“Book 6: In Too Deep” by Jude Watson, the newest title in the bestselling multi-media adventure series by Scholastic, to be released on November 3, 2009

NEW YORK, NY (October 14, 2009) Scholastic invites kids and schools around the world to participate in The 39 Clues™ live webcast on November 2, 2009, at 1:30 P.M. EST, hosted by award-winning actor and children’s book author Whoopi Goldberg. During the one-hour The 39 Clues: Advanced Agent Training webcast, Ms. Goldberg will engage in a dialog with the authors of the bestselling multi-media series—Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, and Patrick Carman—and will challenge kids and classrooms on the following core skills: critical thinking, research, deductive reasoning, geography, history, and math. Kids can participate throughout the webcast, posting their answers to the challenges and seeing how they stack up against other participants in the audience and worldwide. For more information and to find out how to participate in this fun, interactive webcast, log on to www.the39clues.com has drawn more than 670,000 registered users since its launch in September 2008, and The 39 Clues series has been licensed in 20 languages to date. A 39 Clues App for the iPhone™ and iPod Touch®, entitled Madrigal Maze, was released last month.

Whoopi Goldberg, a fan of the series since its launch a year ago, hosted the first The 39 Clues webcast in December 2008 featuring author Gordon Korman. Ms. Goldberg wrote about the series in her online column,...well-thought-out and smartly written and I think that kids will really dig it! I’m loving it.”

The newest title, “Book 6: In Too Deep” by Jude Watson will be released on November 3, 2009. There are more than five million copies in print for books 1-6 in the series. The 39 Clues interactive reading experience continues to gain momentum online with even more kids from all 50 states and 191 countries joining the hunt for clues. The online game at www.the39clues.com has drawn more than 670,000 registered users since its launch in September 2008, and The 39 Clues series has been licensed in 20 languages to date. A 39 Clues App for the iPhone™ and iPod Touch®, entitled Madrigal Maze, was released last month.

The 39 Clues launched on September 9, 2008, with “Book 1: The Maze of Bones” by Rick Riordan, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. On December 2, 2008, “Book 2: One False Note” by Gordon Korman was released and also debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Since then, the series, including “Book 3: The Sword Thief” by Peter Lerangis (March 3, 2009), “Book 4: Beyond the Grave” by Jude Watson (June 2, 2009), and “Book 5: The Black Circle” by Patrick Carman (August 11, 2009), have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Movie rights for “The 39 Clues” have been acquired by DreamWorks Studios with Steven Spielberg eyeing to direct. The script is being penned by Jeff Nathanson whose credits include “Catch Me If You Can” and “Rush Hour 2.”

“The 39 Clues” is a groundbreaking multi-media adventure series for children ages 8-12 that spans 10 adrenaline-charged books, hundreds of collectible game cards, and a website that allows readers to play a role in the story and compete for prizes. The series centers around the Cahills—the most powerful family the world has ever known. But the source of the family’s power has been lost. Grace Cahill, the last matriarch of the Cahills, changed her will minutes before she died, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: receive a million dollars or a clue. The first Cahill to assemble all 39 clues hidden around the world will discover what makes the family so powerful—a reward beyond measure. It’s Cahill versus Cahill in a race to the finish, with readers hot on the heels of the main characters, fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her eleven-year-old brother, Dan. The series highlights famous historical figures kicking off with Benjamin Franklin in “The Maze of Bones,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in “One False Note,” Toyotomi Hideyoshi in “The Sword Thief,” Howard Carter in “Beyond the Grave,” and Anastasia Romanov in “The Black Circle.” For more information about “The 39 Clues” and to download digital images, visit mediaroom.scholastic.com/The39Clues.

Whoopi Goldberg is one of an elite group of artists who have won a Grammy Award (Whoopi Goldberg, 1985), an Academy Award (Ghost, 1991), a Golden Globe (“The Color Purple,” 1985 and “Ghost,” 1991), an Emmy Award (as host of AMC’s “Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel,” 2002) and a Tony Award (as producer of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” 2002). She is equally known for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of children, the homeless, human rights, education, substance abuse and the battle against AIDS, as well as many other causes and charities. Among her many charitable activities, Goldberg is a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations. She recently became the first woman to be honored with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She is currently the co-host of ABC’s Emmy Award-winning talk show, “The View,” and also has written numerous children’s books including “Alice,” “Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners,” and “Sugar Plum Ballerinas.”

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, television networks and the Company’s Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.

Contact: 

Charisse Meloto
212-389-3785
cmeloto@scholastic.com