66 Kids Worldwide Win a Combined $8,150—Out of More Than $125,000 to be Awarded Over Two-Year, 10-Book Hunt

New York, NY – February 12, 2009 – Kids around the world have read the books and joined the online hunt for The 39 Clues™, and today, Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, is announcing the first cash prizes won by 66 lucky children. Launched September 2008 with Book #1: The Maze of Bones, this New York Times bestselling and groundbreaking series, has already attracted more than 265,000 kids to join the online hunt to win prizes. The first round of cash prizes, totaling $8,150 is being awarded to kids from around the world who digitized cards, played games and earned points on the39clues.com. Throughout the two-year 10 book series, more than $125,000 in prizes will be awarded, and kids can enter to join the hunt at anytime and win prizes at the39clues.com.

Each of the adrenaline-charged books in the10-book series offers kids an immersive reading and online experience that involves joining one of four branches of the Cahill family (Lucian, Ekaterina, Janus, or Tomas) – the most powerful family in the world. Once part of the family they can begin their hunt for The 39 Clues, and have chances to win exciting prizes with each book release through the Book Sweepstakes, Online Mission Sweepstakes and Episode Contests* (see below for descriptions). The participant who finds all 39 clues at the end of the series and uncovers the Cahill treasure, has the chance to win the grand prize of $10,000 (US).

The first 66 winners have been selected from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and India, and will receive cash prizes totaling $8,150.** Prizes vary according to each country’s rules. The 39 Clues top prize winners include:
(for full prize list visit the39clues.com/winners)

1st prize winner of the Book #1 Episode Contest $1,000
Mahmoud A., Kanata, ON, Canada – Ekaterina

2nd prize winner of the Book #1 Episode Contest $750
Harry C., Marblehead, MA, USA- Lucian

3rd prize winner of the Book #1 Episode Contest $500
Frank P., Struthers, OH, USA - Janus

1st prize winner of the Book #1 Sweepstakes $500
Hunter R., 9, Thornton, CO, USA - Janus

(5) 2nd prize winners of the Book #1 Sweepstakes $250 each
J.D., 13, Darien, IL, USA – Lucian
Ivan L., 10, Miami, FL, USA - Tomas
Zachary R., 8, Round Rock, TX, USA - Lucian
Avery S., 12, Dallas, TX, USA - Janus
Luke S., 9, Chester Springs, PA, USA - Tomas

(8) 3rd prize winners of the Book #1 Sweepstakes $100 each
Jasmine B., 7, Reynoldsburg, OH, USA - Janus
William F., 9, Amityville, NY, USA – Tomas
Jared G., 10, West Middlesex, PA, USA - Ekaterina
Christopher L., 10, Downers Grove, IL, USA - Janus
Anthony N., 12, Waikanae, New Zealand - Ekaterina
Daniel P., 9, Keswick, ON, Canada – Ekaterina
Jenna P., 11, North Canton, OH, USA - Tomas
William S., 11, Albion, IN, USA - Ekaterina
25 additional runners-up won prizes of $50

1st prize winner of the #1 Online Mission Sweepstakes $250
Megan R., 11, Round Rock, TX, USA – Janus

(5) 2nd prize winners of the #1 Online Mission Sweepstakes $100
Cole M., 9, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, US - Lucian
Gavin M., 12, Brampton, ON, Canada - Ekaterina
Hannah S., 10, Conway, PA, USA - Tomas
Alan-Michael S., 12, Belleville, ON, Canada - Lucian
Josh T., 13, Armonk, NY, USA - Ekaterina

20 additional runners-up won prizes of $50

“We hear from kids around the world about how much they love the hunt for The 39 Clues,” stated Ellie Berger, President Scholastic Trade. “What kids love most is that this is an ongoing hunt that they can join at anytime as there are always lots more clues to find, missions to solve and prizes to win.”

$1000 prize-winner Mahmoud A. of Kanata, Canada is a big fan of The 39 Clues. “I have both books and finished reading each of them in a week - I love them. But it was also great playing the games on Arena 39. It was really tough getting all the high scores. 39 Clues is AWESOME.”

The next series of sweepstakes and contest for Book #2: One False Note by Gordon Korman ends on March 2, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) and kids can enter at anytime and still be eligible to win Book #2 prizes as well as be part of the hunt for the Grand Prize. On March 3, 2009, Scholastic will be releasing Book #3: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis.

The 39 Clues 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.

For more information on the prize winners or The 39 Clues, including the complete details and official rules for sweepstakes and contests, visit the39clues.com or visit the online press kit.

* Prize Descriptions:
Episode Contest (US/CA only): participants play games in the Arena 39 the mini-game section of the39clues.com; top 3 point earners are the winners
Book Sweepstakes: participants digitize any of the cards that come with the book and are automatically entered into the book sweepstakes
Online Mission Sweepstakes: participants initiate activity in one of the online mission games to be automatically entered into the online mission sweepstakes

** Malaysia, Singapore and India hosted an Episode Contest and will be awarding their cash prizes at a later date. Australia hosted an Episode Contest and has alternative prizing for kids. See website for details.

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, scholastic.com.

PR Contacts
Cathy Lasiewicz, 212-343-6570, clasiewicz@scholastic.com
Amanda Hebert, 212-343-6657, ahebert@scholastic.com