MUMBAI: PBS Kids television network‘s WordWorld has roped in 4Kids Entertainment, which specializes in the creation, development, production, broadcasting, distribution, licensing and manufacturing of children‘s entertainment products, as its global licensing agent.

WordWorld revolves around WordFriends and WordThings, characters and items made of the letters that spell them, in the correct order.

The main focus of the show is literacy, with the shows curriculum being based on the National Reading Panel‘s 2000 Teaching Children to Read report with input from other groups and experts. The show aims to focus on print awareness, Phonics sensitivity and letter knowledge, Reading comprehension (including vocabulary development) and socio-emotional skills. Under the deal, 4Kids will leverage WordWorld‘s combination of educational

and play value to build a licensing programme across a variety of product categories that highlights the daily 3D animated series‘ focus on word play for pre-schoolersSaid 4Kids Entertainment chairman and CEO Al Kahn, "Its critical praise, growing popularity among parents and children, along with its distinct visually educational and entertaining style makes this property extremely desirable for licensors and retailers."