SCHOLASTIC CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAPHIX IMPRINT

Celebrations to include collectible giveaways, events, and new publishing

NEW YORK, NY—January 29, 2015—Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking Graphix imprint in 2015, with a yearlong celebration to include collectible giveaways, special events, and new publishing. Graphix is dedicated to publishing engaging, age-appropriate graphic novels for children and teens. Supported by librarians, teachers, and most important, kids, 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 14 New York Times bestsellers to date.

In celebration, twelve Graphix artists have each created original art in honor of the 10th anniversary of Graphix: James Burks, Nathan Fox, Jimmy Gownley, Matthew Holm, Kazu Kibuishi, Mike Maihack, Dave Roman, Greg Ruth, Jeff Smith, Raina Telgemeier, Doug TenNapel, and Craig Thompson. Prints by these illustrators will be distributed at events and online throughout 2015, including: ALA Midwinter (Chicago, IL), Emerald City Comic Con (Seattle, WA), Texas Library Association (Austin, TX), BookExpo (New York City, NY), ALA Annual (San Francisco, CA), Comic-Con International (San Diego, California), Long Beach Comic Expo (Long Beach, CA), Salt Lake Comic Con (Salt Lake City, UT), and New York Comic Con (New York City, NY).

"I am so proud of what Graphix has accomplished since its founding in 2005. Working with such incredible talent and to have such an exciting line-up of events and giveaways throughout the year is an exceptional way to mark this anniversary and honor the mission of Graphix to publish creator-driven works and get terrific graphic novels into the hands of children," said David Saylor, Vice President Creative Director, Trade Publishing, and founder and Editorial Director of Graphix.

The Graphix imprint launched in 2005 with the color edition of BONE #1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith, the first book in the award-winning and bestselling graphic novel series, which now has more than 6.9 million copies in print. On February 24, 2015, Scholastic will publish BONE #1: Out from Boneville, Tribute Edition. This full-color special edition will contain a brand-new illustrated poem from creator Jeff Smith plus original BONE tribute art from sixteen additional top artists in the form of mini-comics and full-page artwork.

Coming in fall 2015, Graphix is proud to bring three more award-winning and bestselling graphic novel creators to the list. Acclaimed graphic novelist Craig Thompson (Blankets, Habibi)—recipient of four Harvey Awards, three Eisner Awards, and two Ignatz Awards—will publish Space Dumplins (August 25, 2015; ages 8-12), his first graphic novel for young readers. Space Dumplins is also Thompson’s first full-color graphic novel, colored by eight-time Eisner Award winning colorist Dave Stewart. In addition, beloved brother-sister team Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Babymouse, Squish) have written and illustrated a semi-autobiographical full-color graphic novel, Sunny Side Up (August 25, 2015; ages 8-12). A three-time Newbery Honor recipient for her prose novels, Jennifer collaborates with Matthew who creates the illustrations.

Looking toward the future, Graphix Editorial Director David Saylor and Senior Editor Cassandra Pelham have acquired exciting new projects by some of Graphix’s bestselling and award-winning talent, including Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space), and Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Drama, Sisters). Graphix will publish two more installments in the New York Times bestselling Amulet series, plus an untitled graphic novel to come by Kazu Kibuishi; books 3 and 4 in Mike Maihack’s Cleopatra in Space series; and a nonfiction family story (similar to Smile and Sisters), a collection of short stories, and a fictional graphic novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Raina Telgemeier.