Poptropica, Popular Online World for Kids, Launches "Cryptids Island"

Visitors Will Hunt for World’s Mythical Creatures on Safe, Online Environment’s Newest Adventure

Boston, MA, December 21, 2010 – The world’s mythical creatures have taken up residence on the new “Cryptids Island” from Poptropica , the popular online world for kids. Members now have Early Access to the brand new Island just added to the rapidly growing, safe and fun virtual environment. Public access to Cryptids Island will be available January 17, 2011.

Players who visit “Cryptids Island ” will take off on a globetrotting adventure, hunting for creatures others have only heard about. They will visit the depths of Loch Ness to look for Nessie, scale the snowy Himalayas in search of the Yeti, and scour the deepest parts of the Pine Barrens for the Jersey Devil. All the while, they will be racing against another monster hunter, who has devious plans for the creatures.

“Mythical creatures such as the Loch Ness monster have a special allure for kids because they represent a unique combination of fantasy and reality,” said Jess M. Brallier, publisher of Poptropica. “When Poptropica visitors embark on the adventures presented on Cryptids Island, they will delve deeply into the legends of these fabulous beasts while playing in a safe, secure online environment.”

Poptropica Membership gives kids Early Access to new Islands, so they can be among the first to play and complete the new Island weeks before it becomes available to the public. Membership also gives kids unlimited use of all costumes and Gold Cards in the Poptropica Store, allowing them to customize their Poptropicans by choosing from their favorite costumes, special abilities and effects – electrifying their Poptropican, creating a meteor shower, spraying silly stream and much more.

Parents can buy a Poptropica Membership for their kids in one-month, three-month or six-month increments. In addition, prepaid Poptropica Game Cards, redeemable for Membership to the site or Credits to use in the Poptropica Store, can be purchased at select retailers, such as Target and Best Buy.

Every month, as many as 10 million kids explore Poptropica’s virtual Islands. The players of this virtual world for kids come from more than 100 different countries and have their Web browsers set to more than 70 different languages, ranging from Spanish and Sanskrit to Vietnamese and Croatian.

Kids can stay up to date on news about upcoming new Islands and other exciting developments in the world of Poptropica on the official blog at http://blog.poptropica.com/.

About Poptropica (http://www.poptropica.com)

Poptropica is a virtual world in which kids explore and play in complete safety. Every month, millions of kids from around the world are entertained and informed by Poptropica’s engaging quests, stories and games. Kids create a “Poptropican” character to travel the many Islands of Poptropica and use gaming literacy to enjoy a narrative that is often rooted in factual history. Problem-solving skills are honed as kids discover and solve mysteries unique to each Island.

There are always new areas to explore in this ever-expanding world where kids can collect objects, read digital books and comics and compete in head-to-head competition. Parents can always trust that their children are playing – and learning – in a safe online environment. Poptropica is published by Family Education Network, a part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO), the education, services and technology company. Pearson’s other primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.