New York, NY (November 1, 2006) -- You’ve heard of “Fruit of the Month” and “Flowers of the Month”…but have you heard of a “Bear of the Month” club?  Scholastic At Home, the direct-to-home division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, is launching an exclusive new line of “gift of the month” clubs for kids with Build-A-Bear Workshop, Marvel Super Heroes, Baby Einstein, VeggieTales and Care Bears. These new monthly clubs give parents, grandparents and other family members the opportunity to send a child a gift that inspires learning and fun, one delivery at a time.
 
“Giving a gift that continues to arrive throughout the year is a wonderful way for a family member to send a special message to a child in their life,” says Judy Newman President, Book Clubs and Scholastic At Home. “This is a one-of-a-kind, at-home experience that takes the stress out of shopping for parents, while educating and entertaining kids all year long. This truly is the gift that keeps giving.”
 
Created by the educational experts at Scholastic, the new At Home programs provide an interactive and exciting experience that is delivered monthly to club members’ homes. Kids and families can visit the Scholastic At Home web site at
www.homeclubs.scholastic.com to easily enroll in an exclusive age-appropriate club, and then the fun starts arriving. Each month, kids will enjoy collecting, trading, interacting and visiting their club web site to uncover new information exclusive only to club members.
New Scholastic At Home “Gift of The Month” Clubs:  
 
The Build-A-Bear Workshop® Bearrific Friends Club is just one of Scholastic At Home’s newest programs that offers kids the chance to collect the latest in plush and accessories.  Club members who join this bearrific club will receive exclusive 7-inch bears, a collection of high-quality bear outfits, stuffing, craft books with instructions on creating new crafts for owner and bear, and a Membeary sticker book, where kids can record important information and friendship details about their bear.
 
The monthly club offers members three bears in all, outfits to get the bear ready to, among other things, go back-to-school, play a soccer game, become a chef, be a beautiful princess, or go to a sleepover, as well as a nifty Cub Condo® carrying case that serves as a home for their new friends. Each monthly shipment comes with a new secret password that unlocks different features of an exclusive members-only Web site. Kids can go online to create and play with virtual versions of their own bears, print out customizable iron-on Build-A-Bear Workshop clothing seals, as well as participate in online learning games and activities such as decorating their bears’ Cub Condo carrying case or creating customized bear birth certificates. (Ages 5-8)
 
For the comic book enthusiast, the Marvel Super Heroes Collector’s Club is a great addition to Scholastic At Home. Throughout the club, members can collect suspenseful chapter book adventures with different Super Heroes and Super Villains, and an exclusive Marvel Magazine which features archived comic strips, fun facts, games, and celebrity interviews, including an exclusive chat with Stan Lee. In addition, each delivery includes a set of trading cards, a collector’s card tin, a grow-your-own Spider-Man figurine, a sheet of stickers, and a collectible poster. All ten posters combine to form a gigantic Marvel scene with all the Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains! For members only, there is a password protected Marvel Web site that offers new interactive features each month. This program collector series brings Spider-Man, Wolverine, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and hours of adventure to kids’ doorsteps. (Ages 5-9)
 
Baby Einstein Playful Discoveries is the perfect “Gift of the Month” for the busy pre- and post-natal mom, who wants the best for her child — high-quality, age-appropriate materials that stimulate and nurture her child’s development in the first two years of their life.  Playful Discoveries includes an introductory shipment of animal-related products--a Who Lives Here? lift-the-flap book, Baby Animals board book, exclusive Baby Einstein DVD, collectible Playful Discoveries Animals Cards, Discovery Cards ring and tether, Parent Pages, and member’s-only Web site. Each month, parents will receive additional thematic shipments, including interactive board books, traditional board books, music CDs, Parent Pages, and theme-appropriate Discovery Cards with each shipment. (Ages 0-2)
 
In step with the recent surge in demand for values-based materials for children, Scholastic At Home announces the addition of VeggieTales®: Values to Grow By to its “Gift of the Month” programs.  With such titles as Three Pirates and a Duck; The Good, the Bad and the Silly; Good Knight Duke; and The Case of the Lost Temper; VeggieTales: Values to Grow By features 24 essential values every child needs including thoughtfulness, good decision-making, and sharing. The introductory delivery arrives with a Veggie Values Activity and Sticker Book that extends the lessons learned each month and provides entertaining activities that parents and children can finish together.  Each additional package includes two more VeggieTales books and a sticker sheet for use with the Veggie Values Activity and Sticker Book.  Kids can also track their physical growth on a colorful growth chart and they can also learn to tell time with a VeggieTales Wall Clock.  (Ages 3-7)
 
You can never have enough bears, which is why Scholastic At Home introduces a special program with American Greetings owned, Care Bears. Club members of this exciting program receive collectible books and plush that promote caring and friendship. Each delivery is focused on individual bears and their personalities—Cheer Bear, Best Friend Bear, Bedtime Bear, and others. The initial program delivery includes the plush Cheer Bear, a hardcover Care Bears storybook, a Care Bears Sticker and Activity Book, and a Care-a-lot Castle Display and poster. (Ages 4-8)
 
Scholastic At Home “Gift of the Month” programs offer shipments up to 12 months, and are priced as low as $3.99 for the first month and $11.99 for each additional month. Family or Friends looking to enroll their child in one of these new clubs can visit www.homeclubs.scholastic.com or call 1-800-353-3140.
 
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.

 

Contacts: