Mattel, Russ Introduce Barbie's Pets Line

A new range of plush featuring three of Barbie's pets will hit stores soon—licensed from Mattel under the Applause brand by Russ.

Barbie's Pets feature Sequin the white poodle, Blissa the kitten and Lacey the chihuahua. In addition to the plush, Russ has created a collection of outfits, carriers, beds and more for each pet.

In collaboration with the new toys, Random House will publish two Barbie books this year, featuring the pets. "My Fabulous Friends" will roll out in the spring, followed by "Barbie: I Can Be a Pet Vet" in the summer. Meanwhile, Sequin will be featured in a fall DVD release "Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale."

Russ holds licenses with Disney, John Deere, Coca-Cola, Corduroy, Curious George, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Thomas Kinkade, Harley-Davidson, MLB, NFL and NHL.