New York, NY (May 24, 2005) -- Lectorum Publications Inc., a Scholastic company and the largest distributor of Spanish language books in the United States, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Mexico’s Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE), one of Latin America’s largest and most prestigious Spanish language book publishers, giving Lectorum sole U.S. distribution rights to FCE’s catalogue of children’s and young adult titles.
 
Under this agreement, announced today by Teresa Mlawer, Lectorum’s President and Consuelo Sáizar, President of Fondo de Cultura Económica, Lectorum will incorporate FCE titles into its catalogs, expanding its already broad offering of Spanish-language literature for children and young adults. 
 
“We are very excited to add such a fine publisher to the select list of those we represent in the United States,” said Mlawer.  “Lectorum’s goal of providing schools, libraries, bookstores, and the general public with the best in children’s Spanish-language literature is bolstered by the addition of the titles published by Fondo de Cultura Económica, which have always been highly regarded throughout the Spanish-speaking world."
 
In reaching this agreement FCE will benefit from Lectorum’s leadership position in the United States as the premiere distributor of Spanish language and bi-lingual titles for children in grades K-8.
 
“Fondo de Cultura Económica is very pleased to help serve the needs of Hispanic children living in the U.S. by distributing our quality books through Lectorum’s preeminent distribution channels,” said FCE President Consuelo Sáizar.  “FCE collections include authors from all over the world and our association with Lectorum and parent company Scholastic will only help increase visibility and availability of some of the most important international, Latin American writers of Spanish language literature for children and teenagers.”
 
FCE’s adult catalogs, which include more than 9,000 titles on a wide variety of subjects, will continue to be distributed throughout the FCE’s U.S. office based in San Diego, California.
 
Fondo De Cultura Económica
Fondo De Cultura Económica is based in Mexico City, Mexico. It edits, publishes and distributes books to general and educational, and business audiences throughout Ibero-America. It has subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Spain, United States and Venezuela. In addition, FCE sells through resellers in many other South American outlets and Canada.   
 
About Lectorum
Lectorum Publications is the largest and oldest U.S. Spanish-language book distributor, delivering more than 25,000 adult and children titles to schools, libraries, universities, bookstores and other specialized markets throughout the United States.  Librería Lectorum, the Company’s retail bookstore and New York City landmark since 1960, serves the reading needs of the Hispanic Community on site and via the web site at www.Lectorum.com.  A division of Scholastic since 1996, Lectorum is the country’s premiere distributor and publisher of quality Spanish language books for readers of all ages.
 
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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