Kids Win Even More Prizes in Round Two of "The 39 Clues" Multi-Media Book Adventure

 

66 kids worldwide win a combined $8,150 —: out of more than $125,000 to be awarded Over two-year, 10-book hunt

 

New York, NY — April 28th, 2009 — Hundreds of thousands of kids around the world have read The New York Times bestselling multi-media book series and joined the online hunt for The 39 Clues, and today, Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, is announcing the second round of cash prizes, totaling $8,150 and won by 66 lucky children. These winners are among the more than 400,000 fans worldwide who have registered at www.the39clues.com to digitize cards, play games and earn points. In February this year, the first round of 66 winners for Book #1 announced and an initial $8,150 was awarded by Scholastic. Over the course of the two-year 10 book series, more than $125,000 in prizes will be awarded, and kids ages 6-14 (as of December 31, 2008) can enter to join the hunt at anytime and win prizes at www.the39clues.com. http://www.the39clues.com/winners)

Each of the adrenaline-charged books in the 10-book series offers kids an immersive reading and online experience that involves joining one of four branches of the Cahill family (Lucian, Ekaterina, Janus, or Tomas) – the most powerful family in the world. Once part of the family, they can begin their hunt for The 39 Clues, and have chances to win exciting prizes with each book release through the Book Sweepstakes, Online Mission Sweepstakes and Episode Contests *(see below for descriptions). The participant who finds all 39 clues at the end of the series and uncovers the Cahill treasure, has the chance to win the grand prize of $10,000 (US).

The second round of 66 winners have been selected from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and India, and winners will receive cash prizes totaling $8,150. In addition, Australia has selected 39 more winners and will be awarding alternative prizing including an XBOX 360 and special 39 Clues prizes. See website for more details. **Prizes vary according to each country’s rules.

The 39 Clues top prize winners include:

(for full prize list visit

Book #2 Episode Contest Winners:
1st prize winner of the Book #2 Episode Contest $1,000
Mahmoud A., 9, Kanata, ON, Canada – Ekaterina
*(Mahmoud also won the 1st prize of the Book #1 Episode Contest)

2nd prize winner of the Book #2 Episode Contest $750
Katrina B., 8, San Diego, CA, USA - Lucian

3rd prize winner of the Book #2 Episode Contest $500
Joseph F., 14, Baltic, CT, USA – Ekaterina

In addition, winners were selected in Malaysia, Singapore and India:
1st prize winner of the Book #2 Episode Contest $200
Parth A., 13, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India – Ekaterina

Book #2 Sweepstakes Winners:
1st prize winner of the Book #2 Sweepstakes $500
Nicole G., 13, Prospect Heights, IL, USA - Ekaterina

2nd prize winners of the Book #2 Sweepstakes $250 each
Breana-Lauren F., 10, O’Fallon, IL, USA – Janus
Kelsey J., 13, Carmel, IN, USA - Janus
Alexis B., 12, Stoneham, MA, USA - Janus
Tyler D., 12, Manassas, VA, USA - Ekaterina

3rd prize winners of the Book #2 Sweepstakes $100 each
Bryant B., 11, Austin, MN, USA - Ekaterina
Jenna L., 10, Boston, MA, USA – Lucian
Jacob B., 9, Watsonville, CA, USA – Ekaterina
Lydia L., 11, Crawfordville, FL, USA - Ekaterina
Jordan T., 9, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA - Janus
Michael P., 8, Walton, KY, USA - Ekaterina
James T., 11, Dorchester, MA, USA - Tomas
James R., 10, Watford Herts, England, United Kingdom, - Ekaterina

20 additional runners-up won prizes of $50

Book #2 Online Mission Sweepstakes Winners:
1st prize winner of the #2 Online Mission Sweepstakes $250
Joshua G., 13, Saskatoon, SK, Canada - Ekaterina

2nd prize winners of the #2 Online Mission Sweepstakes $100
Georgia K., 10, Cheshire, CT, USA - Lucian
Bobby E., 6, Oakland Township, MI, USA - Tomas
Alexis G., 6, Macomb Township, MI, USA - Tomas
Nicholas S., 13, Pittsburgh, PA, USA - Lucian
Atamanu H., 12, Philadelphia, PA, USA - Lucian

20 additional runners-up won prizes of $50

"With each new book in the series, we see an overwhelming increase of activity on the website where kids from around the world are actively participating in the hunt for The 39 Clues," stated Ellie Berger, President Scholastic Trade. "The 39 Clues is an ongoing hunt, and it’s exciting to see the amazing response from kids who are immersed in this multidimensional reading experience."

"I’m really excited and ask if it’s real or a dream," said Katrina, age 8, who won $750 in the Book #2 Episode Contest. Katrina says she identifies with The 39 Clues heroine Amy Cahill - "She's smart. She's a bookworm like me." Katrina plans to donate part of her winnings to her school and the Humane Society, and put some of the money aside in her college fund.

The next series of sweepstakes and contest for Book #3: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis ends on June 1, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). But kids can enter at anytime before December 31, 2010 to be part of the hunt and be eligible for the Grand Prize of $10,000 (US). On June 2, 2009, Scholastic will be releasing Book #4: Mem>Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson.

The 39 Clues centers around the Cahills—the most powerful family the world has ever known. But the source of the family’s power has been lost. Grace Cahill, the last matriarch of the Cahills, changed her will minutes before she died, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: receive a million dollars or a clue. The first Cahill to assemble all 39 clues hidden around the world will discover what makes the family so powerful—a reward beyond measure. It’s Cahill versus Cahill in a race to the finish, with readers hot on the heels of the main characters, fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her eleven-year-old brother, Dan.

*Prize Descriptions:
Episode Contest (US/CA only): participants play games in the “Arena 39” mini-game section of the39clues.com; top 3 point earners are the winners
Book Sweepstakes: participants digitize any of the cards that come with the book and are automatically entered into the book sweepstakes
Online Mission Sweepstakes: participants initiate activity in one of the online mission games to be automatically entered into the online mission sweepstakes

For more information on the prize winners or The 39 Clues, including the complete details and official rules for sweepstakes and contests, visit www.the39clues.com.

About Scholastic Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and children’s media. 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 and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, television networks and the Company’s Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.

CONTACT:

Scholastic
Sara Sinek
212-343-6899
ssinek@scholastic.com

Scholastic
Amanda Hebert
212-343-6657
ahebert@scholastic.com