Golden Books is gearing up for its little bunny’s 60th anniversary this year with a range of pat the bunny products in North America. Romar of New York will make pat the bunny-themed infant accessories and diaper and tote bags, along with winter clothing accessories like hats, gloves, scarves and gift sets, all of which will be shipped by fourth quarter. Winter Park, Florida-based ABC Development is expanding the initial line of feeding products it launched in Q4 `99 to include new feeding sets, bottles, bags and pacifiers, which are shipping now in North America. Lastly, New York’s Eden is creating new pat plush for 2000, including wrist rattles and musical pillows. These products will launch sometime this quarter.

BBC Worldwide released two storybooks, an activity book and a video this month based on its new fall `99 property Angelmouse. New U.K.-based licensee U.K. Imports also released a plush line to coincide with the books and video launches.

BBC Worldwide also signed on Dickens

International, based in Manchester, England, as master apparel licensee for the animated character featured in the 26 x five-minute series by the U.K.’s Silver Fox Films. A full range of product for U.K. shelves only is expected this spring.

Discovery Enterprises Worldwide announced a partnership with Toys `R’ Us to develop a collection of Animal Planet-branded toys to street in Q4 in the U.S. The product range includes playthings modeled after domestic, farm and wild animals. Toys `R’ Us will create an Animal Planet section in the stores to include plush, animatronic and PVC animals, board games and puzzles. The toys will sport humorous tags with thought bubbles, or will be posed in playful positions.

To mark the Peanuts property’s 50th anniversary, United Media has inked a deal with Texas-based Play*By*Play to make plush products for a Toy Fair debut, before launching across Europe in April. Due to creator Charles M. Schulz’s retirement because of cancer, the last Peanuts cartoon appears early this month.