It may be the season for fresh starts. Like Nancy Fowler, industry veteran and former Classic Media VP of worldwide consumer products Leslie Levine is taking the independent agent route. Levine hung her own shingle just this past September, and her new company Licensing Works! has started with a bang – scoring worldwide licensing rights (excluding Italy, the UK, Eire, Singapore and Malaysia) to Puppy in My Pocket and Kitty in My Pocket brands.

More than 65 million toys and associated playsets have been sold worldwide under the Puppy/Kitty brands owned California-based toyco MEG and distributed by master toy licensee Play Along since the late 2006 revival of the property made famous in the 1990s.

Interestingly, Levine actually worked on securing licensing deals for the property the first time around, and is relishing this new opportunity to expand its reach. As with the program in the works under UK agent Entara (appointed late last month), the new merch line will target girls ages four to seven.