Happy Halloween! I'm very excited about today --- I'm dressing up as a witch to walk around the neighborhood with one of my best friends. My younger son is getting his wish: he is going to be a ghost. I bought him a white sheet this weekend since we did not have any in the house. He is wildly excited about this. My older son is on the fence about whether to accompany us or hand out the candy. He is pawing through the candy bucket here! Speaking of treats, Kidsreads.com has lots of terrific books for you in October.

A generous helping of series books is on the plate for this month's update. Fans of action and fantasy will devour the first three books in The Wormling series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry, and anyone who has an interest in cars will race through books one and two in Fabry's RPM series.  

A series that is over 20 years old and still going strong, Redwall, continues the story in EULALIA!. In this installment, readers can expect Brian Jacques to deliver more of the action-packed animal adventures they’ve come to know and love.

Another classic series is back and better than ever, as Choose Your Own Adventure has been updated for a new generation. I love re-reading these books and making different choices each time to see what crazy place I’ll end up in.  

Speaking of interaction, the newest addition to the 'Ologies series, DRAGONOLOGY: FIELD GUIDE TO DRAGONS, has been released. You’ll have tons of fun putting together models of 12 different species of dragon, as well as learning how to protect yourself from attack! For more fun, check out the 'OLOGIES CODE-WRITING KITS. From deciphering secret pirate messages to translating ancient Egyptian cartouches, you’ll bend your brain to solve these amazing puzzles.

And if those series aren’t enough, this month also has a movie turned into a book and a book series turned into a movie! You must see STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY to believe it. Let’s just say you will really “light up” when you flip to the last page! I got to see Matthew Reinhart at a book convention a few weeks ago. He is such a HUGE Star Wars fan that creating this book really was a dream come true for him. It is really wonderful. In the mood for a film? Check out The Seeker: The Dark is Rising, based on the epic fantasy series by Susan Cooper.  

For more book suggestions --- some of which are (whoa!) not in a series --- check out this month’s reviews, see what’s Cool and New and New in Paperback, and get a sneak peak at what's Coming Soon.

Listening to a story is really fun --- especially if the reader does cool voices for the different characters! We know many of you have iPods, mp3 players and CD players, so we're wondering: Do you like listening to audiobooks? Let us know in this month’s poll and question. 

At Kidsreads.com we love to celebrate, whether the occasion is a birthday, Halloween or just a sunny day. Well, from November 12-18, we will have a great reason to party --- it’s Children’s Book Week! For more information and ways to celebrate, check out the Children’s Book Council website.

Here’s hoping you celebrate every day with a great read.

Carol Fitzgerald for Kidsreads.com

THE WORMLING Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry
"Nothing special" is the best way to describe Owen Reeder --- at least that’s what he’s been told all his life. When a stranger visits his father’s bookstore, Owen’s ordinary life spirals out of control and right into a world he didn’t even know existed. Owen believes the only gift he possesses is his ability to devour books, but he is about to be forced into a battle that will affect two worlds: his and the unknown world of the Lowlands. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

Matthew Reinhart put his own three-dimensional spin on classic tales in CINDERELLA: A POP-UP FAIRY TALE and THE JUNGLE BOOK: A POP-UP ADVENTURE, and worked with Robert Sabuda on the bestselling Encyclopedia Prehistorica trilogy. His latest work, STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, pays homage to the legendary cult-classic films by George Lucas and is meant to act as an encyclopedia of characters, vehicles and places in the series. In this interview, Reinhart describes his childhood passion for the original movies and discusses what he hopes his guide will contribute to the "Star Wars universe." He also details the research he performed at the Lucas Ranch, explains the painstaking process of creating these magnificent pop-ups and shares some of his favorite characters and spreads from the book.

STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Matthew Reinhart
Lifelong Star Wars fan and paper engineer extraordinaire Matthew Reinhart combines his two passions in STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, an encyclopedic examination of who, what, when and where in the Star Wars universe --- not to mention some very impressive pop-up sculptures of monsters, vehicles and enemies…including Darth Vader. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

DRAGONOLOGY: FIELD GUIDE TO DRAGONS written by Dr. Ernest Drake, edited by Dugald A. Steer
Even skilled dragonologists need special preparation to study in the field. What if an unfamiliar species should approach? Now an impressive guide highlights 19 different dragon species, many seen here for the first time. To help readers recognize dragons in the wild, mini models of 12 of the species await assembly, each tucked in its own pocket and complete with its own stand. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

’OLOGIES CODE-WRITING KITS edited by Dugald A. Steer
The 'Ologies series explores the mythical and fantastic in a series of books and related toys about dragons, ancient Egypt, wizards and fairies, and pirates. The latest products in this series are code-writing kits that invite children to engage with these subjects in a creative, hands-on way. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

EULALIA!: A Tale from Redwall by Brian Jacques
Once again Brian Jacques creates the fresh, unforgettable characters who abound in the world of Redwall. Badgers, otters, weasels, squirrels, shrews, mice, rabbits and rats are given even better definition with the fine drawings of David Elliot. An excellent map of the woods and plains surrounding the Abbey helps follow the travelers as they move toward the great climactic battle outside of Redwall. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

-Click here to read an excerpt from EULALIA!
-Click here to read the Redwall series feature.

