Popular Web3 brand Tremlin Penguin has partnered with Random House children’s books to release a new picture book called The worst birthday gift ever, Released on November 4, 2025, marks the first time the brand has officially pursued a formal adventure in traditional publications.
The book will introduce young readers to Pongo in a story targeting children aged 4 to 8, a character collected by Pongo’s “Lil Pudgy” sub-collection.
Written by Michael Leviton and illustrated by Kuma Labs, the book will be released in a $9.99 hardcover book and will be released in time for the holidays and is now available for pre-order.
Source: Penguin Random HouseWhat is it Worst birthday gift ever all?
This book is situated in the fictional world of the fictional penguin, following the character of Pango celebrating his birthday. Pongo is known as impulsive but kind-hearted goodwill in the chunky community, finding himself in trouble after his friend mistakenly gave him a real sword instead of an inflatable one. The narrative provides an easy storyline for early readers through a mix of chaos and problem-solving.
The book targets children between the ages of 4 and 8 and combines traditional picture book elements (population, character conflict and solution) with characters that develop in the chunky penguin universe.
“The worst birthday gift ever wasn’t just a book – it’s the next chapter in a movement that has resonated with kids, collectors and families around the world,” said Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins.
Source: chunky penguinWhat does this mean for the chunky penguins?
The book marks the first publication collaboration of the chubby Penguin, originally launched in 2021, as a collection of Ethereum-based NFTs. Since then, the brand has expanded to physical toys, games and social media content and has built a significant following on platforms like Tiktok and Instagram.
By entering the children’s book market, the short and chunky penguins are further entering mainstream consumer media. The brand has previously placed toy products at major retailers including Walmart, Target and Walgreens, reporting more than $13 million in retail revenue sold over one million units.
“Random House children’s books are the gold standard for publishing,” Luca Netz said. “They understand the power of narrative and building lasting characters. As a leading Web3 brand brings digital culture to the mainstream, this collaboration marks a major milestone in our ongoing expansion.”
The collaboration with Penguin Random House shows that Pudgy Penguins is adopting a multi-platform strategy that includes retail, publishing and digital engagement. Future projects have not been announced yet, but are expected to follow in a similar direction.
