The Koala Brothers are doing much more these days than just hanging around, sucking back eucalyptus leaves. The characters from UK-based Spellbound Entertainment’s stop-motion series of the same name are indeed on the hunt for toddlers who can handle the truth as they search for Britain’s Most Helpful Preschoolers via a new nationwide contest launching this September.

Joint MD Peter Curtis says Spellbound approached The Preschool Learning Alliance (the largest voluntary-sector provider of childcare in the UK) and book retailer Waterstones to create the contest aimed at rewarding tots who help others, which reflects the central theme of the series. A nationwide newspaper and magazine campaign is in the works to start getting the word out and The Koala Brothers’ website will field contest entries or, more accurately, nominations. Parents and caregivers are being asked to submit stories describing their preschoolers’ helpful acts.

Along with the chance to win tickets to Cbeebies Live! shows and book prizes courtesy of Waterstones, a panel of celebrity judges is being put together to select preschoolers from 12 regions across the country to be lauded at a ceremony in London later this year. These finalists will also get to attend a pre-Christmas tea party and meet Koala Brothers, Frank and Buster in London.

Currently, The Koala Brothers airs on Cbeebies in the UK and has been sold into 155 territories worldwide to 47 different broadcasters. Along with launching a new website that features up-to-the-minute games, Spellbound has just inked a deal with Ragged Bears Publishing for four new Koala Brothers storybooks.