We know no one's looking forward to going back to school, and that's exactly why we're cramming this month's newsletter with so much cool stuff. Interviews, series updates, special features --- this month we have it all. So for the moment, forget about school, teachers and homework and savor the fun stuff!

We have two new interviews on Kidsreads.com. The first is with Alan Armstrong, the author of WHITTINGTON. Did you know he had a dog named Jeep growing up? He also has some valuable advice for aspiring writers. Click here to read the entire interview. We also chatted with Anthony Horowitz, author of RAVEN'S GATE, who talked about his inspiration for the character of Matt, the impact his kids have on his writing and what's coming up in THE GATEKEEPERS Series.

My younger son's newest obsession is VITAL STATISTICS: An Amazing Compendium of Factoids, Minutiae, and Random Bits of Wisdom by Paul Grobman, which answers such crucial questions as: "How did a goat lay a curse on the Chicago Cubs", "Which color do race car drivers consider unlucky?" and "How many lawyers in America are named 'Crook?'" Packed with an enormous array of factoids, minutiae, and random bits of wisdom, this book is totally fun, but I bet you could convince your parents it's educational too.

Okay Harry Potter fans, here's something new to get excited about: The Harry Potter Lumos Book Light, which is perfect for reading at night, under the covers, in the car...I have one in every seat pocket of my car. Included are seven themed, interchangeable button covers such as the Golden Snitch, Harry's wand, and Harry's owl, Hedwig. Soft cases for storing the Harry Potter Lumos book light, embroidered with each of the Hogwarts house crests, are also available. Click on the pictures above for all the details. It's a great present to give --- or get!

Happy reading. My advice...don't count the days til school starts; just make the most of each of them. 

Carol Fitzgerald for Kidsreads.com

Kidsreads.com contributing writer Shannon McKenna interviewed Alan Armstrong, author of WHITTINGTON. Armstrong talks about the animals that have been a part of his life and served as the inspiration for some of the characters in his books. He explains what he thinks readers will relate to the most in his current novel, describes his writing routine, and offers valuable advice to aspiring writers.

WHITTINGTON by Alan Armstrong
In Bernie's barn, a menagerie of animals makes room for one more resident --- Whittington, a cat with a talent for storytelling. Even as daily adventures in the barn take place, Whittington entertains the others with a tale about his feline ancestor, who helped an impoverished boy rise to become a London merchant. Reviewed by Shannon McKenna and excerpted.

Kidsreads.com contributing writer Joni Rendon interviewed Anthony Horowitz, author of RAVEN'S GATE --- which is the first book in THE GATEKEEPERS series --- and the popular Alex Rider novels. Horowitz talks about the important contributions his two sons have made to his work, explains the similarities and differences between writing television scripts and producing fiction for young people, and lets readers know what he has in store for future books in THE GATEKEEPERS series.

RAVEN'S GATE: Book One of THE GATEKEEPERS
by Anthony Horowitz
From the author of the bestselling Alex Rider novels comes THE GATEKEEPERS, a gripping new series that pits good against evil and past against present in a battle that will determine the course of future civilization. In RAVEN'S GATE, the first riveting book in the series, a troubled young boy finds himself at the heart of a strange and sinister plot hatched by the bizarre inhabitants of a remote English village. Will he uncover the truth in time to put an end to their evil plans and save himself as well?

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling (Fantasy)
J.K. Rowling has promised that each of Harry Potter's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be darker and more difficult than the one before. She has kept her promise in this sixth installment, which is the darkest and most complex of the books yet. But just in case you have any doubt, Harry is proving well up to the tasks at hand --- and his magical world seems more vivid and real than ever.

To celebrate the release of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, we've updated our Harry Potter site on Kidsreads.com where you'll find new lists of people, places and things, a new author biography and interview with J.K. Rowling, and THREE all-new trivia games.

ANDREW LOST, Book 11: WITH THE DINOSAURS by J. C. Greenburg
Andrew, Judy and Thudd have escaped the molten rock of baby Earth only to find themselves surrounded by huge and hungry dinosaurs. Meanwhile Uncle Al is still stranded in the Ice Age and his partner, Professor Winka Wilde, has yet to be found. Andrew, Judy and Thudd would like to save the day, but exactly how will they be able to avoid that Tyrannosaurus rex?

GERONIMO STILTON, Book 22: THE SECRET OF CACKLEFUR CASTLE by Geronimo Stilton
Geronimo's old friend Creepella von Cacklefur orders him to join her for the weekend at her family's spooky castle. But before he has the chance to turn her down, she mouse-naps him! Now he's stuck in the gloomiest, eeriest castle he's ever seen and surrounded by Creepella's creepy family.