Your best friend Tom has been in Mexico, working on a TV report on the ancient Mayan civilization. Three days ago, he vanished without a trace. The only (possible!) clue you have are terrible, haunting nightmares where Tom is killed in a Mayan sacrificial ceremony. You must find him before these nightmares become reality!  What would you do if…an old man approached you at the Temple of Magicians with a mysterious lead? Would you go with him to explore an ancient cenote, an underground waterhole? Or would you ignore him? It’s up to YOU to decide what to do. Well, what are you waiting for?!

October’s roundup of Cool New Books includes EULALIA! by Brian Jacques, a thrilling tale from Redwall featuring the greatest warriors of Salamandastron; PETER AND THE SECRET OF RUNDOON, the action-packed finale to Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s Starcatchers trilogy; IGRAINE THE BRAVE, an enchanting story from Cornelia Funke about a princess who must find the courage to save her family and their kingdom; THE CASTLE CORONA, in which Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech weaves together two worlds that just might have more in common than meets the eye; brand-new titles starring Plaza Hotel resident Eloise and lovable piglet Olivia; and the picture-book debuts of bestselling author Kate DiCamillo and actress Julianne Moore.

October’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes MIRACLE ON 49th STREET, a sports and holiday novel from Mike Lupica in which a basketball superstar finally may have met his match; THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton, a humorous tale about a group of mice whose rehearsals for their own musical come to an abrupt halt when their theater is threatened by demolition and the leading lady mouse disappears; Jules Feiffer’s A ROOM WITH A ZOO, the story of a nine-year-old girl who manages to assemble living creatures large and small in her room while waiting for the one animal she wants more than anything in the world; and the continuation of Alexander McCall Smith’s Harriet Bean and Akimbo chapter book series.

IGRAINE THE BRAVE by Cornelia Funke
Igraine, the daughter of a family of skillful magicians, wants only to be a knight. How she does so --- and saves her family and the kingdom in the process --- is the story of IGRAINE THE BRAVE, the newly-translated novel for younger readers by Cornelia Funke, author of the popular Inkheart series. Reviewed by Norah Piehl and excerpted.

THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET by Pseudonymous Bosch
This book is about a secret so big, it could change the course of history. Really.  Well, maybe. The author won’t even reveal his (or her) real name. And he (or she) won’t say where or when the story takes place, except that it begins on a Wednesday. What I can tell you is that the story involves two intrepid 11-year olds, some evil villains, one mysterious box with secret potions and --- I think that’s all I can say right now without giving away the secret! Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

TEN WAYS TO MAKE MY SISTER DISAPPEAR by Norma Fox Mazer
Everything 10-year-old Sprig wants, her older sister Dakota already has. Everything Sprig does, Dakota does better. And anytime Sprig complains, Dakota just grins and calls her a baby. It’s enough to make a kid wish her sister would disappear. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT by Linda Urban
In this warm, wise debut novel by Linda Urban, 10-year-old Zoe Elias --- who dreams of being a world-famous piano player --- discovers that music, friendship and even perfection can come from the most unexpected sources. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BARNSTORMERS: TALES OF THE TRAVELIN’ NINE – Game 2 by Loren Long and Phil Bildner
The Travelin’ Nine complete their journey aboard the steamship Meriwether Lewis from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Louisville, Kentucky. In the River City, at the turn of the 20th century, Griffith, Ruby and Graham Payne join together to help their team face the Louisville Summer Sluggers. Strange things happen on the field, and a rich and powerful enemy lurks in the background. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

RALEIGH'S PAGE written by Alan Armstrong and illustrated by Tim Jessel
Eleven-year-old Andrew Saintleger sets out on an adventure of a lifetime when he leaves his family farm in the spring of 1584. He travels to London to join Sir Walter Raleigh’s staff as a page, where --- through hard work and dangerous trials and tests --- he earns the opportunity to sail across the ocean to explore America. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

THE MAN WITH THE RED BAG by Eve Bunting
In THE MAN WITH THE RED BAG, award-winning author Eve Bunting gives readers a thoughtful exploration of post-9/11 prejudice and misunderstanding, set within a suspenseful mystery story. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

Would you listen to audiobooks on your mp3 player or iPod?
Yes
No
Not sure
I do not have an mp3 player or iPod.

If a book by one of your FAVORITE authors was available as an audiobook before it was out as a print book, would you buy it?
Yes, I would buy the audiobook.
Yes, I would buy the audiobook and then later buy the print book.
I would just wait for the print book as I do not listen to audiobooks.
I am not sure what I would do.

Many people listen to different books on audio than they read in print. Do you think you would listen to different genres than you would read?
Yes
No
Not sure

What genres do you think would be the coolest to listen to on your mp3 player or iPod? Check as many as apply.
General Fiction
Historical Fiction
Mysteries/Thrillers
Fantasy
Science Fiction
History
Biographies/Autobiographies/Memoirs
Classics
Other
I have no interest in listening to audiobooks.
I do not have an mp3 player or iPod.

What book would you most like to listen to in audiobook format?