2005 Book Market Outlook -- El-hi Fuels Some Optimism

Given President Bush's reaffirmation of his "No Child Left Behind" act and good news in terms of high rollout adoption cycles, 2005 and beyond bodes extremely well in the elementary-high school (el-hi) sector.

For Robert Mathews, president and CEO of St. Louis-based Von Hoffmann Corp., 2004 represented a swing year as the overall market transitions from the weakness that was evident in late 2001, 2002 and 2003 to a campaign that showed momentum and stabilization.