Grunwald, Germany-based brand management company m4e AG has bolstered its licensing programme for KiKANiNCHEN, the multimedia preschool brand of German public broadcaster KI.KA.

KiKANiNCHEN’s publishing program will be developed and distributed by Carlsen-Verlag Hamburg and arsEdition Munich. Carlsen Verlag is publishing KiKANiNCHEN mini-books within the PIXI series, coloring books and coloring pads, Buggy Books and story books. The KiKANiNCHEN books by arsEdition will offer activity themes (including songbooks, play & learn) as well as puzzle compendiums, all of which will be supplemented with picture books and a friends-album.

Meanwhile, Berlin’s Universal Music Family Entertainment now holds entertainment (audio/DVD) rights to the brand and is releasing a KiKANiNCHEN CD before the 2010 Christmas season, followed by a DVD in spring 2011.

These new partners join current master toy licensee, the Simba Dickie Group.