New York, NY (November 26, 2002) -- On Friday, December 6, 2002, millions of children, parents, and teachers around the world will share the power of reading by participating in Scholastic Book Clubs' Read For 2003, the fourth annual global children's read-a-thon created by Scholastic Book Clubs, a division of global children's publishing and media company Scholastic. At noon (12 pm) in their time zones, kids, parents and teachers will stop and read together for 2003 seconds (33 1/3 minutes) in a unique celebration of the power of books to delight and connect children with each other around the world.

"Scholastic Book Clubs' goal in launching our Read For 2003 program was to sponsor an event where teachers and students would come together to celebrate their love of reading. Since it began four years ago, this classroom reading initiative has inspired teachers and children, not just in America, but also all over the world. In addition, we're pleased that it has brought parents and community members into the classroom to share in the celebration," said Judy Newman, Senior Vice President, Scholastic Book Clubs. "With the enthusiastic support of gubernatorial first spouses across America and our strategic partnership with American Airlines," Ms. Newman stated, "December 6th will be a great day for reading!"
 
America Is Reading: 31 Gubernatorial Spouses Rally State Support
For the second consecutive year, First Lady of South Carolina Rachel Hodges is serving as Honorary Chairperson of Read For 2003. Through the Scholastic Book Clubs' Read For 2003 initiative, Gubernatorial First Spouses in 31 states - including Bill Shaheen, husband of New Hampshire Governor, Jeanne Shaheen, and Delaware's "First Son," Frank Ingram -- have signed on as Ambassadors of Reading, encouraging classrooms and families to participate and leading statewide observance of Read For 2003 Day with their own special reading events and proclamations. The roster of Ambassadors of Reading includes First Spouses from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
 
One World Reading Together
Scholastic Book Clubs' Read For 2003 has been embraced by children in nations around the globe, from North America (U.S., Canada, Cuba) to South America (Brazil), Europe (France, Germany, Iceland, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom) to Asia (China, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand), Africa (Angola, Ghana) to Australia and New Zealand. Children unite across cultures and continents through Read For 2003 events and activities such as read-alouds, dressing up as favorite book characters, acting out dramatic skits, sharing best-loved stories, reading individually, and more. Classrooms around the globe will be connected through the official Read For 2003 web site, www.scholastic.com/ReadFor2003. By registering, classrooms are listed on the site's world map that also includes photographs from classrooms participating in Read For 2003 from around the globe.
 
American Airlines Delivers Scholastic Book Clubs Read For 2003 Message
As the strategic marketing partner for Read For 2003, American Airlines will help deliver Scholastic Book Clubs' Read For 2003 message to the airline's more than four million customers via an in-flight video spot, an advertisement in American Way magazine, an e-mail campaign to AAdvantage® members encouraging them to participate in Read For 2003 and Read For 2003 informational materials and books prominently available in Admirals Club lounges. On December 6th, American Airlines Chairman and CEO Don Carty, as well as the airline's pilots will read with kids at noon across the nation in such cities as Dallas, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Washington DC, Miami and Seattle.
 
Kids can also connect through the Read For 2003 web site to their favorite superstar celebrities, athletes and authors supporting Read For 2003. The site's Superstars section features such shining stars as actor Freddie Prinze Jr., Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Alicia Keys, jazz virtuoso Wynton Marsalis, rapper Lil' Romeo, recording artists Brittney Cleary and the Baha Men, Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Clowns, the New York Jets, the New York Rangers and Olympic and world swimming champion Ian Thorpe. In addition, classes can review pro-reading messages from acclaimed children's book authors and illustrators including Cornelia Funke, author of the current New York Times best-selling novel The Thief Lord, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Karen Hesse and others.
 
Classes can register for Read For 2003 online at www.scholastic.com/ReadFor2003 and through their Scholastic Book Club catalogs.
Scholastic Book Clubs provides more than one million U.S. teachers and forty million parents with access to high quality, affordable books for children. Scholastic Book Clubs first launched the "Read For..." initiative in 1999 to inaugurate the millennium and bring children and classrooms around the world together to celebrate the joy of reading.
 
Scholastic Corporation (NMS:SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, textbooks, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, 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, 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: