By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Kartoon Studios has expanded its partnership with Penguin Young Readers to launch licensed products from the Llama Llama franchise for the KOHL’s Cares initiative.
Based on the book series by author and illustrator Anna Dewdney, Kartoon Studios’ Llama Llama is a Netflix Original animated preschool series about early childhood experiences and family connections.
“We began our collaboration with Kohl’s and Penguin in 2020 with our introduction of Llama Llama into the Kohl’s Cares initiative, and we extended the partnership in 2022 as we continue to steadily grow the brand,” said Kartoon Studios SVP, Lloyd Mintz. “Launching two more promotions in 2024 offers us a tremendous opportunity to continue to honor Anna Dewdney with delivering the heartwarming stories she created, along with new quality products from our recently added licensing partners Spirit and YOTTOY.”
The first Kohl Cares x Llama Llama retail promotion for 2024 featured the Penguin Young Readers book Llama Llama Easter Egg and a plush toy from Spirit. The licensed book and plush set initially debuted on February 1, 2024. The limited edition second release will include the Llama Llama Red Pajama book from Penguin Young Readers and a plush doll from YOTTOY, and is scheduled to launch in April.
Both of the Llama Llama promotional products will be available at Kohl’s stores throughout the United States and at the company’s dedicated e-commerce website through its Kohl’s Cares collection. A hundred percent of the net profits from the sale of the Llama Llama products will be donated to non-profit organizations that focus on improving community health and well-being.
“We are thrilled to have Llama Llama included in the Kohl’s Cares program twice in 2024,” said Flamingo Books VP, Margaret Anastas. “Their promotions do such good charitable work while giving young readers more ways to connect with their favorite character, Llama Llama.”
Kartoon Studios is a global company that creates, produces, distributes, markets, and licenses entertainment brands and IP. Since the initial release of the Llama Llama TV series in 2018, Kartoon Studios has been working to further expand the Llama Llama brand alongside the Penguin Young Readers publishing company.
The recently signed plush manufacturing partners, Spirit and YOTTOY, join a growing list of other licensees such as Kids Preferred, Books To Bed, Prime Party, and Tonies.
A division of Penguin Random House LLC, Penguin Young Readers is a children’s book publishing company in the United States that represents a wide range of imprints and trademarks such as Flamingo, Dial Books, Nancy Paulsen Books, Puffin and more.