New York,
NY (May
16,
2005) --
To kickoff the two-month countdown before the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Scholastic is conducting a national essay contest asking kids to write an essay explaining “Why I Love Reading Harry Potter.” Ten lucky winners, each with a chaperone, will depart on the last flight out of New York City to London on July 15th, American Airlines flight AA116.
At 12:01 a.m.(EST), after being held under tight security, free copies of the brand-new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, provided by U.S. publisher Scholastic, will be handed to each of the 10 winners and to every passenger onboard to read during their flight to London. As part of the grand prize, the winners and their chaperones will also enjoy a 4 day/ 4 night vacation to London, England. The ten winners will be announced on NBC’s Today on July 1st, 2005.
Harry Potter fans are asked to write an essay of no more than 300 words explaining why they “Love Reading Harry Potter.” Entries will be judged based on originality, clarity and the child’s ability to describe their unique connection to the Harry Potter books and why they love reading them. Entrants must be legal residents of the United States and not older than eighteen as of June16, 2005. Deadline for entries is June 16, 2005. The vacation package to London, England is courtesy of American Airlines Vacations, The Cumberland Hotel in London and Scholastic. For details on how to enter and Official Rules go to
www.scholastic.com/harrypotter*.
“The Harry Potter books have given millions of children the opportunity to experience the joy of reading,” stated Barbara Marcus, President of Scholastic Children Book Publishing. “Because of author Jo Rowling’s extraordinary writing, more children than ever are choosing to read books, and we want to find ten of the most enthusiastic young Harry Potter readers in the country. We are thrilled to continue this reading adventure for children on July 16th when they can enjoy the magic of book six Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be released at 12:01 a.m. on July 16th, 2005 with a U.S. record-breaking first printing of 10.8 million copies. The fastest-selling book in history, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling’s fifth Harry Potter book, was released on June 21, 2003 and sold 5 million copies in the first 24 hours.
All five Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as well as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, have been number one bestsellers in the United States, Britain, and around the world. The American editions of the Harry Potter books are published under Scholastic’s Arthur A. Levine imprint.
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.
* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited.