In 1961, Scholastic launched the Education division with World Affair Multi-Texts, a series of paperbacks on world history. Today, Scholastic Education provides teachers, families, and communities with the tools they need to support each and every child with print and digital learning programs for pre-K to 12th grade, expert professional development, family and community engagement, and learning supports.

In 1963, Norman Bridwell created what would become one of America’s oldest and most beloved children’s characters: Clifford the Big Red Dog®. There are currently more than 134 million Clifford books in print, which are published in 19 languages, and distributed worldwide. Clifford’s stories have expanded to include two animated television series, video games, and mobile apps.

Scholastic built its first national distribution center in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1968. A second warehouse was purchased in Neosho, Missouri in 1998. Scholastic is currently one of the major employers in the region.

After 10 years with the company, initially starting as Assistant Editor of Literary Cavalcade and rising to the position of Publisher of the School Division, Richard Robinson was elected President of Scholastic. One year later, he was elected CEO. 

In 1981, Scholastic launched its in-school book fairs business with the purchase of a California book fair. Scholastic Book Fairs currently host more than 120,000 book sale events in partnership with schools across the country, giving more than 35 million students and their families’ access to thousands of affordable books and educational products.

Kristy’s Great Idea, the first in Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-sitters Club series, was published in 1986. The series went on to become one of the most successful in publishing history with more than 176 million books in print. The Baby-sitters Club would also inspire four additional related series, approximately 250 titles, two television series and a feature film... and prompted kids around the world to start their own baby-sitting clubs.

The Magic School Bus series launched in 1986, with multiple television series and video games to follow. With more than 90 million books in print, The Magic School Bus series has received some of the most prestigious children’s awards including the NEA Foundation Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education, and a Parent’s Choice Award, and has been named both School Library Journal and Parents’ Magazine Best Books of the Year, among other honors.

In 1989, Scholastic Professional Publishing was developed to create high-quality resources for teachers. Today, Scholastic Professional supports educators by offering professional services, books, and curricular resources from leading experts in K–12 education. It provides a comprehensive, research-based approach to professional development that expands our understanding of language, literacy, and learning as it elevates instruction—preparing students for a lifetime of success.

The 1990s saw the introduction of some of our most iconic series and characters, including I SPY (1992), Goosebumps® (1992), Animorphs (1996), and Captain Underpants (1997).

In 1996, Scholastic acquired Weston Woods Studio, a production company that turns books into audio and video animation. It was originally founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel. Headquartered in Norwalk, CT, Weston Woods provides materials to more than 50,000 schools and libraries nationwide and has distributors in more than 20 countries around the world.

In 1998, Scholastic published Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first in J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series. Loved by fans around the world, the series has sold more than 500 million copies, been translated into over 80 different languages, and made into eight blockbuster films.

In 2000, the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps was created to feature “news for kids, by kids.” This award-winning group of talented Kid Reporters, ages 10–14, reports on current events, breaking news, entertainment stories, and sporting events from across the country and around the world. The program was rebranded as Scholastic Kids Press in 2019.

In 2000 Scholastic acquired Grolier, one of the largest U.S. publishers of general encyclopedias. The purchase included imprints such as Franklin Watts and Orchard Books®, and strengthen Scholastic presence in Southeast Asia and the UK. Today, Scholastic operates around the world with original publishing of trade books and educational materials, distribution through Book Clubs and Book Fairs, instructional materials for schools, and exports to more than 165 international locations. 

Founded in 1977, Klutz creates book-based activity kits that stimulate creativity and critical thinking in kids of all ages. By combining crystal-clear instructions, premium materials, and a healthy dose of fun, each kit builds creative confidence while encouraging hands-on learning. Scholastic acquired Klutz in 2002 and expanded the imprint to include two new product lines: Klutz Jr. (2017), for kids ages 4 and up, and a STEM-focused line, Klutz Maker Lab (2018).

In 2005, Scholastic's Graphix imprint launched with the color edition of BONE #1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith, creating a separate platform for Scholastic graphic novels. Graphix titles have become bestsellers around the globe and continue to receive awards and critical acclaim, including multiple Eisner Award wins and nominations, a Stonewall Book Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor, an Edgar Allan Poe nomination, and more than 14 New York Times bestsellers to date. In September 2019, Raina Telgemeier’s third middle-grade graphic novel memoir, Guts, premiered as the #1 bestselling book in the country overall.

Scholastic has been committed to research-based thought leadership since we launched the Kids & Family Reading Report™ in 2006. The report shares the views of both kids and parents on reading books for fun and the influences that affect kids’ reading frequency and attitudes toward reading. The 7th edition was released in 2019. Other research reports include the Teacher & Principal School Report series which showcases the results from a national survey of more than 4,700 public school pre-K through 12th grade educators on critical issues affecting schools and districts across the U.S.

In 2008, Scholastic published The Hunger Games, the first title in Suzanne Collins’ wildly popular dystopian trilogy. The Hunger Games spent more than 260 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. There are more than 100 million copies of all three books in the trilogy, and the series was adapted into four hit films. earning more than $3 billion at the box office.

Scholastic launched its corporate podcast Scholastic Reads in December 2015. The award-winning show explores topics important to parents and educators, and features the books that Scholastic publishes for children and young adults, including interviews with the authors, editors, and stories behind them.

In 2016, Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey introduced readers to Dog Man, a part-canine, part-policeman superhero. Hailed by critics, the bestselling graphic novel series has more than 26 million copies in print to date, with 35 foreign language editions available. The series was also adapted into a successful off-Broadway musical in 2019.

A rebooted animated series starring Clifford and Emily Elizabeth launched on Amazon and PBS Kids in December 2019. In late 2020, Clifford will conquer movie screens everywhere in a major live-action feature film from Paramount. With all-new book publishing to accompany both the animated series and the movie, Clifford is poised to capture the hearts and imaginations of a whole new generation of young readers.  

On October 22, 2020, Scholastic celebrated its 100th anniversary.