Millions of Children Kick off the New Year Early by Participating in the 'Scholastic Read for 2006' Global Read-A-Thon - Friday, December 2nd 2005

NEW YORK, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On Friday, December 2nd, millions of children around the world will join together to participate in Scholastic Read For 2006, the seventh annual reading initiative created by Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education, and media company. The global read-a-thon encourages children, parents, and teachers to read for 2,006 seconds (approximately 33-1/2 minutes), to celebrate the importance and joy of reading on this day and throughout the new year. Last year, over one million children in 24,000 classrooms spanning 34 countries joined together to celebrate their love of books.

This year, a record number of Gubernatorial Spouses - and two "First Sons" -- have signed on to participate as Scholastic Read For 2006 "Ambassadors of Reading." Forty-nine Governors' Spouses and First Sons will help spread the message about the importance of reading to his/her state and to the nation by hosting reading events at schools, libraries or state capitals. In addition, Scholastic will donate 500 books to a school or library in each of the states represented by a Scholastic Read For 2006 "Ambassador of Reading."

"As the excitement and anticipation of the 'Scholastic Read For' program grows each year, so does the level of participation of our nation's Gubernatorial Spouses," said Dick Robinson, Chairman, President and CEO of Scholastic. "We applaud their commitment to making reading a priority for all children and to driving that message through their participation in Scholastic Read For 2006."

To build excitement for Scholastic Read For 2006 and to connect classrooms worldwide, Scholastic has launched the official Web site at http://www.scholastic.com/readfor2006. Special online tools have been created for students and teachers, including a message board, online chats with Scholastic authors, and an interactive world map featuring classrooms around the world participating in the program. The Web site also offers a vast selection of free resources, including reading tips, event ideas on how to celebrate Scholastic Read For 2006, age-appropriate book lists, downloadable Scholastic Read For 2006 reading certificates, and fun bookmarks featuring children's favorite characters including Clifford(R), Captain Underpants(R) and Maya & Miguel(TM).

Following are the Scholastic Read For 2006 Ambassadors of Reading to date: Updated list available at http://www.scholastic.com/ReadFor2006

Alabama - First Lady Patsy Riley Alaska - First Lady Nancy Murkowski Arkansas - First Lady Janet Huckabee California - First Lady Maria Shriver Colorado - First Lady Frances Owens Connecticut - First Son Michael Rell Delaware - First Son Frank Ingram Georgia - First Lady Mary Perdue Guam - First Lady Joann Camacho Hawaii - Vivian Aiona, Wife of Lt. Governor Idaho - First Lady Patricia Kempthorne Illinois - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich Indiana - First Lady Cheri Daniels Iowa - First Lady Christie Vilsack (co-chair) Kansas - First Gentleman Gary Sebelius Kentucky - First Lady Glenna Fletcher Louisiana - First Gentleman Raymond Blanco Maine - First Lady Karen Baldacci Maryland - First Lady Kendel Ehrlich Massachusetts - First Lady Ann Romney (co-chair) Michigan - First Gentleman Daniel Granholm Mulhern Minnesota - First Lady Mary Pawlenty Mississippi - First Lady Marsha Barbour Missouri - First Lady Melanie Blunt Montana - First Lady Nancy Schweitzer Nebraska - First Lady Sally Ganem New Hampshire - First Lady Susan Lynch New Jersey - First Lady Mary Jo Codey New Mexico - First Lady Barbara Richardson New York - First Lady Libby Pataki North Carolina - First Lady Mary Easley North Dakota - First Lady Mikey Hoeven Ohio - First Lady Hope Taft Oklahoma - First Lady Kim Henry Oregon - First Lady Mary Oberst Pennsylvania - First Lady Marjorie Rendell Puerto Rico - First Lady Luisa Gandara-Acevedo Vila Rhode Island - First Lady Suzanne Carcieri South Carolina - First Lady Jenny Sanford South Dakota - First Lady Jean Rounds Tennessee - First Lady Andrea Conte Texas - First Lady Anita Perry Utah - First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman Vermont - First Lady Dorothy Douglas Virginia - First Lady Lisa Collis Washington-First Gentleman Mike Gregoire West Virginia - First Lady Gayle Manchin Wisconsin - First Lady Jessica Doyle Wyoming - First Lady Nancy Freudenthal About "Scholastic Read For" Program

In 1999, Scholastic launched the " Read For" campaign to commemorate the millennium and to unite children in a global celebration of reading. "Read For" was quickly embraced by schools around the world and continues to bring reading and the joy of learning into homes and classrooms. Since its inception, the initiative has grown to unite millions of children, parents, and teachers in each of the 50 U.S. states and throughout 37 countries, connecting children across cultures and continents from Iowa to India. Each year in the U.S., Scholastic enlists the help of Gubernatorial First Spouses to serve as Ambassadors of Reading, leading statewide celebrations of reading in their communities.

About Scholastic

Scholastic Corporation 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, http://www.scholastic.com/.