Scholastic Brings Summer Reading To Communities Nationwide With First-Ever, 10,000-Mile "Summer Reading Road Trip"

NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic SCHL, the global children's publishing, education and media company, is taking its annual Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge campaign on the road with the first-ever Summer Reading Road Trip. Amplifying the message that kids' summer reading is critical, these free, traveling "pop-up" reading festivals will help kids take a "summer leap" into books. The 25+ city tour begins today and will run through July 31, 2016. With more than 50 events, the full list of free public events is available at www.Scholastic.com/SummerRoadTrip. 

The Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip features two RVs that will travel a combined 10,000 miles visiting local bookstores, schools and libraries across the country. At each Summer Reading Road Trip stop, kids and families will enjoy a fun day of free reading activities including:

• Author visits and book signings
• An activity tent offering several reading activities and crafts
• Giveaway tables and a prize wheel
• Animated "gif" photo stations featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog^® and Slappy from Goosebumps^®
• "Instaframe" picture stations for kids to show-off their "reading muscles"
• Costumed characters including: Clifford the Big Red Dog^®
• Interviews and press opportunities with authors, illustrators and Scholastic representatives are available to local media.

Parents, family members and educators can follow the progress of the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip on social media via @Scholastic and #SummerReading, and on the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge website at scholastic.com/summer. The RVs will visit major cities and nearby towns throughout the summer*. The list of tour dates includes:

• May 5 – Boulder, CO
• May 7 – Denver, CO and Port Washington, NY
• May 11 – Salt Lake City, UT
• May 13 – Naperville, IL
• May 15 – Seattle, WA
• May 21 – Seattle, WA
• May 17 – Lexington, KY and Crestview, KY
• May 21 – Cincinnati, OH
• June 18 – Miami, FL
• June 20 – Vero Beach, FL
• June 26 – San Jose, CA
• June 28 – Los Angeles, CA
• July 3 – Plainville, MA
• July 5 – Falmouth, MA
• July 7 – Exeter, NH
• July 10 – Austin, TX and Shelburne, VT
• July 12 – Dallas, TX
• July 13 – Saratoga Springs, NY
• July 15 – Madison, CT
• July 16 – Harleysville, PA
• July 19 – Doylestown, PA
• July 20 – Montclair, NJ
• July 23 – Decatur, GA

"Scholastic is proud to bring families and communities together this summer to celebrate books and reading with the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip," said Ellie Berger, EVP and President of Scholastic Trade Publishing. "We are so excited to be working with booksellers, teachers, librarians, and our authors and illustrators nationwide, to encourage kids to have fun with reading this summer."

About the 2016 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge: 
Since 2009, this free global online summer reading program has generated more than 1 billion reading minutes from kids worldwide. On May 9, 2016, registered kids can start logging their reading minutes. This year's theme, "Be a Reading Superhero," encourages kids to build their "reading muscles" by reading more and logging their reading minutes to earn virtual rewards. Throughout the 18 weeks of summer, kids will be able to unlock fun stories from 19 authors who will share how they became reading superheroes. At the end of the summer, the school in each U.S. state, territory and in the District of Columbia that has logged the most reading minutes will be named "Best in State," featured in the 2017 Scholastic Book of World Records, and will receive a commemorative plaque as well as an official Scholastic party kit to celebrate their achievement.

To learn more about Scholastic SCHL, the Summer Reading Road Trip and the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, please visit mediaroom.scholastic.com/SummerReadingChallenge.

*Dates and locations for the Summer Reading Road Trip are subject to change.

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SOURCE Scholastic Inc.