Wow. Everyone and their mother is oohing and aahing over the miraculous appearance of that great ball of fire in the sky and the subsequent heat that has finally blanketed Portland. We staffers have indeed noticed something markedly different in the air. School. Is. Out. It's not just kids that are ecstatic to be out of school — those of us who attend college while working at Powell's have finally unclenched our jaws and are learning how to smile again. Now, dizzy and giddy with freedom, what will we do with all of our time?

GRAPHIC NOVELS: TEN TITLES TO READ THIS SUMMER
For most of us summer means reading whatever we want. So, we've decided to dive head first into the new (well, new to some of us) world of graphic novels for kids and teens. Basically a graphic novel is a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels. We recommend reading Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud as an introduction to the genre. We asked everyone who works in the kids' section what their favorite titles are and this is what we got — some old, some new. We read all of them and now we're hooked. Hopefully, you will be, too.

KIDS' Q&A: GARETH HINDS
Gareth Hinds is making quite a career of translating classic works into dazzling visual tapestries that are sure to engage even the most reluctant reader. First he brought us Beowulf, and now he's back with a moody and mesmerizing graphic novel adaptation of The Merchant of Venice, one of Shakespeare's more controversial plays. Hinds's version boasts chic modern characters, high drama, and all the dark, familiar beauty of Venice. In this Kids' Q&A, Hinds tells us about his favorite teacher, why it's always a good idea to date a bookseller, and more! Read the Q&A and save 30% (practically a pound of flesh!) when you buy The Merchant of Venice from Powells.com.

SMASHCOMIC
A few short years ago, not only were comics not just for kids, they weren't even for kids at all! Funny how a few pioneers — and an eager, demanding readership — can change everything. As the offerings in this newsletter show, comics for kids are staging a comeback that borders on invasion. Even Powell's employees are getting in on the act: Powells.com's Chris Bolton writes an all-ages web-comic (illustrated by his brother, Kyle) called Smash, about a 10-year-old superhero, that reads like Calvin and Hobbes meets The Incredibles! The comic premieres in July, but you can catch an exclusive sneak preview here, and sign up for an email newsletter to be notified of each new adventure!

KIDS' Q&A: CATHY VICKERS
It's fairly rare that a fictional character makes an appearance in our Q&As. On the other hand, who are we to say what's fiction and what isn't? In Cathy's Key, the sequel to the surprise bestseller Cathy's Book, Cathy Vickers is trying to keep a job, her journal is stolen, and the cute boy is not who he seems to be. Even Emma's side project/start-up company is about to get caught up in the mystery surrounding Cathy and her search for the truth about her presumed-dead father. In this most unusual, visually sumptuous Kids' Q&A, Cathy herself shares her favorite story as a child, why she hopes Cathy's Key will also be your book, and more! Read Cathy's Q&A and save 30% on Cathy's Key.

BOOK BUZZ: THE DANGEROUS ALPHABET
Beware: this morbidly fun alphabet book isn't for the faint of heart. With lines like "N is for Night, and for Nothing, and Never," The Dangerous Alphabet lurks somewhere between The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd. If weird and twisted is your thing, read the brilliantly concocted picture book by gothic power team Neil Gaiman and Gris Grimly. The two collaborate for the first time in The Dangerous Alphabet. How have you not added the book to your cart yet? Still need convincing? Gaiman's delightfully dangerous alphabet rhyme casts two children and their pet gazelle on a quest beneath the city for treasure. But their journey is fraught with peril (hence the title) and unspeakable monsters brought to delirious life by Grimly's cartoonishly ghastly art, which manages to be both unsettling and hilarious at the same time. Naturally, the poem is only 26 lines long, but you'll linger over every single, magnificently inventive page as though it were an epic tome. Children who can laugh at the darker side of life will appreciate this book above all others — but so will adults who understand that things that go bump in the night are sometimes the most interesting.

KIDS' Q&A: SARAH PRINEAS
"An uncommonly engaging young narrator kicks this debut fantasy ahead of the general run," proclaims Kirkus Reviews of The Magic Thief, Sarah Prineas's debut YA fantasy novel. In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. In this Kids' Q&A, Prineas reveals her favorite childhood books, why she writes for kids, and more! Find out why some are predicting Harry Potter-sized success for Prineas — read her Q&A and pick up The Magic Thief for 30% off the cover price!

