Maple Landmark adds Mike Mulligan collection to its licensed family

-- Kids Today, 8/13/2008 2:39:00 PM

Middlebury, Vt.-based Maple Landmark announced the development of five new Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel products that will be added to the already successful Maisy and Guess How Much I Love You product lines.

The new Mike Mulligan collection includes a puzzle, a set of bookends, wall rack, picture frame and a growth stick. Each of the designs is taken directly from the story and artwork of Virginia Lee Burton. Released in 1939, Burton’s tale of Mike and his beloved steam shovel Mary Ann is a classic story of progress versus ways of the past.                                         

The 20-piece puzzle, wall rack, picture frame, and growth stick all use the image of Mike showing off his ‘beautiful red steam shovel…Mary Anne’ from the first page of the story while the bookends depict scenes from the end, as Mike and Mary Anne finish the cellar of the new town hall.  The puzzle is geared for children three and up, while the other products are room décor items for children of any age.
  
The Mike Mulligan 2-knob wall rack and bookends are crafted from locally harvest hardwood maple and finished using non-toxic finishes and inks. The 20-piece puzzle is cut from Baltic birch plywood and sits inside an 8” X 10” wooden frame. The puzzle is finished with durable non-toxic lacquers and inks. Also cut from Baltic birch plywood, is the picture frame.  The frame will hold a horizontal 4” X 6” picture and has plexiglass to protect the photo.  The frame comes with a peg to hold it upright.  A growth stick that measures up to 6 feet rounds out the Mike Mulligan offerings.  The pine growth stick hangs from the Mike Mulligan image and is finished using a non-toxic clear lacquer.

“I grew up with Mike Mulligan and it’s an honor to be able to create products from the story,” said Mike Rainville, owner and founder of Maple Landmark.  “Our ability to print directly on the wood has allowed us to replicate the story’s illustrations – pencil lines, brush strokes, shading, as well as the feel and quality of the image. Having this capability opens up more opportunities.”

“Maple Landmark does not make a point of seeking out properties but when a property is a good match then it’s fun to be able to bring another dimension of products to the property,” said Jill Stackhouse, sales manager. “Maisy and Guess How Much I Love You were well received and I am sure that Mike Mulligan will see the same success.”