Little Tikes Commercial Partners with the World of Eric Carle to Bring Children's Book Characters to Playgrounds
August 01 2024 - 11:10AM
Little Tikes® Commercial, which designs and manufactures
innovative, commercial-grade playground equipment for children of
all ages and abilities, today announced a partnership with the
World of Eric Carle™, a design-driven licensing and merchandising
program based on the renowned author and illustrator’s beloved
picture books. The agreement empowers Little Tikes Commercial to
design and manufacture playground equipment based on all of Carle’s
books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has sold more
than 55 million copies since its 1969 publication.
“We are honored to collaborate with the World of Eric Carle as
we create imaginative playground equipment inspired by his classic
tales of growth, transformation, and discovery that have delighted
readers for more than five decades,” said Todd Brinker, senior vice
president of commercial growth for outdoor play, PlayPower, the
parent company of Little Tikes Commercial. “This partnership aligns
perfectly with our mission to inspire wonder and develop life
skills through imaginative play. We look forward to bringing his
unique vision to life.”
Through the collaboration, young children will be able to
explore their physical abilities while experiencing the joy of
Carle’s characters in a whole new way.
"We are delighted to unite with Little Tikes Commercial, a
premier partner that shares Eric Carle's dedication to learning
through play,” said Jackie DeMaio, licensing director at the
Joester Loria Group, the worldwide licensing agent for the World of
Eric Carle. “A prolific author and artist, Eric’s work was always
about encouraging children to explore the world around them through
the joy of play. The playground equipment developed as a result of
this partnership will help ensure that his messages of hope,
adventure, and learning continue to inspire the next generation
both in and out of the classroom."
The first products in the collaborative line are freestanding
climbers in the shapes of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and
butterfly. The climbers, which use Carle’s characters to embrace
fun and exploration, are available to order starting today.
The addition of the World of Eric Carle-themed equipment to
Little Tikes Commercial’s product offerings will not only create a
magical experience on any playground where it is installed, but
also help support learning and development, particularly in
schoolyard settings.
“Our versatile designs ensure that these new play elements can
seamlessly integrate with any playground equipment, allowing for
easy installation at both existing and new play spaces,” said Brett
Kidd, vice president of global sales for Little Tikes Commercial.
“Eric Carle’s timeless characters will be a perfect fit for any
space that celebrates the magic of play and learning.”
The World of Eric Carle nurtures a child’s love of literature
and learning, encouraging imaginative play and exploration. Trusted
by parents, teachers, and librarians, and beloved by children
worldwide for generations, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Carle’s
other timeless storybooks come to life in colorfully creative
products, designed to inspire very hungry young minds.
For more information about Little Tikes Commercial and The World
of Eric Carle partnership, please visit
LittleTikesCommercial.com/Eric-Carle.
About Little Tikes CommercialLittle Tikes®
Commercial designs and manufactures commercial-grade playgrounds
for parks, schools, childcare centers, and other places where
children gather. A division of PlayPower®, Inc., Little Tikes
Commercial empowers kids to flourish by inspiring wonder and
developing life skills through imaginative play. Our mission is to
create fun, exciting, and inclusive play spaces that instantly
engage imaginations. For more information, visit
LittleTikesCommercial.com.
About The World of Eric CarleThe World of Eric
Carle™ is a design-driven licensing and merchandising program based
on the beloved picture books by Eric Carle. A prolific author and
artist, Eric Carle has written and illustrated more than seventy
books which have sold over 175 million copies worldwide. Like his
books, The World of Eric Carle brand draws upon Eric Carle’s
approach to creativity, discovery, play and development. Licensing
and merchandising programs are ongoing in the US, Japan, China, UK,
Australia, and Europe. For more information, please visit:
www.Facebook.com/theworldofEricCarle.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5297278f-816a-44ef-b0da-3d6a49e08cfa
Media contact:
Jennifer Leckstrom
RoseComm for Little Tikes Commercial
jleckstrom@rosecomm.com
215-681-0770