Multiplatform Kids' Series Coming to Bookstores, Toy Stores, and Web Sites Near (or Accessible By) You

Stand-alone children's books are so century-before-last.

Publishers Weekly is reporting that Scholastic is developing a multiplatform middle-grade adventure series called The 39 Clues. Each book will be penned by a different author, with Rick Riordan writing the first (I love his Percy Jackson series).

Here's what makes the series "multiplatform":

• 10 books published over the course of 2 years
• collectible cards
• online game
• more than $100K in prizes

Whew! Readers will use the different platforms to solve clues that lead to the satisfaction of cracking a good mystery (and, I'm assuming, the satisfaction of winning a licensed ancillary product).

The games begin September 9, 2008. Should be an interesting ride to watch. Don't even try to tell me that a TV or movie series is not already in the works for 2010. Because I wouldn't believe it.