{"id":197932,"date":"2025-09-03T22:18:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T22:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/197932\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T22:18:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T22:18:13","slug":"toofer-and-the-giblet-to-make-their-film-debut-fort-myers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/197932\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Toofer and The Giblet\u2019 to make their film debut – FORT MYERS"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Award-winning author\u2019s whimsical children\u2019s books to become animated series expected to release next summer <\/p>\n

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\u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d is illustrated in watercolor by Dmitry Morozov, who lives in Ukraine, has worked under fire throughout the war to create the stellar art found throughout the series. COURTESY OF DRAGON HORSE PUBLISHING<\/p>\n

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\u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d is illustrated in watercolor by Dmitry Morozov, who lives in Ukraine, has worked under fire throughout the war to create the stellar art found throughout the series. COURTESY OF DRAGON HORSE PUBLISHING<\/p>\n

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Paulette LeBlanc has created characters in Toofer, The Giblet and the rest of the crew in the book series that have come alive on the page through her words and the watercolor illustrations of Dmitry Morozov, will now be coming alive in feature films and episodic television. FILE<\/p>\n

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\u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d is illustrated in watercolor by Dmitry Morozov, who lives in Ukraine, has worked under fire throughout the war to create the stellar art found throughout the series. COURTESY OF DRAGON HORSE PUBLISHING<\/p>\n

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From the page to the screen, one local author who has woven a witty, classic tale will see her world come to life in the very near future. <\/p>\n

Paulette LeBlanc, author of the \u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d book series, and editor of the Pine Island Eagle, a sister paper of The Breeze, recently learned her award-winning characters will hit screens next year as a series of feature films. <\/p>\n

In a landmark partnership blending the magic of award-winning children\u2019s storytelling with the power of cinema, FL6 Entertainment and Dragon Horse Publishing have teamed up to introduce the beloved series to the global entertainment industry with a targeted release date of summer 2026. <\/p>\n

The collaboration will bring the whimsical world of Nimblewood and its charming mouse duo, \u201cToofer and The Giblet\u201d to new audiences through the development of feature films and episodic television. As executive producers, Julie Koester and P. Blake Renda of Dragon Horse Publishing join the creative leadership team at FL6, bringing their deep passion for storytelling and the literary magic that has made Toofer & The Giblet a standout in children\u2019s literature.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is more than a content partnership \u2014 it\u2019s a celebration of timeless storytelling, imagination, and heart,\u201d said Koester, co-CEO of Dragon Horse Publishing. \u201cToofer & The Giblet have always belonged on the page as truly classic children\u2019s literature \u2014 but now, they\u2019re ready for the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

LeBlanc first started writing \u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d in 2010, and said she would lean on her children for critiques and criticism, knowing they would be honest with her. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would say, \u2018What do you think of this?’\u201d LeBlanc recalls. \u201cEspecially my son, who was 15 or 16 at the time. If it was funny, he would say, \u2018All right, that\u2019s pretty good,\u2019 and it would stay in. But if my kids looked at me like, \u2018Give me a break,\u2019 I would take it out. I would let them be my judge because I know they wouldn\u2019t hold back.\u201d<\/p>\n

LeBlanc said the inspiration for \u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201dcame from real-life situations \u2013stories she had heard, her own experiences, things that had happened to friends of hers. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then I just sort of transferred it into, \u2018What if this had been mice?’\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

LeBlanc, who was no stranger to authoring books, said she can\u2019t quite put her finger on why she wanted to delve into the realm on children\u2019s books. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it would be fun and funny,\u201d she said. \u201cI remember saying to my best fiend, \u2018If two mice had the same conversations that we had, it would be hilarious.\u2019 And it was. I had never written for children before. And I could write \u2018Too and Gib\u2019 all day long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d is a seven-book series, with the first book having published in late 2021, and most recently, the third book, \u201cToofer & The Giblet Season of Light\u201d being released in 2023. The fourth book in the series is set to be published in the near future. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese mice are like the odd couple,\u201d LeBlanc said. \u201cThey\u2019re best friends. One of them is very introverted and thoughtful and considerate and wise, and the Giblet, is not. He\u2019s more outgoing and doesn\u2019t really think things through very well, which is Toofer\u2019s biggest complaint, but, they\u2019re best friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The books are illustrated in watercolor by Dmitry Morozov, who lives in Ukraine, and who has worked under fire throughout the conflicts to create the stellar art found throughout the series.<\/p>\n