Our cool new books for August include AMELIA BEDELIA, ROCKET SCIENTIST, in which the literal-minded housekeeper is a judge at the school science fair; the eleventh installment in the always entertaining Andrew Lost series (this time, Andrew, Judy and the gang are stuck in the age when dinosaurs roamed the earth!); and THE GRUESOME GUIDE TO WORLD MONSTERS, a well-researched and detailed guide to fantastic creatures around the world --- and how to survive an encounter with them.

THE NOBODIES by N.E. Bode
In this quirky and funny sequel to THE ANYBODIES, Fern Drudger goes to Camp Happy Sunshine Good Times and is bombarded by desperate messages from the Nobodies. But who are these people, and what do they want from Fern? Reviewed by Kristi Olson and excerpted.

Now in Paperback:
THE ANYBODIES by N.E. Bode
Eleven-year-old Fern Drudger discovers that she was swapped at birth and leaves her extremely dull parents for a magical adventure with her real father, the Bone. She quickly learns that the Bone and her mother are Anybodies --- people who can turn into practically anybody. Reviewed by Kristi Olson and excerpted.

REGARDING THE TREES: A Splintered Saga Rooted in Secrets by Kate Klise
The friendly folks of Geyser Creek find themselves in another hilariously mixed-up mess in Kate and Sarah Klise's uproarious third installment of their awarding-winning "Regarding the..." series, told almost exclusively through newspaper articles, letters and secret notes. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

Candlewick Press calls ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS "the definitive pop-up" --- and that is exactly what Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart's latest masterpiece is. Dinosaurs of all shapes, sizes and colors come to life in six multi-layered spreads that each feature one large pop-up (including a massive T-Rex with jagged teeth and a raptor that appears to fly off the edge of the page) along with several booklets of smaller pop-ups, all making for a visually stunning read. In addition, Sabuda and Reinhart offer lots of cool facts and up-to-the-minute information about more than 50 different species of dinosaurs and even some amusing tidbits on the history of paleontology itself. This fascinating book --- the first of three in a series --- will be read, admired and treasured for a long time to come.

The beloved Roald Dahl classic CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, originally published in 1964, has been made into a major motion picture and is now in theaters. Johnny Depp stars as eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, who launches a worldwide contest in which five lucky children will be taken on a tour of his chocolate factory. To celebrate the film's arrival, two exciting new editions of the novel have been released

ALEX AND THE AMAZING LEMONADE STAND by Liz and Jay Scott, with help from Alex Scott
Two days before her first birthday Alexandra "Alex" Scott was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. At the age of four, Alex came up with a plan to help raise money to research the disea se and find a cure --- she would sell lemonade from a lemonade stand in her front yard. This picture book, written by Alex and her parents, Liz and Jay, is the inspirational true story of a little girl whose single act of kindness impacted the lives of so many people.

ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND by Running Press
Running Press has joined the fight for the cure with their own ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND book and kit. The book contains a number of tips on planning and organizing a lemonade sale, with plenty of ways to increase donations and make the most of any stand. The kit includes some extra special goodies --- stickers that read "I donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand," creative advertising posters, a lemon squeezer, flyers that you can photocopy and hand out, and much more!

THE FASHION DISASTER THAT CHANGED MY LIFE! by Lauren Myracle
Alli wants to be popular and have a breakout year following sixth grade. She gets her wish, but not exactly how she intended. This funny and honest story is chronicled through Alli's personal journal, as she writes detailed accounts of every embarrassing and exciting aspect of seventh grade. Reviewed by Renee Kirchner.

LISTENING FOR LIONS by Gloria Whelan
Following the devastating deaths of her parents, thirteen-year-old Rachel Sheridan travels to England under a false identity. Will she ever find her way back to her beloved Africa and her true self? Reviewed by Paula Jolin.

PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale
Miri lives on a mountain where her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle.

THE GHOST'S GRAVE by Peg Kehret
What Josh thought would be the dullest summer of his life, spent with his eccentric great-aunt, turns chilling when he meets the ghost of a coal miner killed in a mine explosion. While carrying out a grisly request from the spirit, Josh makes a shocking discovery. Reviewed by Robert Oksner.

FRIENDS: Stories About New Friends, Old Friends, and Unexpectedly True Friends edited by Ann M. Martin, David Levithan and others
This collection of stories by a number of well-known children's authors celebrates the many different forms that friendship can take. All proceeds go to The Lisa Libraries, which provides small libraries for children in need. Reviewed by Renee Kirchner.

Yes, I did!
No, and it's bumming me out.
No, but I am okay with it.
I am not sure how I feel.
I did not read any books this summer.

What is the BEST book that you read this summer?