One million dollars in cash, or the first clue in a globe-trotting treasure hunt that may lead to untold power. Which would you choose? No, it’s not the pitch for a reality show. It’s the opening premise of The 39 Clues, a multi-platform action-adventure series that Scholastic is simultaneously launching this month in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Aimed at kids 8–12, The 39 Clues combines reading, online gaming and card collecting into a unique interactive experience. This synergistic new franchise spans numerous divisions of Scholastic, and consists of 10 books, a dedicated Web site where kids can play an online game and compete for cash prizes, 350 collectible game cards, as well as an audiobook. DreamWorks has already acquired feature film rights.
Another excerpt from article: Ellen Wartella, distinguished professor of psychology at U.C. Riverside and an expert on the role of media in children’s development, believes that this full-court press by Scholastic makes sense. Tweens these days, she said, are using all kinds of media, including mobile media, more than ever before. “This is a new example of a content creator trying to capture children’s attention in a multiplicity of ways, wherever they may be.”
Links to book and extras
39 Clues: Maze Of Bones
The 39 Clues: Card Pack
39 Clues: One False Note