Simon & Schuster knits up a deal with OshKosh

Kids wear it, but do they want to read about it too? Simon & Schuster seems to think so. The U.S. pubco has signed a deal with OshKosh B’Gosh to create a line of books based on the well-known kids apparel brand. Simon & Schuster will launch the line in November with four fictional titles–Josh Gets Ready for School and Josh Takes a Trip (both board books), Who’s Hiding Josh (a lift-the-flap book) and How To Get Dressed, a cloth book that OshKosh had originally published and distributed exclusively through its own stores. All of the books are geared towards infants to five-year-olds and will incorporate the look and feel of OshKosh clothing, as well as the company’s mascot Josh the bear.

The multi-year agreement is the latest in a steady stream of corporate brand licensing deals S&S has signed over the last few years, including the development of titles based on Sun-Maid Raisins, Oreo Cookies and, most notably, Cheerios cereal. Since 1998, S&S’s first three Cheerios books have sold over two million units collectively.

The OshKosh B’Gosh books, which will have a retail price range of US$7.99 to US$17.99, will be available through OshKosh stores, as well as through all traditional book channels.