Wacky Weather Mystery Launches on SuperPages.com

Science-Oriented Interactive Game Inspires Analytical Thinking Among Children

DALLAS, Tx. (November 15, 2002) -- Verizon SuperPages.com today introduced a new, interactive Peeknik Mystery on its online literacy and education site, Enlighten Me: Read, Learn and Explore. The new game, The Mystery of the Wacky Weather, challenges middle school-age children to figure out why suspicious rainstorms are occurring in the fictional town of Clutterbuck Valley. To get started, visit www.superpages.com and click on the Enlighten Me icon.

Enlighten Me's Peetnik Mysteries promote learning skills such as logic, problem solving, critical thinking, cooperative learning, imagination and creativity. The Mystery of the Wacky Weather also incorporates traditional educational values by introducing science and math into the storyline. In addition, children may solve Enlighten Me's other Peetnik mysteries: The Mystery of the Lost Ketchup, The Sinking Theatre Mystery and Something's Rotten in Clutterbuck.

"Thousands of young fans and families have visited Clutterbuck Valley since we launched Enlighten Me in April," said Lou Laste, director - community relations for Verizon Information Services. "The Peetnik Mysteries help children learn important analytical skills while having fun online."

To solve the Peetnik Mysteries, children use various real-life information-gathering tools, such as the yellow and white pages, a telephone, a map and a Who's Who directory, to familiarize themselves with Clutterbuck Valley, its geography, businesses and residents, to solve the community mysteries.

"Because of their educational value, the Peetnik Mysteries are a natural fit into a school curriculum," said Laste. "As with the new Wacky Weather mystery, we will continue to add educational games and learning tools that stimulate intellectual exploration among children."

The site also includes tips for incorporating literacy and technology into family life, book reviews, information about nationwide literacy programs and an interactive Internet Learning Tutor.

The Peetnik Mysteries were developed by FableVision Studios, an educational media company under the leadership of Emmy Award-winning Partner and Creative Director Peter Reynolds. FableVision creates positive programming and story-based media for children and adults.

About Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com

Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher, a content provider for communications products and services, and the largest publisher of Hispanic directories in the U.S. With operations in 14 countries and annual revenues of more than $4.3 billion, Verizon Information Services publishes more than 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and nearly 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 150 million copies worldwide.

Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's #1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 14 million visits and 9 million unique visitors a month and powers directory services on MSN, InfoSpace, AltaVista, Excite, Lycos, Univision, Terra.com, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire as well as more than 2,500 affiliate Web sites.

The company supports computer literacy with philanthropic programs and through the Enlighten Me and Internet Learning Tutor sites on SuperPages.com. Enlighten Me is a fun site where children and their caregivers go to read, learn and explore. The Internet Learning Tutor is specifically designed for adults who are just learning their way around the Internet.

Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs.

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