Children’s publisher will launch creative play apps for children based upon its solely owned and third party licensed content. First app will be launching February 2012 and branded Me to You, the bestselling brand from Carte Blanche Greetings
Children’s publisher Alligator Books today announces the opening of Alligator Creative Play, a new division that will see the company publishing creative play apps for children based upon its solely owned and third party licensed content.
Alligator Books has been at the forefront of children’s publishing for more than a decade and it is renowned for its diverse series of fun learning formats ranging from sticker and colouring products, to wipe clean board books, magic mini books, novelty box formats and plush book ranges.
In its commitment to driving innovation and in response to the massive growth of digital publishing and iPad and smart phone use amongst parents and children, Alligator Books will now be utilising its core expertise of creating physical fun learning formats into creating complimentary virtual products that will be available to purchase online. The company has made significant upfront investment in the launch of the new division and the development of its first app projects.
Neil Rodol, Commercial Director, Alligator Books says, “Publishing in the digital space is a natural step forward for the business. It allows us to maximise our assets and importantly offers consumers choice. We sell 17 million books and creative play formats in a year and soon all of these will be tagged with QR codes that once scanned will bring consumers through to the Alligator Creative Play Store. This is a fantastic marketing opportunity for our third party brand partners and one that we are sure will drive incremental revenues.”
The first app release from the division is branded Me to You, featuring the endearing Tatty Teddy character behind this brand, and it will be the first app project from Alligator, brought together by the expertise of AT New Media, that takes its prominent position in the traditional colouring, activity, and sticker book publishing market in to the World of Apps. The app, scheduled for release in February 2012 will be aimed at children aged 3-9 years. Developed by FairPlay Media’s award winning studio, Gusto Games, whose previous titles include Scholastic Inc’s I-Spy series on Nintendo Wii and DS as well as many other hit games, the Me to You app will include a selection of creative play tasks including colouring in, sticker creation and scene making activities.
Alligator Books has already signed a number of other licenses and will announce the launch of further licensed and generic apps by the end of the year.