Simon & Schuster UK Children’s Publishing is fast-tracking the first titles in its Octonauts TV tie-in program.

The first two books based on the new CBeebies TV series will now hit retailers on March 31, followed by four further titles in August, the originally scheduled launch date for the books.

The Octonauts and the Decorator Crab and The Octonauts and the Whale Shark are the first two 8 x 8s that follow the adventures of Captain Barnacles Bear, Lieutenant Kwazii Cat and medic Peso Penguin. The launch will be accompanied by in-store POS and a marketing campaign, as well as nationwide competitions. The future publishing program includes further 8x8s, a sound book and a shaped board book.

The Octonauts debuted on CBeebies in October 2010 and ranked number-one for boys ages four to six in its first month on air.