No more dust bunnies or empty bookstands in our windows! Slim consolation for the fact that the lovely Alexis, co-writer (with Karen B.) of our humble newsletter since its inception nearly two years ago, has traded in her Kids' Team overalls for Merchandising Specialist skirts (she has her own desk!). She will spiffy up our store to its maximum, most visually-stimulating potential, and we know she will dazzle us. Continue to look for her blog posts at Powells.com, and perhaps she will occasionally moonlight for us, as her passion for children's literature is sure to never die. So long, Alexis, and thanks for all the fish (er... recommendations)! Stay tuned to future newsletters to find out who will step into Alexis's stylish, yet practical shoes.

KIDS' Q&A: LAINI TAYLOR
Magpie Windwitch is no ordinary faerie. While other faeries might be flitting about, waving wands and dancing on flower petals, Magpie has dedicated her life to hunting bloodthirsty devils. Laini Taylor brings this warrior faerie to life in the newly released Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer. Fuse #8, the School Library Journal's blog, says, "if you read only one fantasy book this year, read this one....first time author Laini Taylor has written a doozy of a debut." Oh, and guess what? She lives in Portland — we thought we saw her at a certain very large book release party! Read our Q&A with Taylor and find out about her dream of a "mango-tasting world tour" while saving 30% on her seriously fantastic book.

KIDS' Q&A: DAN GUTMAN
Haven't you always dreamed of a machine that could do your work for you? In your dreams, is that machine named "Belch"? Dan Gutman has written a funny new book called The Homework Machine, which not only amuses, but also gets you thinking about the question of morality. Four fifth-graders — the creators of Belch — form an unlikely friendship when the power of their invention gets out of hand. Read our Q&A with Gutman to see what inspired his newest work and why he never writes on an empty stomach. And save 30% off the paperback release of The Homework Machine.

KIDS' Q&A: THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI
When Thomas Sniegoski was a child, he acted out epic storylines with his action figures. "One of the main reasons that I write for kids is because it gives me a chance to write the kind of books that I would have absolutely loved as a child," Sniegoski says. His two new books center on an amazing — and weird — twelve-year-old superhero. Billy Hooten: Owlboy and The Girl with the Destructo Touch (Billy Hooten: Owlboy #2) both describe the adventures of a boy protecting the citizens of Monstros City, an underground metropolis. Read his Q&A to see what else Sniegoski is working on, what other books he recommends, and save 30% off both books in the series.

KIDS' Q&A: HELEN WILBUR
Kitties. Cute, cute kitties. How can we resist? This adorable book, M Is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet, is part of Sleeping Bear Press's larger series of alphabet titles, covering just about every state in the union and other charming topics. Perfect for educators and for anyone who likes their facts mixed with illustration and fun, these books hit the spot! Save 30% on M Is for Meow and read Helen's fuzzy, feline Q&A here.

ORIGINAL ESSAY: WENDY LICHTMAN
Not your typical YA novel, Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra uses algebraic formulas to investigate both a murder mystery and the mysteries of teenage love. In this exclusive essay, Wendy Lichtman tells how she came to write the book and how algebra can transform you into a cooler, more well-rounded person! And you'll need algebra to calculate our sale price of Do the Math! X + ($15.99 x .30) = $15.99

APRÉS HARRY
It really happened. It's over. For an hour by hour account of the blessed event (we're talking about the last ever Harry Potter release party, of course), check out Brockman's blog entry , complete with down-home pictures from his cell phone (we love technology!).

Our own intrepid Powell's City of Books Kids' Team reporter Sarah H. was walking around with a notebook and interviewing people beginning early in the afternoon of the Big Day. Plus, our reporters John S. and Emily M. from the Cedar Hills Crossing store weigh in on the event — all in all a smashing success! Here is their final report.

Alexis also has her take on the event! In this, her final PowellsBooks.kids contribution from her blog post, she speaks to the rarity of a book causing such a massive reaction.

Okay, for you truly die-hard Harry fans, this just in! (Well, it was in like a week ago, but still it's great news!) J. K. Rowling has said she will "probably" write an "encyclopedia" of the world of Harry Potter, after taking a "break." Commence breath-holding... NOW!

And finally.... The best story going around about what happened on the big night is this: when one of the first people in line finally, at last, got into the City of Books, just past midnight, she bought two books. She then went outside, walked down the block to the end of the line, and gave one of the books to the last person standing in line. It may be a crazy rumor, but we believe it happened, because the night was just that magical. We simply love Harry Potter people.

For a list of books that meet all your aprés-Harry needs, we offer these selections.

THE ALCHEMYST
So, you had finished reading the grand finale within 24 hours of its release, right? Remember, it's not the end of the world; it's just the end of a stupendously satisfying series. And there are more of those out there! We've mentioned it before, and we'll mention it again: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott is an excellent fantasy novel. Our own Mary Z. (who loves Harry Potter) says it's full of imaginative fun and intriguing twists on mythology and folklore. Now, for all you collectors, we're happy to announce that we have a limited number of copies signed by Mr. Scott (have you seen what a signed edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone goes for these days?), available at Powells.com. Get in on the ground floor of this promising new series!

TUNNELS
We've heard it before; this book (that book, every other book coming out these days) is going to be the "next Harry Potter." But, seriously folks, this one has got us salivating. Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams originally self-published Tunnels (then titled The Highfield Mole) with a print run of 2500. Enter editor Barry Cunningham, widely renowned for "discovering" J. K. Rowling. "I knew from page one that Harry Potter was magic," Cunningham said, "Reading Tunnels gave me the same thrill." Tunnels is about fourteen-year-old Will Burrows, who enjoys a bit of amateur archaeology with his father, until his father turns up missing. In his search for his dad, Will discovers a city underneath London which is still very much alive and very dangerous. This book is spellbinding, and, thankfully, it is the first in a series. Here's the kicker: it's only available in the UK (a US release is scheduled for spring 2008). But do not despair! Behold the magic of the internet — you can order a UK edition through Powells.com right now! It's a little pricey, what with coming all the way across the pond, but if you want to be on the first wave of this "next big thing," it's worth it!

ALADDIN MIX
So, you may not have heard, but there's a new Harry Potter book. Oh, right, you already finished reading it. Well, then, Simon and Schuster has a cool new "tween" imprint called Aladdin Mix. Totally Joe by James Howe (author of The Misfits) is one boy's no-holds-barred alpha-biography (his life from A to Z). The Melting of Maggie Bean by Tricia Rayburn is about an overweight girl's quest to join the swim team (it reminds us of the phenomenal The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger). These books deal realistically with middle-grade issues while also being funny. And we like that! Look here for other hot new titles in the Aladdin Mix series.

YOUNG ADULT BOOK BLOGGERS
I've discovered recently that blogs actually are a great book browsing tool. I never really gave them much thought before — they've always just occupied the realm of things other people like to do but seem oddly alien to me. But you know that feeling when you've finished a fantastic novel and want more? And you're left with all these questions like, "Why did [insert current author obsession here] write this book?" and "What's up with this weird scene in which the dog gets bitten by a snake on his scrotum?" In the old days, you had to dig up old interviews with the author, or wait for them to come to your favorite independent bookstore for a reading. But now, everybody and their mother has a blog — an online diary, or conversation of sorts — which I'm coming to realize is such a good thing.

My first foray into the world of blogs was Teenreads.com, which has a plethora of information as well as possibly the most amazing list of required reading for teens. The really cool thing about it, though, is that it provides a space for teen readers to talk openly about what they're reading, if they liked it and why, and how to start a book club.

The most exciting blog I've come across so far is John Green's, SparksFlyUp.com. One of my very favorite YA authors, he has a blog that is as clever and funny as his books are. And Janet Lee Carey's blog, Readergirlz.com, is so astounding! Written with three other published writers, these "divas" (as they call themselves) interview authors and have them create a while-you-read playlist for their featured book. And most blogs have a list of links to other fabulous blogs, which just leads you to more books to read! It's an endless rabbit hole! But one, I've decided, I'm eager to explore.

KIDS' BESTSELLERS

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers) 2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers) 3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers) 4. Grasshopper on the Road (I Can Read Books) by Arnold Lobel (Beginning Readers) 5. Crash by Jerry Spinelli (Middle Readers) 6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers) 7. The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden (Nonfiction) 8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers) 9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers) 10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (Middle Readers)

No spoilers here!