Home
Posted December 13th, 2010 by rthomas

Magic School Bus logo

AT–A–GLANCE
What is it?

A critically acclaimed book and animated television series that helps kids learn about science

Who is it for?
Kids ages 4 – 9 who want to "Take chances! Make Mistakes! Get Messy!"
Visit the site

scholastic.com/magicschoolbus

More Information
For book information or author/illustrator interviews:

Tracy van Straaten
VP, Trade Book Publicity
tvanstraaten@scholastic.com
(212) 389-3782

For brand information:

John Michael Kennedy
Goodman Media
jmkennedy@goodmanmedia.com
(212) 576-2700 x 243

“Children delight in the energy and imagination of The Magic School Bus series. We are happy that the series continues to attract the support and enthusiasm of parents and teachers too, by encouraging children to explore, discover and learn about the world around them.”
    — Deborah Forte, president, Scholastic Media

“Just as Sesame Street revolutionized the teaching of letters and numbers by making it so entertaining the children had no idea they were actually learning something, so the ‘Magic School Bus’ books make science so much fun that the information is almost incidental”
    — The New York Times

Press Releases

 

Overview

Based on the best-selling Scholastic book series written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, the Magic School Bus is an Emmy award winning animated television series has been broadcast in more than 39 countries in 16 languages. It currently airs on the Qubo Channel in the United States. With more than 58 million books in print, the franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The brand has won numerous industry excellence awards, including two Emmys for Lily Tomlin, five CINE Golden Eagles, a Parents Choice Gold Medal, a National Conservation Achievement Award, an Environmental Media Association Award, and an Annenberg Public Policy Center Award. The series has been a favorite guest venue for celebrity voices as well, including those of Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, Dabney, Coleman, Bebe Neuwirth, Tyne Daly, Eartha Kitt, Elliott Gould, Swoozie Kurtz, Rita Moreno, Edward, James Olmos, Ed Asner, and Tony Randall, among others. The Magic School Bus Touch & Tilt app for iPad launched earlier this year. A live show entitled “The Magic School Bus Live: THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE will launch later this Fall as will ‘The Magic School Bus: Oceans’ for Nintendo DS.

Books

  • The most recently published title is The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge (2010)
  • 58 million books in print
  • Numerous awards including the 2004 NEA Foundation Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education and selected by the National Parenting Publications Awards as one of the 100 Best Children's Books of the 20th Century

Television

  • Airs on Qubo 24 hour channel, NBC Qubo block, ION, and Telemundo
  • Numerous awards including 6 CINE Awards, a Daytime Emmy Nomination and Emmy Win by Lily Tomlin for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Series

Interactive

  • The brand will also see two releases this fall: The Magic School Bus: Oceans for Nintendo DS and a new "Touch & Tilt" app The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs
  • The Magic School Bus: Oceans "Touch & Tilt" app for the iPad debuted earlier this year

Website

www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus — Re-launched in October 2010 with special features and resources for teachers, parents and children

Awards

Books

The Magic School Bus series has been recognized with some of the most prestigious children’s awards including:

  • NEA Foundation Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award Parent's Choice Award
  • An American Booksellers Association Choice
  • IRA/CBC Children's Choice
  • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
  • NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
  • IRA Teachers' Choice
  • A Horn Book Fanfare
  • Parent's Magazine Best Books of the Year
  • Reading Rainbow Selection
TELEVISION
  • Daytime Emmy Award
  • Annenberg Public Policy Center Award for Outstanding Educational Program on a Commercial Broadcast Station
  • Six CINE Golden Eagles
  • American Women in Radio and Television's Annual Gracie Allen Award
  • National Wildlife Federation’s National Conservation Achievement Award for Education
  • Environmental Media Association Award for Children's Animated TV Program
  • National Education Association Award for Advancement of Learning Through Television
  • National Educational Media Network Gold Apple
  • Parents' Choice Gold Medal for Excellence in Children's Programming
  • Parents' Choice National Television Hall of Fame Classic Award
VIDEO
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
  • Kids First! Finalist
  • Two Parents' Choice Video Awards
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
  • NAPPA Honors
INTERACTIVE
  • Editor’s Choice Award Children’s Technology Review
  • Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Award
  • Discovery School's Award of Excellence
  • Best Picks Award / Choosing Children's Software Magazine
  • Family PC Recommended Seal
  • Annual Education Software Review Award (EDDIES)
  • NAPPA Gold Award
  • Kids First Endorsement
  • Codie for Best Elementary Education Program
  • Rommie Award
  • Parents' Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s Platinum Award for Children's Software
  • ALSC's Notable Computer Software for Children
Website
  • Interactive Media "Best in Class" Award for Magic School Bus Website

Traveling Magic School Bus

The traveling Magic School Bus is designed inside and out with fun and colorful Magic School Bus artwork and available to rent. Ms. Frizzle, Liz, and the rest of the gang appear throughout the Bus to give kids fun facts about the exhibits they are seeing.

The Bus is loaded with engaging, hands-on exhibits including:

  • An off-line version of The Magic School Bus website
  • The Magic School Bus-themed Leapfrog LeapPad™ activities
  • An interactive game that lets kids get an inside look at the human body.
  • Highly visual, detailed exhibits about curious-kid favorite topics such as ocean life, the weather, the solar system, rocks, volcanoes, insects and the human body.
     

Downloads: