Rocket Licensing, global licensing agent for Little People, BIG DREAMS, the bestselling children’s biography series, has announced the arrival of a children’s apparel collection, created by specialist apparel licensee Poetic Brands. The collection launches across Tesco stores as part of Tesco celebrations for World Book Day UK and Ireland, which takes place on Thursday the seventh of March.

This initial range includes colourful and affordable t-shirts for year-round wear, and features series artwork of the inspiring personalities represented in the books, including writer Jane Austen, human rights campaigner Mahatma Gandhi, painter Frida Kahlo and footballer Pele. The t-shirts designs draw on the iconic cover artwork of illustrators Katie Wilson, Albert Arrayas, Gee Fan Eng and Camila Rosa.

World Book Day was launched by UNESCO in 1995 and is today marked in over 100 countries around the globe. In all other countries celebrating World Book Day its aim is simple: to encourage young people to discover the pleasure of reading. World Book Day is often celebrated by children dressing-up as their favourite book characters – so what better way to mark the occasion than with apparel inspired by books that encourage children to be bold, be brave and DREAM BIG!

The apparel collection has made full use of a fabulous Little People, BIG DREAMS style guide created to support the growth of the licensing programme. Informed by the design cues of the book series, it aims to inspire product development beyond the books, and to ensure a consistent, recognisable and impactful aesthetic across all brand extensions.

More licensed products are indeed already in development, with extensions of the apparel line into sweatshirts and nightwear, and announcements of new partners across other categories, to follow soon. As global licensing agent for the brand, Rocket Licensing also has plans to build the licensing presence of Little People, BIG DREAMS in a number of other international markets, where the books have enjoyed a strong response, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

With its first two books published in 2016 by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group, the world’s leading global illustrated book publisher, the series has grown to over 120 books and counting. Created by author and Creative Director Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, the brand produces books and toys for children aged three to eight, and inspires children with real-life stories of artists, scientists, musicians and many more well-known figures who have made a big impact on the world around them.

Each book contains a compelling story, followed by a facts and photo section. This wonderful series has been hugely successful: to date the Little People, BIG DREAMS series has been published in 43 countries and in more than 30 languages, with over 12 million copies sold and 20 new titles published every year.

Peter Marley, Publisher, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, says: “From an early stage we knew that the creativity, fun and learning that have made Little People, BIG DREAMS so popular around the world would have a strong appeal in carefully chosen high-quality licensing partners – and so it has proved! Poetic Brands has done a wonderful job of bringing the colour and celebration of the books to a delightful range of apparel that will be a marvellous addition at Tesco outlets throughout the country on World Book Day.”

Anne Bradford, Director, Poetic Brands, says: “The diverse characters, broad and universal audience appeal and exquisite illustrations that have made Little People, BIG DREAMS so popular have also been perfect for a range of children’s apparel that celebrates inspirational people throughout history. We’re thrilled to be working with a brand whose positive values, unique approach and appealing design have struck such a chord with kids and parents across so many markets.”

Rob Wijeratna, Joint Managing Director of Rocket Licensing, adds: “The high-quality writing, illustration and production values that underpin Little People, BIG DREAMS have made this a brand ideal for consumer product development. The positive retail reaction to the wonderful Poetic Brands apparel range in the run-up to World Book Day is entirely appropriate for this great property and, with more potential partners on the way, we’re looking forward to bringing many more categories to many more markets.”

About Rocket Licensing
Seventeen years old and one of the UK’s leading award-winning licensing agents, Rocket Licensing represents a diverse and focused roster of brands, that spans entertainment, preschool, heritage, lifestyle and specialist interest properties. Rocket’s portfolio currently manages UK licensing programmes for an array of leading entertainment studios and licensors, including: Beano Studios; Bob Ross/Firefly; BocPix; Eastman Kodak Co; The European Space Agency (ESA); Hat Trick International; Kyandi, Legendary Entertainment; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM); Scholastic/Horrible Histories; The Lumistella Company; The Quarto Group and Toho International. For more information, please visit www.rocketlicensing.com

About the Quarto Group
The Quarto Group creates a wide variety of books and intellectual property products, with a mission to inspire life’s experiences. Produced in many formats, for the whole family, our products are visually appealing, information rich, and stimulating. The Group encompasses a diverse portfolio of imprints and businesses, that are creatively independent and expert in developing long-lasting content, across specific niches of interest. Quarto sells and distributes its products globally, in over 50 countries and 40 languages, through a variety of sales channels, partnerships, and routes to market. Quarto employs c. 300 talented people in the US and the UK. The Group was founded in London in 1976.