Naturally, the world of Nimblewood and the various characters throughout the books took some time to develop. LeBlanc spent a year writing the first \u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d book. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure what I was doing or who these guys really were,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s like any show that you love, the first couple seasons are getting to know the characters, and by the third season they really hit their stride.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second book, \u201cToofer & The Giblet: In the Big City,\u201d took LeBlanc six months to write. The third book? That took just two weeks. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think a week was the longest that I spent after (writing book three),\u201d she said. \u201cOne of the books took two or three days. It\u2019s like God just popped it into my head and I know what I was doing. But I know them now.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, now having written these books, now came the hard part for LeBlanc \u2014 getting them published. <\/p>\n

During an assignment for The Breeze, LeBlanc happened to meet Koester at a recognition event where she was nominated for her work with Dragon House Agency. Doing her part as a reporter, LeBlanc interviewed Koester for the article and learned a bit about her drive and \u201cgo-getter\u201d disposition. LeBlanc reached out to Koester the next day and asked to meet with her to talk about \u201cToofer & The Giblet,\u201d looking for insight on what her next steps should be in pursing her passion project, not knowing Koester\u2019s passion for children\u2019s literature. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am obsessed with reading and books and would prefer to live in a book store,\u201d Koester said. \u201cMy mom has owned a children\u2019s book store, and I started a toy company specially so I could carry only children\u2019s literature. She didn\u2019t know any of that when (LeBlanc) came to talk to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

LeBlanc had shipped the series to publishers in the past, but was turned down, namely for some of the words in the books being \u201ctoo difficult\u201d for children or not \u201ctrendy\u201d enough. <\/p>\n

Both LeBlanc and Koester would have never imagined how that meeting would change both of their lives.<\/p>\n

After taking home Toof and Gib and giving it a read, Koester came into work and told Renda \u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d was something special. <\/p>\n

LeBlanc met with Koester again, expecting some direction on where to go and who to talk to. LeBlanc instead was met with a proposition she never saw coming. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are starting a publishing company because we want this book,\u201d Koester said. \u201cI absolutely knew what it was the minute I read it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are several layers when you\u2019re reading something that make it register for you. There\u2019s the character development\u2026 her\u2019s is incredibly well done. It\u2019s lightyears ahead of most children\u2019s books. On top of that, you have world building. She did the world building of not only the environs, but how they interface within their environment and outside of their environment, and what that means to each of the characters, and that\u2019s incredibly powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

And so, Dragon Horse Publishing was created solely for \u201cToofer & The Giblet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once published in a hardcover version with high-quality paper and extraordinary illustrations, \u201cToofer & The Giblet\u201d started gaining attraction and won awards in prominent areas. <\/p>\n

The book took home won a Bookfest first-place prize in \u201ccategory of fables,\u201d and a second in \u201ccategory of chapter books.\u201d It has been named as a BlueInk Review Notable Book. <\/p>\n

The second book in the series won a Bookfest first-place award in the \u201ccategory of fiction, children\u2019s chapter books,\u201d second for \u201cartistic & technical book cover,\u201d and third in \u201cfiction children\u2019s, fairy tales.\u201d<\/p>\n

The newly-released trailer for the series\/feature film took home a Silver Telly Award for \u201cbook trailer,\u201d \u201cediting,\u201d and \u201cvoiceover & narration.\u201d At the 72nd Cannes LIONS International Festival of Creativity, the trailer was nominated various awards as well. <\/p>\n

Koester said grandparents have written in to the publishing company sharing their love of the series, oftentimes buying a second set of books to keep for themselves, not just their grandchildren. <\/p>\n

