Scholastic Announces New Edition of Popular Classroom Library by Phyllis C. Hunter for Grades K-5

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children's publishing, education and media company, today announced the launch of The Phyllis C. Hunter Classroom Library 2^nd Edition, a follow-up to the best-selling K–5 classroom library resource known for expanding students' vocabulary and content knowledge through a variety of diverse, grade-appropriate titles.  A former elementary, middle and high school teacher, principal, curriculum and special education specialist, and certified speech and language therapist, Phyllis Hunter also served as education advisor to President George W. Bush. A video interview with Phyllis Hunter, who believes passionately that, "access to a wide variety of books is every student's civil right," along with additional information on her classroom libraries can be found at www.scholastic.com/phyllishunter.

The Phyllis C. Hunter Classroom Library 2^nd Edition offers hundreds of award-winning and culturally responsive titles across 20 categories, all hand-selected by Phyllis C. Hunter. The combination of books in each grade level's library is unique and includes favorite current titles along with beloved classics, both fiction and nonfiction to spark a passion for reading within all K–5 students. In addition, this collection includes bilingual books for ESL learners, titles on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects as well as detailed biographies to introduce students to real-life heroes.

"We are preparing students for a world we have not lived in, but what I do know for sure is reading well will always be necessary," said Phyllis C. Hunter. "The books found in The Phyllis C. Hunter Classroom Library 2^nd Edition will captivate students' imaginations while addressing the essential components of reading--phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary."

As research shows, when students get excited about sharing what they have learned, they build fluency, comprehension and background knowledge that can propel them to become lifelong readers. The books included in The Phyllis C. Hunter Classroom Library 2^nd Edition were carefully chosen based on the knowledge that students must:

• Have access to a wide variety of texts at school and at home
• See themselves in the books they read
• Identify with the characters, storyline, and themes
• Talk about what they read with peers, teachers, and caregivers

"The Phyllis C. Hunter Classroom Library 2nd Edition provides classrooms with information and inspiration through an abundance of books representing all genres and many different cultures," said Francie Alexander, Senior Vice President & Chief Academic Officer for Scholastic. "Giving students access to a variety of diverse books is imperative for reading success and ensures students are given the opportunity to understand the world they live in and have the tools to 'open a world of possible' so they can make their own unique contributions."

For educators, The Phyllis C. Hunter Classroom Library 2^nd Edition offers a handbook that guides how each book can be optimally used in the classroom, recommends books that appeal to particular student populations, and includes letters to parents and caregivers to help extend literary engagement to the home.

For more information about Scholastic, visit our online Media Room at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100907/SCHOLASTICLOGO

SOURCE Scholastic Inc.