The newest addition to the ’Ology series (which also appears on the list) is THE PIRATEOLOGY HANDBOOK, which tells you all about how to catch pirates and gives profiles of some of the most notorious swashbucklers on the seven seas. The 'Ology books are a huge hit around our house. I know this since they always end up in the kitchen or the family room, and I add them to a pile on the steps to go upstairs. Does your mom do the same thing with your books?

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery is now in theaters. It's based on the popular American Girl series and follows Kit as she tries to uncover who is behind a string of robberies in her hometown. This is the first time an American Girl has made it to the big screen --- and she's a hit!

Looking for some award-winning books? The winners of the 2008 Children's Choice Book Awards and Golden Kite Awards have been announced. Will any of the books honored make your summer reading list?

Want to find out what's brand new on bookstore shelves and at your library? Don’t miss our Cool New Books and New in Paperback roundups, and be sure to  take a look at our most recent reviews!

Click here to read a review of SAVVY.

To celebrate the August 5th release of the second installment in Meg Cabot's Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series, Kidsreads.com is giving 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the first two books, MOVING DAY and NEW GIRL.

MOVING DAY by Meg Cabot
When nine-year-old Allie Finkle's parents announce that they are moving her and her brothers from their suburban split-level into an ancient Victorian in town, Allie is sure her life is over. She's not at all happy about having to give up her pretty pink wall-to-wall carpeting for creaky floorboards and creepy secret passageways --- not to mention leaving her modern, state-of-the-art suburban school for a rundown, old-fashioned school just two blocks from her new house.

With a room she's half-scared to go into, the burden of being "the new girl" and her old friends all a half-hour car ride away, how will Allie ever learn to fit in?

THE NEW GIRL by Meg Cabot
Allie is very excited for her first day of school at Pine Heights Elementary. She is going to be in the same class as her new friends Erica, Caroline and Sophie, and she loves her new teacher, pretty and stylish Mrs. Hunter. Plus, she’s getting a new kitten --- the first pick of showcat Lady Serena Archibald’s litter!

To celebrate the release of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY by Trenton Lee Stewart, Kidsreads.com has teamed up with Little, Brown for Young Readers to give 25(!) lucky kids the chance to win a Bag of Books containing not only a copy of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY, but also some of the coolest books from some of your favorite series published by Little, Brown for Young Readers. In a big tote bag, winners will receive one copy of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY and its sequel, along with ATHERTON: THE HOUSE OF POWER and ATHERTON: RIVERS OF FIRE by Patrick Carman, MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT by James Patterson and VAMPIRATES: DEMONS OF THE OCEAN by Justin Somper.

-Read reviews of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY and THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY.

This inspired her to enlist her son Cory, an avid reader, to compile a list of books that he thinks are great reads for boys. Included are series titles and stand-alone fiction that cover a variety of genres: fantasies, mysteries, thrillers, action/adventure novels and historical fiction. While many of these selections also will appeal to girls, they especially will capture the attention of boys, who often are much more reluctant readers. 

UPDATED! We have added to our list to reflect those books that have been released since our last update in August 2007. Among our most recent additions are THE BOOK OF TIME by Guillaume Prevost, THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES by Jody Feldman, THE SEEMS: THE GLITCH IN SLEEP by John Hulme and Michael Wexler, RALEIGH’S PAGE by Alan Armstrong, and updates to such popular series as Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz, Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michele Paver and Pendragon by D.J. MacHale.

June’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes MR. CHICKEE'S MESSY MISSION by Christopher Paul Curtis, in which the Flint Future Detectives investigates the disappearance of Rodney Rodent, who jumps into a mural to chase a demonic-looking gnome and vanishes; VAMPIRE ISLAND, Adele Griffin’s tale of three vampire siblings struggling to make sense of New World ways on the island of Manhattan; Matt Haig’s SAMUEL BLINK AND THE FORBIDDEN FOREST, a funny and captivating fantasy about two children whose eccentric aunt’s endless rules are just the beginning of their problems; and LISTEN!, an award-winning novel from Newbery Honor author Stephanie S. Tolan that explores the heartwarming connection between a 12-year-old girl and a wild, abused dog.

FOUND: Book One of The Missing by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Thirteen-year-old Jonah has known for the longest time that he’s adopted. For him it’s as normal as having an annoying younger sister, and he’s fine with it. But when he starts receiving mysterious letters in the mail hinting that his adoption is anything but normal, his life gets tossed into a mysterious whirlwind adventure from which he may never return. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

THE DRAGON’S CHILD: A Story of Angel Island by Laurence Yep with Dr. Kathleen S. Yep
In 1922, 10-year-old Gim Lew Yep has to leave his home in China and travel by ship to America. He doesn’t want to say goodbye, but his father, whom he barely knows, insists he return to America with him to find work. However, the real test comes at the holding station on Angel Island, just off San Francisco. That’s where Gim Lew and his father must undergo an intense interrogation to gain access to America. If they fail, their family could starve! Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

PUDDLEJUMPERS by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson
Thirteen-year-old Ernie Banks seems to cause of a lot of trouble at the orphanage where he lives. With threats of being handed over to the youth authority, Ernie has one last chance to prove himself, spending three weeks working on a farm. However, he manages to find himself in even more trouble as he falls deep into a mystery involving a missing baby, an ancient prophecy, a blue crystal acorn, tiny magical creatures called Puddlejumpers, and nasty, evil Troggs intent on destroying the earth. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

OTTOLINE AND THE YELLOW CAT written and illustrated by Chris Riddell
Someone has been stealing the lap dogs of the society women of the neighborhood, or so it seems. But Ottoline Brown and Mr. Munroe, her hairy, silent companion, uncover a canine crime ring led by a sneaky yellow cat. Mr. Munroe must go undercover to break up the ring and return the dogs to their worried owners. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

OUT OF THE WILD by Sarah Beth Durst
"Once upon a time" is a phrase that makes 12-year-old Julie, the daughter of Rapunzel, shudder. She previously defeated the Wild, which wants to engulf the 21st century world and turn everyone into mindless fairy tale characters, forever looping through a fairy tale story. And now the Wild is baaAAAAck! Julie must go on a quest (which includes flying on top of a bath mat while dodging fire-breathing dragons) in an attempt to save the world from enchantment yet again. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

CHANCEY OF THE MAURY RIVER by Gigi Amateau
On the night that Chancey is born, a "fire star" gallops across the sky, a signal that a great horse has entered the world. But it will take many years of hardships and neglect before the orphaned albino will believe that the prophecy is truly meant for him. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

Poll:

If you are going away for a week of vacation, how many books do you bring?

1
2-3
4-5
6-10
More than 10
None

-Click here to participate in the poll.
 

Question:

What book are you most looking forward to reading this summer?

-Click here to answer the question.