CONTACT:
Michael Barrett
mbarrett@scholastic.com
212-343-6570

NEW YORK – December 21, 2016 – Scholastic, (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education and media company, released a list of the top trends in children’s books to expect in 2017. Curated by Scholastic Reading Club editors, this list aims to help more kids discover the power and joy of reading and encourage parents to build home libraries with books guaranteed to engage even the most reluctant reader. Visit the Scholastic “On Our Minds” blog for a full list of books for each trend. All titles are available for purchase via Scholastic Reading Club or the Scholastic Store at store.scholastic.com.

Scholastic Top Trends in Children’s Books for 2017:

1. LESSONS ON KINDESS WILL BE KEY: This past year’s news headlines can provide children a false perception that the world is unkind and hostile. Parents and educators can take the opportunity to find books by authors and artists who are doing their part to implement the need for kindness in an uncertain world. For younger children, look for titles that teach the importance of empathy, openness and sharing. For older children, discover titles that showcase the power of unexpected friendships.
2. BOOK ANNIVERSARIES WILL REINTRODUCE MODERN CLASSICS: Millennials will remember the joys of picking out the latest titles from their favorite book series at the Scholastic Book Fair or through monthly Scholastic Reading Club flyers. The 30th anniversary of The Magic School Bus, the 25th anniversary of Goosebumps, the 20th anniversary of Captain Underpants and the 10th anniversary of The Invention of Hugo Cabret  will introduce a new fan base to these popular stories and franchises. In addition, the new television series revamp of The Magic School Bus, as well as the upcoming film release of Captain Underpants and a new release in Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series will be on every kid’s reading wish list.
3. “FUNNY” IS STILL NUMBER ONE: Recent research shows that kids worldwide say that the number one characteristic kids look for when picking out a book to read for fun is “make me laugh.”* Looking for “laugh out loud” reads is one way to help a child associate reading as a fun and pleasurable activity.
4. THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH WILL GROW: As social media grows and it becomes more difficult to decipher what’s “real” news versus fake “news,” parents and educators can introduce children to the structure of nonfiction reads, biographies and other important titles that will teach children the basic skills of discerning accurate information.
5. CLASSICS WILL RETURN – AND BE REINVENTED. A great way to get kids introduced to new genres and stories is reading classic fairy tales – with an unexpected twist. Meet Little Red Riding Hood, but this time as a superhero. Revisit the land of Oz with the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion as the cast of characters from the Geronimo Stilton series. Children’s literature is always being reimagined in new ways and putting favorite characters into a new world of hijinks is bound to get children of all ages interested in reading for fun.

“Last year, we predicted Harry Potter and the wizard universe to grow in a large way in 2016. Now we know Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two was the number one selling book according to many retail sellers. In addition, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them became a pop culture juggernaut,” said David Allender, Editorial Director of Scholastic Reading Club. “Other predictions that became a reality were the growth of superheroes in kid-friendly titles, the boom of coloring books for all ages, as well as the continual growth and demand for graphic novels. We look forward to seeing our trends help kids discover the power and joy of reading.” To hear last year’s trends, listen to our Scholastic Reads podcast.

(*)Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ U.S., U.K., Australia, and India editions: www.scholastic.com/readingreport.