Penguin Ventures to manage World of Eric Carle including The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Joester Loria Group (JLG), the worldwide licensing agency for the World of Eric Carle, has appointed Penguin Ventures, the licensing and consumer products team at Penguin Random House Children’s UK, as its local sub-agent in the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

Penguin Ventures will manage the World of Eric Carle, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with immediate effect.

David Sprei, commercial director at Penguin Ventures, said: “We’re delighted to be working with JLG on this globally recognised literary brand. Eric Carle’s iconic artwork and stories perfectly complement our portfolio and our team is in an exceptionally strong position to grow the licensing and consumer products programme.

“As part of Penguin Random House Children’s UK, we are also able to drive synergy with publishing imprint Puffin to maximise opportunities. We look forward to developing relationships with new and existing licensees and partners for the World of Eric Carle.”

Jackie DeMaio, senior licensing director at JLG, said: “We are excited to work with Penguin Ventures to extend the World of Eric Carle licensing, building on the success delivered by Rocket in experiential, consumables, apparel, toys and more.

“Penguin Ventures brings terrific experience in managing classic literary properties and will ensure an even closer alignment with Penguin Random House Children’s UK on initiatives including new titles and marketing campaigns. We would like to thank Rocket for 11 years of exceptional brand stewardship and welcome Penguin Ventures to the World of Eric Carle.”

Carle died in 2021 aged 91. At the time, Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, said: “It is one of our greatest pleasures and privileges here at Puffin to share Eric Carle’s stories and art with children. Eric described himself as a ’picture writer’ and his genius was in the mix of simplicity and sophistication that characterises his work. He was an artist of collage and colour, a lover of nature and a champion of hope. He also understood the sheer joy for children in sticking their little fingers through the holes in his most iconic book.”