scholastic

This is, beyond a doubt, the largest publisher of paperbacks that is totally ignored by the "vintage paperback community." The reason, of course, is that it is considered a "book club" rather than a dedicated mass market publishing concern. However, collectors today can't help thinking back to their "first books" and remembering them fondly. Scholastic has introduced the joy of books to more than two hundred million Americans over four generations.

During the first twenty years of its life, Scholastic was primarily in the "school magazine" business, as well as introducing the coveted "Scholastic Award" for young writers and artists. The Scholastic Book Club began in 1948 with TAB (Teen Age Books), priced at 25¢. The books were numbered with a "T" prefix, which carried over for Scholastic Books. The company went international in 1957, when it opened a subsidiary office in Toronto.

Today, Scholastic is a major publisher not only for young audiences, but mainstream readers everywhere. It owns the American publishing rights to both the Harry Potter and the Hunger Games series.

The letter prefixes designate reading groups: "T" for teens, "TK" for teens & pre-teens, "TX" for middle school, "TJ" for preschool. "TW" is for social skills and lessons designed for lower grade-levels.

The "S-Series" folder includes book number prefixes SC, SB, SG, SL, SM, SP, SV, SW & SX.

The "Other Scholastic" folder includes No-number books, 5-digit books, INC, Starline, "P" & "R" prefixes, and books released through other publishers.

NOTE:

The BookScans Database does not include books published after 1979.

(The scan above is Courtesy of Brian Maginnity)

Many thanks to Rick Beckham, of Princeton, Texas, who is using BookScans to document his vast collection of these books.

Go to the Adolescent Books Index

This page was updated in March, 2023