J.K. Rowling Surprises Fans With Answers To Questions On Live Global Webcast Hosted By Scholastic

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Author J.K. Rowling drew more than a million Harry Potter fans for a live global webcast during which she shared never before heard tidbits about the world of Harry Potter, including back story details,  as well as her next writing project and Pottermore.  The live webcast was presented by Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children's publishing, education and media company, and the U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter series. 

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During the 51 minute webcast, Ms. Rowling discussed her next writing project which, she said, will likely be a book for young readers, and she revealed that when she registered herself on Pottermore, she was sorted into Gryffindor House, but that she "personally would not be at all disappointed to be sorted into Hufflepuff" and she explains why. Video clips of her comments are available for download at:  http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/harrypotter (Credit: Scholastic Inc.).  A full replay of the live webcast can be viewed at www.scholastic.com/hpreadingclub.  Join the conversation on Twitter at #hpreads, and see photos of classrooms participating in the live webcast at: http://storify.com/Scholastic/classrooms-around-the-world-join-scholastic-s-virt. 

The October 11 webcast, hosted by Scholastic Vice President of Productions, Billy DiMichele, also signaled the launch of a new online destination, the Harry Potter Reading Club, created to share the magical world of Harry Potter with a generation of new readers.  The webcast was broadcast live from J.K. Rowling's hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, and is the first time she has had the opportunity to answer questions from kids in a live event since 2007. 

The new Harry Potter Reading Club website provides educators, librarians, after school program coordinators and parents who want to organize a book club with access to all the tools they need to host a Harry Potter Reading Club and celebrate the joy of reading.  The first 10,000 registrants for the Club received a welcome kit including bookmarks, stickers and nametags.  Printable versions of these Items will also be available for download from the website.

The Harry Potter Reading Club website includes a comprehensive discussion guide for each of the seven Harry Potter novels. The guides provide questions to help club members start an insightful conversation about the themes and events in the books and, in certain instances, how the books may relate to readers' own lives and the world today. Each month Scholastic will add new themed activities to complement the Reading Club discussions that will often relate to experiences on the Pottermore website.

"We're delighted that so many educators, parents and kids tuned into the live webcast and registered for The Harry Potter Reading Club, and we thank J.K. Rowling for sharing the magic of Harry Potter and her love of books and writing with our enthusiastic webcast audience," said Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade. "Scholastic has been in conversation with educators, librarians, parents and other book lovers about ideas for bringing the Harry Potter books to new readers in exciting and different ways, and the webcast and Reading Club give us the perfect way to do that."

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 related services and children's media. Scholastic creates quality books, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

About Pottermore
Pottermore.com is a free-to-use website, partnered by Sony, that can be enjoyed alongside the Harry Potter books. It is the only place to read new Harry Potter content by J.K. Rowling, and is the exclusive retailer of the Harry Potter eBooks.

SOURCE Scholastic