Magic School Bus

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

facebook.com/
themagicschoolbus

More Information
For book information or author/illustrator interviews:

Scholastic Trade Publicity
tradepublicity@scholastic.com

For brand information:

Allyson Barkan
abarkan@scholastic.com
(212) 389-3469

“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

The Magic School Bus is a best-selling Scholastic book series written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, with more than 90 million books in print.  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, a Parent’s Choice Award, and been named both School Library Journal and Parents’ Magazine Best Books of the Year among others. As the franchise celebrates its 30th year, an all-new Netflix animated series, The Magic School Bus: Rides Again, is in production. The original Magic School Bus animated television series has been broadcast in more than 100 countries and has won numerous awards, including two Emmy’s for Lily Tomlin’s portrayal as Ms. Frizzle, six CINE Golden Eagles, a Parent’s Choice Gold Medal, a National Conservation Achievement Award, an Environmental Media Association Award and an Annenberg Public Policy Center Award. 
 

Books

  • The most recently published title is The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge (2010)
  • 90 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

  • Available for streaming in classrooms from Discovery Education and in homes on Netflix.

Interactive

  • In 2013, The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs was released for LeapFrog Explorer joining the Magic School Bus: Oceans and numerous other gaming and video content available on best-selling gaming platforms.
  • Two apps are available for iOS: The Magic School Bus Dinosaurs and The Magic School Bus: Oceans

Website

www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus — offers activities 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:

LOGOS

Download the logo

Download the logo
Images

Author/Illustrator Q&A

Photo of Author Joanna Cole

Photo of Illustrator Bruce Degen

Book Cover: The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge