‘Toofer and The Giblet’ to make their film debut
Eagle Editor LeBlanc’s whimsical children’s books to become animated series expected to release next summer
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.
Paulette LeBlanc, author of the “Toofer & The Giblet” 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.
In a landmark partnership blending the magic of award-winning children’s 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.
The collaboration will bring the whimsical world of Nimblewood and its charming mouse duo, “Toofer and The Giblet” 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’s literature.
“This is more than a content partnership — it’s a celebration of timeless storytelling, imagination, and heart,” said Koester, co-CEO of Dragon Horse Publishing. “Toofer & The Giblet have always belonged on the page as truly classic children’s literature — but now, they’re ready for the screen.”
LeBlanc first started writing “Toofer & The Giblet” in 2010, and said she would lean on her children for critiques and criticism, knowing they would be honest with her.
“I would say, ‘What do you think of this?'” LeBlanc recalls. “Especially my son, who was 15 or 16 at the time. If it was funny, he would say, ‘All right, that’s pretty good,’ and it would stay in. But if my kids looked at me like, ‘Give me a break,’ I would take it out. I would let them be my judge because I know they wouldn’t hold back.”
LeBlanc said the inspiration for “Toofer & The Giblet” came from real-life situations — stories she had heard, her own experiences, things that had happened to friends of hers.
“And then I just sort of transferred it into, ‘What if this had been mice?'” she said.
LeBlanc, who was no stranger to authoring books, said she can’t quite put her finger on why she wanted to delve into the realm on children’s books.
“I thought it would be fun and funny,” she said. “I remember saying to my best friend, ‘If two mice had the same conversations that we had, it would be hilarious.’ And it was. I had never written for children before. And I could write ‘Toof and Gib’ all day long.”
“Toofer & The Giblet” is a seven-book series, with the first book having published in late 2021, and most recently, the third book, “Toofer & The Giblet Season of Light” being released in 2023. The fourth book in the series is set to be published in the near future.
“These mice are like the odd couple,” LeBlanc said. “They’re best friends. One of them is very introverted and thoughtful and considerate and wise, and the Giblet, is not. He’s more outgoing and doesn’t really think things through very well, which is Toofer’s biggest complaint, but, they’re best friends.”
The books are illustrated in watercolor by Dmitry Morozov, who lives in Ukraine, has worked under fire throughout the war in his country to create the stellar art found throughout the series.
Naturally, the world of Nimblewood and the various characters throughout the books took some time to develop. LeBlanc spent a year writing the first “Toofer & The Giblet” book.
“I wasn’t sure what I was doing or who these guys really were,” she said. “It’s 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.”
The second book, “Toofer & The Giblet: In the Big City,” took LeBlanc six months to write. The third book? That took just two weeks.
“I think a week was the longest that I spent after (writing book three),” she said. “One of the books took two or three days. It’s like God just popped it into my head and I know what I was doing. But I know them now.”
So, now having written these books, now came the hard part for LeBlanc — getting them published.
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 “go-getter” disposition. LeBlanc reached out to Koester the next day and asked to meet with her to talk about “Toofer & The Giblet,” looking for insight on what her next steps should be in pursing her passion project, not knowing Koester’s passion for children’s literature.
“I am obsessed with reading and books and would prefer to live in a book store,” Koester said. “My mom has owned a children’s book store, and I started a toy company specially so I could carry only children’s literature. She didn’t know any of that when (LeBlanc) came to talk to me.”
LeBlanc had shipped the series to publishers in the past, but was turned down, namely for some of the words in the books being “too difficult” for children or not “trendy” enough.
Both LeBlanc and Koester would have never imagined how that meeting would change both of their lives.
After taking Toof and Gib home and giving it a read, Koester came into work and told Renda “Toofer & The Giblet” was something special.
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.
“We are starting a publishing company because we want this book,” Koester said. “I absolutely knew what it was the minute I read it.
“There are several layers when you’re reading something that make it register for you. There’s the character development… her’s is incredibly well done. It’s light-years ahead of most children’s 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’s incredibly powerful.”
And so, Dragon Horse Publishing was created solely for “Toofer & The Giblet.”
Once published in a hardcover version with high-quality paper and extraordinary illustrations, “Toofer & The Giblet” started gaining attraction and won awards in prominent areas.
The book took home won a Bookfest first-place prize in “category of fables,” and a second in “category of chapter books.” It has been named as a BlueInk Review Notable Book.
The second book in the series won a Bookfest first-place award in the “category of fiction, children’s chapter books,” second for “artistic & technical book cover,” and third in “fiction children’s, fairy tales.”
The newly-released trailer for the series/feature film took home a Silver Telly Award for “book trailer,” “editing,” and “voiceover & narration.” At the 72nd Cannes LIONS International Festival of Creativity, the trailer was nominated for various awards as well.
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.
One of the letters, in part, read, “Fabulous little books. Beautifully illustrated. Charming and endearing. They should rightfully go on to become international best-sellers seen in every household.”
Another letter stated, “Grandparents lucky enough to read these stories to their precious ones will put them to bed, make a cup of tea, and read them again.”
Firoozeh Dumas, a multi-award-winning New York Times Bestselling author, with whom Koester is friends and shared the series with, said, “These are the kinds of stories that leave imprints on our hearts, destined to become classics. Reminiscent of ‘Frog and Toad,’ 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.”
The books have even impacted children locally, with one classroom in Southwest Florida reading the book to students. One child who especially loved the book had a little stuffed animal mouse and brought it to the park to act out scenes as Toof and Gib.
With a connection from Renda to the world of Hollywood, FL6 Entertainment has joined the Toofer & The Giblet family.
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’s portfolio includes more than 70 successful films and television projects.
“‘Toofer & The Giblet’ is the kind of rich, character-driven world that’s so obviously made for adaptation,” Beam said. “We are thrilled to bring this charming, funny, and rich universe to life and the screen, sharing it with families around the world.”
With an award-winning trailer now available, Dark Horse is focused on its partnership with the studio to bring Toof and Gib to a broader audience which, in turn, will drive book sales as well.
Renda said the blueprint is to go directly to streaming next summer.
“That platform is dominating right now,” he said. “Children’s animation series have really taken off. The ambition then is to go to the big screen.
“There’s a lot of interest with some prominent actors and actresses to do the voiceovers.”
As a testament to LeBlanc’s series, early scripts for the screen adaptation stay true, nearly to a tee, to LeBlanc’s writing.
“The protection of the writing has been very high on everyone’s list, because it’s so perfectly done,” Koester said. “It’s funny, it’s extremely intellectual. Between the snark and the wholesomeness and the charm — there’s so many relatable experiences being had inside of this world that Paulette did so brilliantly.”
Renda said he hopes to manifest a Toofer & Giblet balloon taking part in a Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“The announcement is significant with FL6 Entertainment in that, we are hopeful this will lead to wider distribution and engagement with these stories,” Renda said. “We couldn’t be happier with where we are today.”
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 was released.
“They did a whole case just for Toof and Gib,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Are you kidding?'”
The last five years for LeBlanc as a whole when it comes to her series have been a “pinch-me” whirlwind, even more so now with her characters getting set for the screen and national audience.
“I’ve had to use my faith quite a bit,” she said. “Between Julie’s love and Blake’s tenacity, that’s why we’ve gotten to where we are. It’s kind of a dream come to life.”
LeBlanc has even pondered what her characters would say to her during this time.
“Gib would say, ‘Just have fun. Whatever you do make sure you’re having fun, otherwise why are you doing it?'” LeBlanc said. “Toofer would be like, ‘Be thoughtful, and be careful. Don’t confuse who you are with what you think.’ He’s just wise. I can’t believe the things I’m able to write using their personalities.”
When asked if she’s prepared to come home from a day of work, flipping on the television and seeing Toof and Gib, LeBlanc said, “I am not prepared for that. That’s probably going to overwhelm me.
“Toofer and the Giblet have been, in many ways, the love of my life, and they’ve been like children to me. I’m grateful that the world will have a chance to fall in love with them the way I have.”
For more information on “Toofer & The Giblet,” to watch the trailer, or to order the books, visit tooferandthegiblet.com.