FLICK PICKS
Many of this year's summer blockbusters are based on children's books we love. Whether you've seen the movies or not, we recommend checking out the real thing: the books they're based on. Try the original Nim's Island, the dreamy The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and the well-written collection, Kit: An American Girl that inspired the forthcoming movie Kit Kittredge. Coming soon to a theater near you is Journey to the Center of the Earth, out July 11 and based on the Jules Verne classic, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (or as we know it The Second Summer of the Sisterhood) out August 6. But don't waste your summertime in a dark theater, find a warm spot in the park and read these amazing children's books.

KIDS' Q&A: BEN MIKAELSEN
Ben Mikaelsen has three cats, a dog, and a 700-pound black bear named Buffy. If that isn't cool enough to make you leap over to his Kids' Q&A, consider that he grew up in war-torn Bolivia and has just published Ghost of Spirit Bear, the sequel to his gripping Touching Spirit Bear. Once again Mikaelsen weaves a tale of urban survival where every day is a struggle to stay sane. Read Mikaelsen's Q&A and save 30% on Ghost of Spirit Bear for a limited time.

KIDS' Q&A: A. E. CANNON
The Bard is making quite the cameo in this newsletter! First Gareth Hinds's The Merchant of Venice, and now The Loser's Guide to Life and Love, A. E. Cannon's contemporary take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream featuring star-crossed crushes that make for uproarious misunderstandings — complete with the requisite teen angst, endearing characters, and modern-day sensibility. In this Kids' Q&A, Cannon shares why she'd like to live in Middle Earth (sure, who wouldn't?), which childhood story she didn't like, and more! Read the Q&A and get The Loser's Guide to Life and Love at a winning 30% off the cover price!

ORIGINAL ESSAY: CARL HONORÉ
What does it cost us to push children to overachieve at ridiculously young ages? "[A]n important new look at the evolution of child rearing among the global middle class" (the Oregonian), Carl Honoré's Under Pressure: Rescuing Our Children from the Culture of Hyper-Parenting proves what many already suspect: the headlong dash to make perfect children is unhealthy for everyone. Blending top reporting, intellectual inquiry, and true stories, this book is for those who want to put the child back in childhood. Read Honoré's exclusive original essay for Powells.com and save 30% on Under Pressure.

BELLA'S BALL
Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you've probably heard of a little someone named Stephenie Meyer. Between her popular vampirific YA series, the Twilight Saga, the film version of the first book, Twilight, (filmed in Oregon and releasing on December 12), and her new novel for adults, The Host, Meyer is quickly reaching a J. K. Rowling-level of fan devotion. That's why, on Friday, August 1, we are thrilled to host Bella's Ball, a midnight release party celebrating the long-awaited fourth book in the saga, Breaking Dawn. Come to Powell's City of Books for fun and games. Enter our costume contest. Listen to a spooky DJ. You can even donate blood (easier than the vampire's way) at a Red Cross blood mobile from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and be rewarded with priority line-placement when the book goes on sale. I know! Hold your squeals of joy, all of you in the Edward or Jacob camps. We'll see you there!

NARNIA NONSENSE
Our very own Karen B. steps in to sound off about an issue very close to her heart:

Did you know that the Chronicles of Narnia were first published in the 1950s without series numbering? Later the books were numbered according to the publishing dates. It wasn't until 1994 that a new order was established. Lewis's stepson proposed the change, citing a letter in which Lewis agreed with a young fan that the books should be read in chronological order. Opponents to the new order say that Lewis could have changed the order during his lifetime if he had seriously wanted to. Whatever his intentions, I think we have to consider how the books read the best. I believe in the old order. The old first book hooks the reader more effectively, and subtle foreshadowing is found throughout the books in the old order.

The old order (by original pub date): The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Prince Caspian The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The Silver Chair The Horse and His Boy The Magician's Nephew The Last Battle

The new order (by story chronology): The Magician's Nephew The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe The Horse and His Boy Prince Caspian The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The Silver Chair The Last Battle

If it was up to me, I'd print the books without numbers, as they were originally published. Whichever order you choose, I highly recommend you read this classic series.

KIDS' BESTSELLERS

1. Twilight: Twilight Saga #1 by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult) 2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Young Adult) 3. Indiana Jones Mad Libs by Roger Price (Children's Activities) 4. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Science Fiction and Fantasy) 5. New Moon: Twilight Saga #2 by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult) 6. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Science Fiction and Fantasy) 7. Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss (Picture Books) 8. Eclipse: Twilight Saga #3 by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult) 9. Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems (Picture Books) 10. HarperCollins Student Notebook Webster's Dictionary by HarperCollins (Reference)