April 12, 2013On Our Radar

Grosset & Dunlap to Develop New Publishing Program with Leading Infant Development Brand Sassy

New York, NY – April 10, 2013 – Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, is partnering with leading infant development brand Sassy to publish a series of books specifically designed to foster a baby’s development. Grosset & Dunlap will integrate Sassy’s award-winning, research-based design expertise into a unique and definitive collection that encourages and enhances all stages of a baby’s growth.

Developed in collaboration with Sassy’s team of early childhood development experts, the “Sassy®: “Inspiring the Senses” series is designed to be interactive, engaging, and inspiring to all the senses. Interactive components, patterns, colors, textures, words and designs will be introduced at age-appropriate stages, stimulating a baby’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills.

Grosset & Dunlap will launch the series with four books in fall 2013.  Each interactive book will focus on a different stage of development: the limited visual acuity of a newborn; the developing sound recognition, vocalization, and tactile curiosity of slightly older infants, and the primary color recognition of babies six months old and up, while introducing characters, animals, shapes and objects throughout the books. The book series will also reflect Sassy’s unique and highly recognizable design style.

Sassy is at the forefront of innovative and entertaining product design created for infants and young children, incorporating an expert-based approach to developing products suited to the perceptions of a child: fascination, communication, imagination and exploration, as experienced through the senses of vision, taste, hearing and touch. Sassy’s insightful design, superior quality and awareness of a baby’s overall developmental needs have earned the company hundreds of awards, including Oppenheim, Dr. Toy, Parents Choice, JPMA and others.

“The publishing program is a very important new initiative that fully supports and enhances Sassy’s core mission,” said Dean Robinson, President of Sassy, Inc., “and Penguin’s Grosset & Dunlap team has been a fantastic partner.  The new Sassy book series provides an excellent platform for parents and their babies to interact in meaningful ways that support development and bonding.”

Francesco Sedita, President and Publisher of Grosset & Dunlap commented, “We have been looking for a fantastic partner to help us develop a meaningful, useful and fun line of baby books.  And the moment we met the Sassy team, we knew we had found the perfect partner.  Their products are trusted, valued, and highly regarded by parents everywhere.”

The partnership between Penguin Young Readers Group and Sassy was developed by Sassy’s licensing agency, Lisa Marks Associates, Inc., as part of a broader comprehensive licensed products program.  President Lisa Marks said, “The Penguin publishing program for Sassy reflects an exciting partnership between two leaders in their respective industries.  These two dynamic and innovative companies are coming together to create what we know will be a timeless and meaningful book program and a must have for parents everywhere.”

About Penguin Group (USA)

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group.  Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Viking, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, The Penguin Press, Riverhead Books, Dutton, Penguin Books, Berkley Books, Gotham Books, Portfolio, New American Library, Plume, Tarcher, Philomel, Grosset & Dunlap, Puffin, Razorbill and Frederick Warne, among others. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

About Sassy, Inc. 

Founded in 1982, Sassy operates out of Kentwood, MI. Sassy enjoys distribution in all major trade channels, including mass market retailers, food chains, drug stores, catalogs, and independent baby and toy stores in the United States. In addition, Sassy products can be found in 29 countries worldwide. Sassy’s extensive product categories have grown to include developmental and attachable toys, infant and toddler bath and feeding products, grooming and hygiene products, teething products and room organization products. For more information about the company, go to www.sassybaby.com, or contact customer service at (616) 243-0767.

About Lisa Marks Associates, Inc. (LMA)

LMA is a creative, full-service Licensing and Marketing Agency, focusing on strategic brand building and long-term revenue generation.  LMA is unique in bringing clients innovative licensing expertise from the world’s leading marketing and entertainment companies to develop powerful, cohesive, turnkey licensing programs.  Based in New York, LMA consists of a coalition of experts and industry leaders in the fields of Licensing and Merchandising, Creative Development and Design, Product Development, Retail Business Development and Multimedia Brand Extensions. For more information, please visit www.LMA-Inc.com.

Penguin Media Contact:
Shanta Newlin
Director of Publicity
Penguin Young Readers Group
212-414-3630
Shanta.newlin@us.penguingroup.com