International family entertainment producer and distributor DHX Media and its subsidiary Wildbrain Entertainment have inked a deal with UK-based publisher Immediate Media to create magazines for preschoolers based on its hit stop-motion series Rastamouse.

The deal will see Immediate publish a standalone title every four weeks from June 2012 featuring stories, reward charts, cut-outs, and stickers.

The first title comes after CBeebies Magazine published a Rastamouse special issue in February 2012, and follows on the heels of CBeebies greenlighting season two of the musical, mystery series the same month.

The series, created by Genevieve Webster and Michael De Souza and developed from the original books published by Little Roots, has also been expanded with a broad consumer products program.

Licensees include Universal (DVD), Character Options (master toy), Macmillan (publishing), Vogue (melamine products, clocks, room decor), Zap (bedding), MVSports (outdoor toys), Somerbond (underwear, nightwear), Their Nibs (children’s sleepwear), Trademark Collections (bags, purses, wallets, umbrellas), Roy Lowe & Sons (socks, tights, hats, gloves, scarves), and GB Eye Limited (posters, prints, badges, stickers, tattoos). A Beanie Baby line is also being developed by Ty UK.

Coming up for 2012, Character Options will add playsets and musical toys to its current toy line and Media Service Zawada will release the first Rastamouse DVD in Poland this month.