Scholastic to Re-Launch the Wildly Popular Animorphs Books by Bestselling Author K.A. Applegate in May 2011

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, announced today that it will re-launch K.A. Applegate's bestselling "Animorphs" series in May 2011. Each book will be published with a lenticular cover that actually morphs.

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Since the first Animorphs book was published in June 1996, the brand has grown to include 54 books, two spin-off series and ten companion books -- totaling more than 35 million books in print worldwide. In addition, the Scholastic Media-produced television series was sold to 35 countries globally and aired on Nickelodeon in the United States. The Animorphs series empowers kids with the desire, skills and supernatural abilities to achieve such noble virtues as heroism, loyalty and respect for nature's creatures -- all while engulfed in an urgent quest to save the world from evil.

"I am thrilled at the re-launch of Animorphs," said K.A. Applegate. "Animorphs had far more impact on readers than I ever expected. Animorphs fan sites and works of fan fiction number in the thousands even today. Every library I visit has the old tattered copies, some now barely held together with glue and tape. So I'm very excited at the chance to retire those dog-eared old books, to ratify the enduring faith of the die-hard fans, and most of all, to reach a whole new generation of readers. The invasion is on, the Yeerks are everywhere, and the only ones who can stop them are the small band of kids with the power to become any living creature: the Animorphs are back."

"What's amazing is how timely Animorphs continues to be," said Ellie Berger, President of Scholastic Trade. "Now more than ever, kids need to know the importance of taking a stand and fighting for what's right."

Scholastic plans to re-issue new paperback editions of the original Animorphs books starting in May 2011 with "Animorphs #1: The Invasion (ISBN: 978-0-545-29151-4), "Animorphs #2: The Visitor" (ISBN: 978-0-545-29152-1), followed by "Animorphs #3: The Encounter" (ISBN: 978-0-545-29153-8) in July 2011, "Animorphs #4: The Message (ISBN: 978-0-545-29156-9) in September 2011, and "Animorphs #5: The Predator" in December 2011. In Animorphs #1: The Invasion Earth is being invaded, but no one knows yet. When Jake, Rachel, Tobias, Cassie and Marco stumble upon a downed alien spaceship and its dying pilot, they're given an incredible power -- they can transform into any animal they touch. With it, they become Animorphs, the unlikely champions in a secret war for the planet. And the enemies they're fighting could be anyone, even the people closest to them.

As part of the original merchandising program, Hasbro served as the master toy licensee and GT Interactive released titles on the Gameboy, Playstation and PC platforms. The TV series was distributed on video by Columbia Tri-Star in the U.S. and Paramount internationally. For more information about the property, visit the official website: http://www.scholastic.com/animorphs.

About K.A. Applegate:

K.A. Applegate is the author of the bestselling Animorphs series, as well as the Remnants and Everworld series, Home of The Brave, and the Roscoe Riley Rules series. She lives in Southern California.

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.

SOURCE Scholastic