Press release from The Jim Henson Company: 

HOLLYWOOD, CA -- The Jim Henson Company has acquired rights to the beloved children’s books FROG AND TOAD and is developing an animated feature film. Written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel in the 1970s, each of the four FROG AND TOAD books include five short stories chronicling the exploits of a frog and his friend, a toad, simply named Frog and Toad.

“FROG AND TOAD has tremendous value with parents who read these charming stories when they were children and are now sharing them with their own kids,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “With such high caliber talent on board, the delightful and funny adventures of these two great friends--with a nod to the classic ‘buddy movie’--will bring a whole new audience to their big screen debut.”

Lisa Henson will produce for The Jim Henson Company. Adam Lobel and Adrianne Lobel will executive produce. Craig Bartlett (“Dinosaur Train” and “Hey Arnold!”) will write the screenplay and Cory Edwards (“Hoodwinked”) is attached to direct.

The Jim Henson Company has also signed a deal with HarperCollins Children’s Books to develop and implement the first-ever multi-category licensing and merchandising program in the U.S. and Canada for the classic literary property. The Company will be presenting FROG AND TOAD at the upcoming Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.

Melissa Segal, Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products at The Jim Henson Company said, “As the feature film develops we will be looking to grow awareness of the property with licensed products based on the wonderful body of art from the original classic books in primary categories like apparel, accessories, gifts, toys, home furnishings and room décor. The plan is to launch a program aimed at both kids and adults in department and specialty stores in 2013.”