There's a lot in the news right now about the presidential race, but the big news from our kids' team is that Angela has moved to Boston to try her hand at publishing. She was a hard-working member of this newsletter staff and we wish her the best. Now, in other news, we offer more on the big election, a bit about lesser-known children's awards, our selection of children's books for a new generation, of course an assortment of beguiling author Q&As, and a couple of original essays, too!

AN ELECTORAL EYEFUL
As we hold our breath in anticipation of who will be the next president of the United States, words like caucuses, primaries, and delegates remind us to brush up on the election process. Whether you dream of Clinton, Obama, Huckabee, or McCain, the air seems to crackle with the intensity of this year's race to choose our nation's Commander-in-Chief. Check out our new election section to help boost your child's political savvy and maybe even give them something to talk about at the dinner table.

KIDS' Q&A: N. D. WILSON
Written in N. D. Wilson's inimitable style, 100 Cupboards follows Henry and his cousin Henrietta as they discover what's behind their house's hidden cupboard doors. This first in a new fantasy series has them discovering that the cupboards are portals into another world. Read Wilson's Q&A and find out why he thinks that Gandalf, of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, would be a handy acquaintance. Wilson's book is on sale for a limited time at 30% off the cover price; plus, be sure to also check out his original essay, exclusive to Powell's, and find out what inspired him to write 100 Cupboards.

KIDS' Q&A: LIZ GALLAGHER
Not that we're partial to kids' booksellers who live in the Pacific Northwest... oh, wait! We totally are! She blogs, she sells books, she works at a Montessori school, for goodness sake! So, without further adieu, we introduce Liz Gallagher. Her first novel, The Opposite of Invisible tells the story of Alice, a 15-year-old Seattle girl, as she figures out the difference between a crush, love, and best-friendship. Read more about this debut young adult novelist and why she's cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs in her exclusive Q&A. And, for a limited time, save 30% on her charming book The Opposite of Invisible.

MORE COOL BOOK AWARDS
We are all abuzz about this year's Newbery and Caldecott Awards, and perhaps because of that we've overlooked the smaller — yet important! — awards out there. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, given annually to the best beginning-reader book, went this year to the much-deserved There Is a Bird on Your Head!, part of the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. The American Indian Youth Literature Awards were recently created as a way to identify and honor the very best kids' books by and about American Indians. The winners for 2008 are The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Young Adult category), Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond by Joseph Medicine Crow (Middle School), and Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tingle Tim and illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridge (Picture Book). Congratulations to all of the 2008 medalists!

ORIGINAL ESSAY: ROBIN PALMER
When we read Robin Palmer's cool retelling of Cinderella, set at a modern-day prom in L.A., we couldn't resist asking her about her own prom. Behold her hilarious essay about the perfect '80s tulle confection of a dress. Well, it would have been perfect, if only... Read Palmer's original essay, exclusive to Powells.com, and save 30% on the cover price of Cindy Ella while our sale lasts.

KIDS' TEAM STAFF PICKS
Leave it to our cracker-jack kids' team to ferret out the most interesting and arresting kids' books of the past few months. If you can't be with us in the Rose Room at Powell's City of Books, browsing our current favorites online is the next best thing.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR A NEW GENERATION
Parents today: they're pierced, tattooed, vegan, organically-minded. We imagine that these parents walk into their local bookstores, look around, and find old-fashioned picture books — saccharine, touchy-feely-type books. Fear not, there are books that hip parents (and kids) will enjoy, as well! In the visually interesting/stylishly retro category, we have 365 Penguins by Jean Luc Fromental, Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty, and Pssst! by Adam Rex. For the soon-to-be parent, Awake to Nap is an earthy ode to new motherhood written by Pacific Northwest artist Nikki McClure. Books featuring tattooed parents are emerging, too: "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate by Bob Graham and Mommy Has a Tattoo by Phil Padwe. And it's only the beginning. Books that appeal to this new generation of parents are on the rise.

KIDS' BESTSELLERS

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Science Fiction and Fantasy) 2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney (Middle Readers) 3. The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (Science Fiction and Fantasy) 4. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Seder (Pop-Up Books) 5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult Horror) 6. The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz (Reference) 7. The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden (Reference) 8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Young Adult) 9. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Young Adult) 10. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Caldecott Winners)