New York, NY (September 23, 2005) -- In support of “Make a Difference Today” at Humanity Plaza, a week-long project of NBC News "Today," Habitat for Humanity International and Warner Music Group to help build new homes for families displaced by the Gulf Coast hurricanes, Scholastic, the global children’s publishing and media company, has developed “Books Make a Home,” a program developed to help children and classrooms give back to families in need.  During the week of September 26^th, for every new house built at Humanity Plaza, Scholastic will donate a home library of 100 children’s books. Inside each book will be a special Books Make a Home bookplate, featuring a message of hope sent from a child. 
 
Starting today, children and classrooms can participate online by creating their special Books Makes a Home bookplates.  Children, parents and teachers can visit www.scholastic.com/humanityplaza, to download a special Books Make a Home bookplate. Kids can write messages or draw pictures on their bookplates, which will be inserted into every book that Scholastic will donate with each new house. Families visiting New York City can stop by the Scholastic Humanity Plaza tent at Rockefeller Center to create a Books Make a Home message.
 
“Reading a book is a comforting way for parents and children to connect during unsettling times.  Scholastic hopes these home libraries featuring personal messages and drawings from children around the country will help restore some sense of stability to these families when they move into their new homes,” said Karen Proctor, Vice President Community Affairs, Scholastic.
 
Online at www.scholastic.com, children, parents and teachers can also find timely and age-appropriate news coverage and resources.  Scholastic.com/news provides children with information about the hurricane season and current news of the recovery efforts. Children are also encouraged to write about the hurricane, how it affected them and what they are doing to help. Teachers and parents can find advice on how to talk with children about the disaster, and there is specific advice for those teachers who have brought in displaced children into their classrooms.
 
At Humanity Plaza in New York City, children and parents can stop by the Scholastic “Books Make a Home” tent to create a bookplate and choose which book they would like to insert their message.  Families can also pickup age-appropriate information on hurricane recovery efforts in Scholastic’s classroom magazine, Scholastic News and will also find tips for parents and teachers on how to talk to kids about the disaster. For more information on Humanity Plaza, visit www.today.msnbc.com. Images of "Humanity Plaza" will be made available on NBC's Media Village website at www.nbcmv.com.
 
“Books Make a Home” is one part of Scholastic’s overall commitment to address the critical need for assistance following the effects of Hurricane Katrina.  The Company and its employees donated over of $350,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.  In addition, Scholastic Education and Scholastic Library Publishing divisions made an in-kind donation of books and other curriculum materials to local area schools receiving displaced students. Scholastic Book Fairs’ One for Books program, which matches kids’ school-based fundraising efforts with book donations, will direct donated books to children who have been affected by the hurricane.  Scholastic Book Clubs’ ClassroomsCare initiative, in which classes read together for 100 hours to give 100 books to those in need, will also direct donations to the region. 
 
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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