Sticker Book, releasing in the U.S. on October 7 and in the U.K. on October 2. Like other DK books in this format, it includes more than 100 stickers. Next up is Pop Up Peekaboo! Gabby’s Dollhouse, which will come out in the U.S. on October 14 and in the U.K. on October 9. And Gabby’s Dollhouse Playhouse will debut in the U.S. on November 11 and in the U.K. on November 6.
The company is expanding its preschool offerings, which are focused on bringing strong storytelling to life through interactive elements. Formats to date include DK’s classic sticker books and its Pop-Up Peekaboo format. It was the success of the latter that led the company to look into developing more kids’ formats. Most of the licenses DK acquires are older-skewing or for all ages; Gabby is one of the first that is purely for a kids’ audience.
“We’re innovating with new formats that have as much excitement for creative play as for reading,” Lawrence said. “Gabby supports new format development that we can then bring to other licenses.”
The Foldout Playhouse is an example. It opens like a book and then folds out to create four rooms, each with die-cut windows and flaps that reveal the show’s Gabby Cat characters. Readers can play with a figure of Gabby, attached by a ribbon, in the different rooms, or bring in some of their own toys. DK’s long-time Disney license, which has several children’s titles coming out in 2026, will also be paired with this format.
Gabby is also a good fit with DK’s existing series. “We try to look at what’s important about a brand and bring that into our formats,” Lawrence said. “The Pop-Up Peekaboo works so well with Gabby’s Playhouse. It’s written in the first person to reflect the program, where Gabby talks directly to the audience, and it has that repetitive element of her speaking so readers can anticipate what comes next.” Potential titles for the future could focus on Gabby’s growth-mindset foundation, including concepts like flexible thinking and learning from mistakes.
Gabby’s Dollhouse is produced by Dreamworks Animation and licensed by Universal Products & Experiences. In 2024, according to Nielsen, the Gabby’s Dollhouse series was the ninth-most-viewed streaming original production. Netflix has produced 100 total episodes; the 11th season debuted on Netflix in February 2025 and reached number six on the list of most-watched Netflix English-language shows globally. In addition, the property has accrued two billion views on YouTube and more than 395 million music streams. The movie, set to hit theaters on October 17, features Kristen Wiig and Gloria Estefan, as well as Laila Lockhart Kraner, who plays Gabby on TV. Like the TV show, the movie will include both live action and animated segments.
Gabby’s Playhouse has become a top licensed merchandise brand for preschoolers as well, encompassing toys from Spin Master and Lego, home goods, apparel, and more. DK’s fellow publishers for the property include Scholastic and Bendon.
Tommy Nelson Is Berry Sweet on Strawberry Shortcake
Tommy Nelson, a division of the Thomas Nelson imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, has secured the licensing rights to Strawberry Shortcake. It will release its first two board books in the U.S. and Canada on November 4, 2025, followed by a paper-over-board 8x8 picture book on June 2, 2026. Strawberry Shortcake is owned by kids and family entertainment company Wildbrain and represented for licensing by its WildBrain CPLG division.
“I decided to attend Licensing Expo in 2023, and I happened to walk by WildBrain’s booth and saw the big posters of vintage Strawberry Shortcake,” said HarperCollins Christian Publishing VP and publisher Shannon Marchese. “I wondered if there were books for that version. I knew there were some for the more modern adaptation, but I was curious about the classic look from the 1970s and 1980s. I thought it would be a sweet brand to investigate, so I stopped in.” (Penguin Young Readers imprint’s Strawberry Shortcake titles are mostly tied to the contemporary YouTube series, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City.)
Tommy Nelson’s board books, which are illustrated with archival images and new art by Marci Beighley, who has worked with American Greetings and Nickelodeon, include the shaped You Are Berry Special, featuring short affirmations to uplift the reader, and Strawberry’s Sweet Surprise: A Scratch-and-Sniff Book—the imprint’s first scented title, reminiscent of the scented 1980s dolls—which is an O. Henry-like story where the characters make gifts for each other. The November release date means they will be out in time for Valentine’s Day sets.
The picture book, Strawberry Shortcake and the Berry Besties Festival, ties into Wildbrain’s theme for the property for next year, and follows the characters as they sell their wares at a market to raise money for an animal rescue. It includes a sticker pack.
All the books feature Strawberry and her friends Apple Dumplin’, Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Tart, and Lime Chiffon. They do not include religious or inspirational content, but have aspirational messages of friendship, kindness, and encouragement and have themes that fit with the lifestyle of Tommy Nelson’s heartland audience, such as fruits and vegetables and animals. “They’re very positive and affirming,” Marchese said. “I think millennial moms with littles, especially those who had their kids a little later, will really want to share these books with them.”
Tommy Nelson’s other licenses over the years have included Little Critter, Dayspring’s Really Woolly, and Precious Moments, a longtime partnership to which it continues to add titles each year; its sibling imprint Zonderkidz has also produced licensed titles including its ongoing Berenstain Bears inspirational series. Marchese keeps an eye out for properties that are a good fit, including both those appropriate for the company’s core inspirational market and “wholesome, heartland-forward brands,” she said. “If the right one comes along, we would be interested, but we want to be intentional and thoughtful.”
Running Press Launches Miffy Products for Multiple Generations
Running Press has signed on as a U.S. licensee for Dick Bruna’s Miffy franchise, represented for licensing in the U.S. by the Joester Loria Group on behalf of licensor Mercis. Plans call for books appealing to all ages, from preschool titles fostering early learning and creative books and products for adults.
“We knew Miffy was a character that has been beloved by book-loving audiences for decades,” said Jordana Hawkins, executive editor and licensing manager at Running Press. “It had the multigenerational appeal that I look out for when considering a license. Since we have both the kids’ and adults’ imprints, we do try to look at licenses and brands that cross all ages, and Miffy really hits that.”
She noted that there is a nostalgia factor that appeals to some fans, but that a new audience is also coming into the property. In fact, it was a New York Times article about the resurgence of Miffy, propelled by new fans, that prompted Hawkins to reach out to explore the possibilities for licensed publishing.
Running Press’s initial list encompasses six titles for release later this year and two more for early 2026. “It’s a very big range, because we felt so strongly about the license,” Hawkins said .
Under RP Kids, plans include two early concept books, Miffy’s ABCs and Miffy’s Colors, which are coming out along with a fill-in book, Miffy: You Make Me Happy, from gift imprint RP Studio, on August 26. Following in October will be the Miffy Magnet Set from the RP Mini imprint; Miffy Baby Book: My First Three Years, which got some extra exposure when it was featured on the Miffy U.S. Instagram account; and the flip-top Miffy’s World: 50 Collectible Postcards, both from RP Studio.
For 2026, Miffy Cross-Stitch Kit from RP Studio, with materials for three eight-inch projects plus patterns for five additional projects, releases in February, and the Miffy Light-up Mini Figurine, from RP Mini, a soft silicone light-up figurine of Miffy and her teddy, launches in August.
The flip-top postcard set, the large cross-stitch kit, and the light-up mini-figure are new formats, all of which will likely be married with additional licenses down the road.
All the books and products feature the classic Dick Bruna color palette, with the exception of the baby book, which uses a softer color scheme from one of Mercis’ style guides tailored to this market.
The introduction of the first new products is timed to the property’s 70th anniversary, which is being celebrated this year. Miffy books have sold more than 85 million copies since their debut, and are currently available in 50 languages.
In Brief
IDW Publishing is extending its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book program with a new series based on the Paramount+ show Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The first two issues feature the comic book writing debuts of Mikey Levitt and Andrew Joustra, who have worked on the production teams for the TMNT TV series…. Next April, Gallimard Jeunesse will publish a new edition of The Little Prince, to mark the 80th anniversary of the book’s publication in France, redesigned by Studio MinaLima, known for its lush interpretations of Harry Potter and other film and publishing properties. It will be a multi-language international release…. HarperCollins adds to its publishing program for The Elf on the Shelf with a flagship middle-grade fantasy-adventure origin story about Saint Nick and the Santaverse, The Rise of Nicholas the Noble, written by Chanda Bell, cofounder of Elf on the Shelf licensor The Lumistella Company. A picture book, The Elf on the Shelf: How Old Is Santa Claus? will release simultaneously on September 16…. Hidden Pigeon Company partnered with Little Dot Studios to expand the Mo Willems Workshop YouTube Channel. The first initiatives include a back-to-school global takeover promoting the channel on the home page of the YouTube app, including a back-to-school playlist of Willems content, and localized videos for global markets…. Rebel Girls paired with New York women’s soccer team Gotham FC and its sponsor Dove as part of the former’s dedicated sports vertical that launched earlier this year. The partners released Changing the Game: A Playbook for Champions in Training, which features current and former Gotham FC athletes…. Rocketship Entertainment launched a Kickstarter campaign for its Angry Birds: A Graphic Novel Collection. The middle-grade graphic novel series is written by Paul Tobin with art by Thom Zahler. In return for backing the campaign, fans can receive three new Angry Birds graphic novels—The Haunting of Hog House, Level Up, and Breaking the Bank—as well as limited-edition merchandise…. Insight Editions will publish The Art of Daggerheart, based on the fantasy role-playing tabletop game from Darrington Press…. Skybound Entertainment retained Reemsborko to represent its classic Invincible comic book and television franchise in Europe, as well as Battle Beast, a character from the Invincible universe that spun off into its own comic book series in spring 2025.
