Scholastic Releases New Book: The Magic School Bus® and the Climate Challenge
and Hosts “Virtual Field Trip” To Liberty Science Center via Live Webcast April 20th

Environmentally-Themed Books and Games,
Timely Environmental News for Kids By Kids, and More from Scholastic

New York, NY, April 8, 2010 – According to the Kids’ Environmental Report Card, two-thirds of kids believe that it is “mostly my generation” who are responsible for the environment. To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, is offering kid-friendly, environmental books, games and activities to help kids on their quest to save the planet.

Live Classroom Webcast:
On April 20th, Scholastic will host The Magic School Bus Live Webcast where kids can go on a virtual field trip through the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. Kids will join the creators of The Magic School Bus series, author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen, along with Ms. Frizzle and her trusty students as they celebrate the release of their new book The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge. Online participants in the virtual field trip will learn about climate change, wind, solar and hydro power and will take part in an interactive conversation with the hosts.

More Activities, Books and Games for Earth Day:
Recognizing kids’ keen interest in the environment, Scholastic also offers an array of green-themed books and games, as well as environmental news for kids to actively engage them in the Earth Day 40th Anniversary.

Eco-Friendly Top Pick Books and Multimedia: 

• The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge, the newest book in the series ($16.99)
• WordGirl’s new DVD entitled “Earth Day Girl” ($14.99)
• Digging for Dinosaurs™ activity game for LeapFrog systems ($24.95)
• Klutz: Good Growing: A Kids Guide to Green Gardening ($16.95)
• The Planet Earth book series based on the BBC “Planet Earth” series ($3.99 - $16.99)

 and more...

Environmental News for Kids:
To help kids better understand their role in saving the planet, The Scholastic Kids Press Corps, a team of student reporters ages 10-14 from across the country, have compiled a series of reports from their local communities for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary. In “Earth Day @ 40,” Kid Reporters talk to Denis Hayes, organizer of the first Earth Day, cover the newest collection of “green” cars at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, give kids great “green” ideas with “Top-5 Ways Kids Ages 8-15 Say They Can Help the Earth” and much more.

In the April issues of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, kids get the “411” on the environment through Science, Social Studies and Math. Science World® is featuring a profile of three brothers who moved to Costa Rica and started their own nature video series called Super Natural Adventures including a sidebar about tropical rainforests. Scholastic Scope® gives kids a first look at Oceans: Into the Deep, a new documentary about the world’s most amazing oceans. Scholastic Math® offers kids a do-at-home water-conservation activity.

Scholastic, in partnership with The American Museum of Natural History, hosts “Science Explorations,” a comprehensive “green” activity and educational resource site for kids and teachers.

• Kids can send a “Tree-Free” e-Card to friends
• Learn 100 ways to ActGreen at www.scholastic.com/actgreen, where kids can earn “green” points to fuel “The Greenerator”
• Free Classroom resources including interactive SMART Board Earth Day lesson plans and fun classroom activities that help kids learn about the ecosystem.

For more information about Scholastic, visit our mediaroom at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

Contacts:
Sara Sinek, Scholastic, 212.343.6899 or ssinek@scholastic.com Yanique Hart, Scholastic, 212.343.6901 or yhart@scholastic.com