Contacts:

Scholastic: Jennifer Marcus, Goodman Media, jmarcus@goodmanmedia.com, (212) 576-2700
Sprout: Jennifer Levine, jennifer_levine@sproutonline.com, (215) 286-1873

Astroblast!™ Will Take Preschoolers on a Hilarious Outer-Space Adventure

NEW YORK, NY – October 4, 2013 – Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool network, join forces with the creation and launch of Astroblast!™, a new animated, interplanetary comedic television series for kids ages 2–5, which will debut on air in the summer of 2014.

The Astroblast!™ series is inspired by the books of the same name by award-winning author and illustrator Bob Kolar. Astroblast!™ follows the zany adventures of a crew of space animals who run the Astroblast Space Station – the coolest hangout in the galaxy. The team of animals who run it are the best of friends – Comet, Halley, Sputnik, Radar and Jet – all under the watchful eye of Sal the Octopus. But when you stick five friends with very different personalities in one place – things are bound to get messy! Through it all, the Astroblast!™ crew accept their differences, help one another, make new friends, and discover that getting along is always out of this world!

The series includes curriculum designed to promote and nurture the healthy habits and behaviors that are essential for a child’s success in school and life. Featuring rich, humorous stories and an irresistible cast of characters, episodes impart simple, age-appropriate messages about friendship, self-awareness and nutrition, as well as other themes that support a child’s social, emotional and physical growth. Astroblast!™ was created to entertain and delight kids while helping them develop a foundation for wellness from which they have the opportunity to thrive.

“Our Emmy® Award–winning team of writers and animators are delighted to bring Bob Kolar’s endearing Astroblast!™ characters and stories to life for Sprout,” said Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media and Executive Producer of the series. “We’re delighted to introduce this series which supports Sprout’s mission of using the familiar framework of a young child’s relationships and experiences to further learning opportunities in everyday moments.”

“Sprout is committed to discovering the best original content and delivering it to preschoolers and their families,” said Sandy Wax, President, Sprout. “We are incredibly privileged to be able to work with Scholastic Media on Astroblast!™. It is going to be a great family viewing experience.”