9 Story Media Group and Trustbridge Entertainment Enter Deal on Children’s Book Properties

9 Story Media Group announced that it has entered into a co-development agreement with Trustbridge Entertainment on two children’s books from Candlewick Press. 9 Story and Trustbridge plan to co-create new animated programs based on the book series Judy Moody by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, and the holiday picture book “Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever” written and illustrated by Matt Tavares.

Under the terms of the deal, 9 Story and Trustbridge will co-develop and co-produce the properties with animation by 9 Story’s studio Brown Bag Films. 9 Story’s distribution division holds worldwide distribution rights (excluding China), and Trustbridge Entertainment maintains global merchandising and licensing rights.

“We are so thrilled to be working with Trustbridge on these beloved book properties,” says Natalie Osborne, chief strategy officer, 9 Story Media Group. “Partnering with Trustbridge furthers our strategy of joining forces with best-in-class partners to bring cherished characters and stories to global audiences.”

The Judy Moody book series was first published in 2000 and includes the original Judy Moody series and three spin-off book series: Stink, Judy Moody and Stink, and Judy Moody and Friends, along with a feature film released in 2011. To date, there are more than 43 million Judy Moody books in print worldwide, translated into 26 languages.

Hitting the New York Times Best Seller list from 2019-2022, Dasher is a holiday picture book from author/illustrator Matt Tavares about how it came to be that reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. A sequel, “Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas,” was released in fall 2023.

“Judy Moody and Dasher are two preeminent titles, and we wanted a preeminent partner to help us bring these stories and characters to animated life,” says Bob Higgins, president, Trustbridge Entertainment. “And we found that in 9 Story. From storytelling to visual execution, they’ve proven to be exceptional, and we are lucky to be in such talented hands.”