2026 will see launch of a multi-book publishing deal linking literacy and STEM in retail outlets and Scholastic Book Fairs, including the company’s brand-new Discovery Fair
New York, NY – December 8, 2025 – Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, announces an exciting new collaboration with CrunchLabs, a leading STEM brand founded by engineer, educator, and YouTuber Mark Rober. Beginning in 2026, this dynamic new relationship will launch with the Fall publication of two books, LAVA VS. LASER and EXTREME ENGINEERING. The multi-year program of extensive offerings will feature Rober’s signature engaging STEM content in a variety of innovative formats, including handbooks/guidebooks, activity books and an exclusive line of Klutz Press STEM Lab titles. These new items will be available in top retail outlets nationwide and will be made available directly to kids in schools through Scholastic Book Fairs including in the first-of-its-kind Discovery Fair, a new interactive experience filled with STEM-focused books and materials for kids of all ages. The extensive deal between Scholastic, CrunchLabs and Rober was brokered by Scholastic’s SVP & Publisher of Global Licensing Brands Debra Dorfman and CrunchLabs’ Chief Product Officer, Rachele Harmuth, for publishing worldwide rights usage in all languages.
A former NASA engineer, Mark Rober is a YouTube sensation whose innovative and entertaining approach to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education is a global inspiration. Rober launched his YouTube channel in 2011 and has since grown his following to over 71 million subscribers and almost 14 billion whopping views! Driven by a passion for science that helped catapult his enormous popularity, he’s captivated audiences worldwide with educational videos that ask interesting and thought-provoking scientific questions like, “Can sharks smell blood in the water?” In addition to being known as the popular YouTuber, Rober also founded CrunchLabs, which now features three unique subscription lines: Build Box, Hack Pack, and Creative Kit.
“At CrunchLabs, our mission has always been to reach as many brains as possible and to help inspire curiosity in this next generation,” said Rober. “Partnering with Scholastic means we can bring that mission to life at scale, meeting kids where curiosity begins: in homes, classrooms, and book fairs that make learning an exciting adventure.”
“This strategic joint initiative with Scholastic beautifully complements our growing portfolio of hands-on experiences. From our subscription lines, to the upcoming retail toys and games, and now books, we will reach even more kids and solidify our position as a powerhouse STEM brand,” said Harmuth.
“The stars have truly aligned in this exciting collaboration! By leveraging Rober’s huge popularity and incredibly extensive reach with our publishing expertise and vast school distribution via Scholastic Book Fairs, together we will help bring STEM education to an incredible number of children across the country. Not only will millions of kids now have the opportunity to explore and learn through this thoughtful and imaginative program, but we’ll also be able to provide educators and families with even more ways to help spark their child’s imagination and interest in STEM learning,” says Jackie De Leo, Publisher and Chief Merchant of Scholastic’s Children’s Book Group.
Adds Dorfman, “We’re incredibly excited to team up with Mark Rober, a true rock star (in every sense of the word) for STEM education. His reach is phenomenal and this is an amazing opportunity to translate the magic of his incredible videos into books that will encourage young minds to explore the world through learning and add to his mission of empowering children to see science as an adventure.”
Launching in January 2026, Scholastic’s Discovery Fair will feature two items from CrunchLabs products—including pieces exclusively designed for Scholastic Book Fairs. Discovery Fair blends high-interest STEM books with interactive learning experiences to help students build real-world STEM knowledge, critical thinking, and other future-ready skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
About Scholastic
For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children’s books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media. As the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online, and with a global reach into more than 135 countries, Scholastic encourages the personal and intellectual growth of all children, while nurturing a lifelong relationship with reading, themselves, and the world around them. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.
About CrunchLabs and Mark Rober
CrunchLabs is a science and engineering company founded by Mark Rober to inspire kids and learners of all ages to Think Like An EngineerTM. Through monthly STEM toys, viral YouTube videos, curriculum content, and now an expanding lineup of media projects, CrunchLabs is creating the most exciting and impactful STEM brand in the world. For more information, please visit: https://www.crunchlabs.com/.
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