New York, NY (May 13, 2005) -- This summer, 8th grader Jonas McCluggage from Goleta, CA will hit the road for the ultimate comic strip trip! The Goleta Valley Junior High School student is the grand-prize winner in the Scholastic Book Clubs™ Comic Strip Trip Contest and will receive an all-expenses paid trip (along with a chaperone) to Comic-Con International, the biggest comics convention in the world, in San Diego, CA from July 14-17, 2005. Jonas will have the opportunity to meet and exchange creative ideas over lunch with Jeff Smith, creator of the award-winning Bone series, and will also receive an original piece of framed Bone art and a signed copy of Bone: Out From Boneville, the first title in the graphic novel series. 
 
The Comic Strip Trip Contest, created by Scholastic Book Clubs, a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, asked students in TAB Book Club (grades 7 and up) to create a comic strip – no more than four panels – that introduces an original character and the character’s world.  A grand-prize winner and ten runners-up were selected from over 650 entries. In his winning entry, Jonas, who is an avid animation fan, introduces Ha-Hae, a duck with human feet, and his friend Greg.
 
“The quality of entries that we received in this fun and creative contest is truly impressive and a testament to all of the great writers and illustrators who are inspiring kids with their amazing comic strips,” said Judy Newman, President, Scholastic Book Clubs. “We congratulate Jonas and we hope that attending the largest comic convention in the world and meeting the talented Jeff Smith, will encourage him to continue to practice and refine his graphic storytelling skills.”
 
Ten runners-up, who will each receive a personalized signed copy of Bone: Out From Boneville include:
 
Emily McPeek from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Reseda, CA
John Daniel Renes from Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel, CA     
Connor Billups from Suwannee Middle School in Live Oak, FL
David Toennies from All Saints Academy in Breese, IL
Diana Ionescu from Lincoln Hall Middle School in Lincolnwood, IL
Kirsten Willey, homeschooled, from Delmar, MD
Sam Grinberg from Manalapan Englishtown Middle School in Manalapan, NJ
Katie Weidman from Colonial Middle School in Playmouth MTG, PA
Micah Benson from Cowanesque Valley High School in Westfield, PA
Braxton Webb from South Hills Middle School in Riverton, UT
 
The Bone adventures tell the story of young Bone, Fone Bone, and his two cousins, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone, who are banned from their homeland of Boneville. When the cousins find themselves mysteriously trapped in a wonderful, but sometimes scary land, filled with secrets, dangers, and special new friendships, they are soon caught up in adventures beyond their wildest dreams. The second installment in the nine-volume Bone saga, The Great Cow Race, will be released by Scholastic in August 2005.
 
Born and raised in the mid-west, Jeff Smith learned about cartooning from comic strips, comic books, and watching animated shorts on TV. After four years of drawing comic strips for Ohio State’s student newspaper, Smith co-founded the Character Builders animation studio in 1986. Then, in 1991, he launched the comic book Bone, now published by Scholastic. Jeff Smith and Bone have won numerous awards and citations, including a Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer, a YALSA/ALA top 25 Recommended Graphic Novel for Young Adults and a Harvey Award for Best Cartoonist.        
 
For information on the latest Scholastic Book Clubs contests, parents, teachers and students can visit www.scholastic.com/clubcontests. 
 
For 56 years, Scholastic Book Clubs have provided monthly catalogues offering top quality books and reading materials from all publishers to teachers in pre-school through high school. Today, Scholastic Book Clubs reach over one million teachers each month, providing the most sought-after titles at affordable prices for children in classrooms nationwide. 
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology.  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, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

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