New York, NY (December 3, 2008) -- Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today unveiled one of only seven original copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, created, handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling. The volume will be on view from December 4 through January 4 in a free exhibit at The New York Public Library’s Humanities and Social Sciences Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The display coincides with the international publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Besides the once in a lifetime opportunity for Harry Potter fans to view the interior and exterior of the original book the exhibit also includes a video of the owner reading one of the tales, and visuals of several pages of the book.

In addition, to celebrate the launch of the exhibit and the publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Scholastic will donate 3 copies of the book to each of The New York Public Library’s 87 branches, which are located throughout the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island.

The original copy, 157 pages bound in brown Moroccan leather and embellished with five hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones, is made available for public viewing with the permission of Arthur A. Levine, Scholastic co-editor of all seven books in the Harry Potter series. Arthur was one of only six people to receive an original edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard as a personal gift from J.K. Rowling.

The seventh copy was given to the Children's High Level Group, a charity co-founded in 2005 by J.K. Rowling and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP to make life better for vulnerable children. CHLG auctioned off its copy which was acquired by Amazon for $4 million in December 2007. The limited run New York Public Library exhibit is the only planned viewing in the U.S. of any of the seven original books created by J.K. Rowling.

"My feelings about BEEDLE are very personal. I remember the moment I opened the package and saw this beautiful object that Jo had sent. Something she'd made with her own hands and her own unique imagination. What could an editor treasure more from his author? Only the friendship the gift represents," stated Arthur A. Levine, Scholastic co-editor of Harry Potter.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome J. K. Rowling’s fans to The New York Public Library to see her latest work,” said Paul LeClerc, the Library’s President. “We are also grateful to Scholastic for donating copies of the book to all of our libraries. We hope that lovers of Harry Potter will visit our branches, where by merely waving their library card they can magically open the doors to all of J. K. Rowling’s tales and many other worlds of fantasy and adventure.”

In response to the many requests from fans who sought copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, The Children’s High Level Group will publish three versions of the book in cooperation with Scholastic, Bloomsbury and Amazon. These books will hit stores in the U.S., U.K. and online on December 4, 2008 and all net proceeds will go to supporting the work of the charity.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, is a wizarding classic which first came to Muggle readers' attention in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. One of these tales – The Tale of the Three Brothers – is recounted in the seventh Harry Potter novel. The remaining four stories are revealed for the very first time in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Thanks to Hermione Granger's new translation from the ancient runes, Scholastic proudly presents this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore.

For video and images of Arthur Levine and J.K. Rowling reading from The Tales of Beedle the Bard, visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/beedlethebard at 12:01 on December 4, 2008.

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.

About the Children’s High Level Group

The Children’s High Level Group is an English charity (registered charity number 1112575).

Contacts:

Scholastic
Kyle Good
212-343-4563
kgood@scholastic.com

NYPL
Herb Scher
212-592-7700
hscher@nypl.org