One of the letters, in part, read, \u201cFabulous little books. Beautifully illustrated. Charming and endearing. They should rightfully go on to become international best-sellers seen in every household.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another letter stated, \u201cGrandparents lucky enough to read these stories to their precious ones will put them to bed, make a cup of tea, and read them again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Firoozeh Dumas, a multi-award-winning New York Times Bestselling author, with whom Koester is friends and shared the series with, said, \u201cThese are the kids of stories that leave imprints on our hearts, destined to become classics. Reminiscent of \u2018Frog and Toad,\u2019 these charming tales illustrate all that is important in life. Kids will love them, but so will the adults lucky enough to be reading them out loud.\u201d<\/p>\n

The books have even impacted children locally, with one classroom in Southwest Florida reading the book to students. One child that especially loved the book had a little mouse stuffed animal and brought it to the park to act out scenes as Toof and Gib.<\/p>\n

With a connection from Renda to the world of Hollywood, FL6 Entertainment has joined the Toofer & The Giblet family. <\/p>\n

FL6 Entertainment, led by Co-Founders and producers Tracy Beam and Dan Grodnik, brings powerhouse industry experience to the table. Beam, Fund Manager of the FL6 Series Fund, is a recognized force in creative development and digital transformation, while Grodnik\u2019s portfolio includes more than70 successful films and television projects.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Toofer & The Giblet\u2019 is the kind of rich, character-driven world that\u2019s so obviously made for adaptation,\u201d Beam said. \u201cWe are thrilled to bring this charming, funny, and rich universe to life and the screen, sharing it with families around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

With an award-winning trailer now available, Dark Horse is focused on its partnership with the studio to bring Toof and Gib to a border audience which, in-turn, will drive book sales as well. <\/p>\n

Renda said the blueprint is to go directly to streaming next summer. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat platform is dominating right now,\u201d he said. \u201cChildren\u2019s animation series have really taken off. The ambition then is to go to the big screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of interest with some prominent actors and actresses to do the voiceovers.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a testament to LeBlanc\u2019s series, early scripts for the screen adaptation stay true nearly to a tee to LeBlanc\u2019s writing. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe protection of the writing has been very high on everyone\u2019s list, because it\u2019s so perfectly done,\u201d Koester said. \u201cIt\u2019s funny, it\u2019s extremely intellectual. Between the snark and the wholesomeness and the charm \u2014 there\u2019s so many relatable experiences being had inside of this world that Paulette did so brilliantly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renda said he hopes to manifest a Toofer & Giblet balloon taking part in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe announcement is significant with FL6 Entertainment in that, we are hopeful this will lead to wider distribution and engagement with these stories,\u201d Renda said. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t be happier with where we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n

For LeBlanc, one of the biggest shock-to-the-system moments of the reality of her project coming to life came was a trip to Barnes & Noble once the book released. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey did a whole case just for Toof and Gib,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m like, \u2018Are you kidding?’\u201d<\/p>\n

The last five years for LeBlanc as a whole when it comes to her series have been a \u201cpinch-me\u201d whirlwind, even more so now with her characters getting set for the screen and national audience. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had to use my faith quite a bit,\u201d she said. \u201cBetween Julie\u2019s love and Blake\u2019s tenacity, that\u2019s why we\u2019ve gotten to where we are. It\u2019s kind of a dream come to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

LeBlanc has even pondered what her characters would say to her during this time. <\/p>\n

\u201cGib would say, \u2018Just have fun. Whatever you do make sure you\u2019re having fun, otherwise why are you doing it?’\u201d LeBlanc said. \u201cToofer would be like, \u2018Be thoughtful, and be careful. Don\u2019t confuse who you are with what you think.\u2019 He\u2019s just wise. I can\u2019t believe the things I\u2019m able to write using their personalities.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked if she\u2019s prepared to be able see Toof and Gib coming home from a day of work and flipping on the television, LeBlanc said, \u201cI am not prepared for that. That\u2019s probably going to overwhelm me.<\/p>\n

\u201cToofer and the Giblet have been, in many ways, the love of my life, and they\u2019ve been like children to me. I\u2019m grateful that the world will have a chance to fall in love with them the way I have.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information on \u201cToofer & The Giblet,\u201d to watch the trailer, and to order a copy, visit www.tooferandthegiblet.com.<\/p>\n


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