New York, NY — March 31, 2009 — NFL superstar quarterbacks, brothers, and Super Bowl MVPs Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, along with their father, legendary quarterback Archie Manning, have signed with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, to publish an original children’s picture book in September 2009 and to serve in 2009 as the first ever Scholastic Book Clubs' ClassroomsCare Ambassadors of Reading. Committed to turning kids, especially boys, into readers, Peyton and Eli Manning will add their support to the annual ClassroomsCare book donation program that motivates children in classrooms across the country to understand the importance of reading and giving. Participating classrooms each read 100 books and, in turn, Scholastic Book Clubs will donate books on their behalf—up to a total of one million books—in the Manning family name to children who might not otherwise have access to quality children’s books.

The picture book Family Huddle, about the two star athletes and their family, will be published by Scholastic in September 2009 and will be distributed through all of the company’s distribution channels, including Trade, School Book Clubs, and School Book Fairs. An illustrator for the project will be named at a later date.

"Teaming up with Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli Manning and Archie Manning to inspire a love of reading in all children will allow Scholastic Book Clubs to take the ClassroomsCare program to a whole new level of engagement—both by the kids who read to donate books and by the deserving children who will receive the donations," announced Judy Newman, President of Scholastic Book Clubs. "Working together with students and teachers in classrooms all across the country, Scholastic Book Clubs and the Manning Family will inspire a love of reading in children nationwide. Scholastic Book Clubs could not have better partners in supporting this important literacy campaign that teaches kids the value of reading and giving than the Mannings, America’s First Family of Football—and now Reading."

"Scholastic is proud to collaborate with the Mannings on this heartwarming book," said Ellie Berger, President of Scholastic Trade Publishing. "The Manning family is not only remarkable for their accomplishments on the football field, but also for their dedication to each other and to their community. They are an inspiration to kids and families everywhere."

"Reading has always been an important part of our lives and success," said Peyton Manning. "With this book we hope to share our message about the value of literacy and education to children and their families."

"My brother, my dad, and I are very excited to be working with Scholastic, and to be able to put so many books into the hands of young readers across America who might not otherwise have that opportunity," said Eli Manning.

Archie Manning added, "I am very proud of Eli and Peyton and their commitment to inspiring and helping children in need. This is a wonderful way for us to work together as a family and as a team with Scholastic to help kids discover the joy of reading."

Peyton Manning, Super Bowl-winning quarterback and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, is a leader and a champion both on and off the field. Since joining the Indianapolis Colts as the number one overall pick in the 1998 draft, Peyton Manning has earned three NFL Most Valuable Player awards (2003, 2004, 2008) and is a nine-time Pro-Bowl choice. With the Super Bowl XLI Most Valuable Player honor in 2006, Manning became the only player to be named NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and Pro Bowl MVP during a career. In 1999, Peyton established The PeyBack Foundation to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting established programs that provide leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. In 2007, in recognition of his ongoing commitment to giving back to children and the community, St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis renamed its children’s hospital to "Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent." Peyton has demonstrated his commitment to children by establishing the "True Heroes" program, which provides monthly events and parties for pediatric patients. Peyton Manning and his wife Ashley live in Indianapolis, Indiana.

As a first round draft selection (2004) and the quarterback for the New York Giants since 2005, Eli Manning continues to honor his family’s great NFL quarterback legacy. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, in which he led the Giants to victory over the 18-0 New England Patriots and, like his brother only two years earlier, was voted Super Bowl MVP. Eli was later named the Sporting News' 2008 Pro Athlete of the Year and was the Giants' recipient of the NFL Walter Payton "Man of the Year" award in both 2007 and 2008, given to the player on each team who displays excellence on the football field and in the community. Among other charitable initiatives, Eli is a major supporter of St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center, making regular hospital visits and raising money for the Eli Manning Pediatrics Fund, which helps provide care for infants and children with chronic medical problems. In addition, he has made a five year commitment to raise $2.5 million for the new "Eli Manning Children’s Clinics" at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, Mississippi, and in 2005, Eli participated in airlifts of emergency supplies with his brother Peyton to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Eli also served as a member of President George W. Bush’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and as The March of Dimes New York Celebrity Chairman. Eli Manning and his wife Abby live in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Archie Manning attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback and is the only Ole Miss player to have his number retired. In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft, and during his 15-year NFL career he set passing records with the New Orleans Saints and played in two Pro Bowls. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life's coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation. Archie was honored by the United States Sports Academy with the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. Also, he recently received the Silver Buffalo, the Boy Scouts of America's highest award and Father of the Year by the National Father's Day Council. Archie and his wife Olivia were recipients of the National Pathfinder Award for their work in post-Hurricane Katrina. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes. He and his sons also operate the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks and receivers. In honor of the Mannings' college football accomplishments, the Sugar Bowl has created the Manning Award to go to the nation’s best college quarterback. Archie Manning and his wife Olivia reside in New Orleans.

About Scholastic Trade Books
Scholastic Trade Books is an award-winning publisher of original children's books. Scholastic publishes more than 600 new hardcover, paperback, and novelty books each year. The list includes the phenomenally successful publishing properties Harry Potter® and Captain Underpants®,the beloved series Clifford The Big Red Dog®,Goosebumps™, I Spy™, The 39 Clues™, best-selling and award-winning authors and illustrators, including Blue Balliett, Jim Benton, Meg Cabot, Suzanne Collins, Christopher Paul Curtis, Ann M. Martin, Dav Pilkey, Matthew Reinhart, J.K. Rowling, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Brian Selznick, David Shannon, Mark Teague, and Walter Wick, among others, as well as licensed properties such as Star Wars®, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!™, Rainbow Magic®, It's Happy Bunny™, and Littlest Pet Shop™.

About Scholastic Book Clubs' ClassroomsCare
Scholastic Book Clubs' ClassroomsCare program is a philanthropy-based literacy campaign designed to teach children about the joys and importance of reading and giving. Each year, students in classrooms across the country read 100 books and, in turn, Scholastic Book Clubs donates new books to disadvantaged children nationwide. The books have been donated each year through Scholastic Book Clubs’ national charity partners whose missions are to help put books in the hands of the hardest to reach and neediest children. Those charity partners have included Reach Out and Read, Save the Children®, Hello Friend, Pajama Program and One Heartland. Books also have been sent to schools and children in the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

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:

Scholastic Inc.
Tracy van Straaten
Vice President of Publicy Children's Book Publishing
212-389-3782
tvanstraaten@scholastic.com

Scholastic Inc.
Kyle Good VP, Corporate Communications
212/343-4563
kgood@scholastic.com