With the presidential election in November, powerful storms hitting our southern coasts, and banned books in the news, some heated debates have occurred on the Powell's Kids' Team. Passionate and sometimes stubborn, we all have our own opinions and we love to speak our minds. So, enjoy this edition, most of which was sparked by some sort of zealous discussion.

ELECTION 2008
With election season upon us, this is the perfect time to engage younger minds in our political system. From the Caldecott Medal-winning classic So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George to Doreen Cronin's hilarious Duck for President, our election section runs the gamut from informative to entertaining. Dennis Fradin's The Signers explores the lives of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, while Lane Smith's Madam President depicts an inquisitive, unforgettable little girl who imagines what it would be like to run the country. There's something in here for everyone!

KIDS' Q&A: POLLY HORVATH
With My One Hundred Adventures, Polly Horvath, winner of the National Book Award and a Newbery Honor Medal, has written her richest, most spirited book yet. Jane is 12 years old, and she is ready to move beyond the world of her siblings and single mother and their house by the sea, and step into the "know-not what." In this Kids' Q&A, Horvath shares her favorite breakfast cereal, her most horrifying story about a reader, and more. Read Horvath's Q&A and save 30% on My One Hundred Adventures.

SPOOKY STORIES: PUT THE "BOO" BACK IN "BOOK"
The Brothers Grimm knew what they were doing when they sat down to write Hansel and Gretel. They realized that the world was sometimes a scary place, and that most children were painfully aware of that. So if your library lacks a little spook, here are some breadcrumbs to send you down the right path. This list of titles will surely send shivers down your spine.

ORIGINAL ESSAY: INGRID LAW
Savvy is the story of the Beaumont family, who, for generations, has harbored a magical secret: they each possess a supernatural power that they acquire at age 13. On the eve of Mibs's big day, she finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up. Read Ingrid Law's original essay for Powells.com and save 30% on Savvy.

BOOK BUZZ: THE BLACK BOOK OF COLORS
An innovative picture book that invites readers to imagine living without sight, The Black Book of Colors tastefully investigates — in Braille and English, with embossed illustrations — how to use words and touch to describe color to the blind. Written with graceful observation, the authors describe the color green by saying it "tastes like lemon ice cream and smells like grass that's just been cut." Winner of the New Horizons Prize at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, this book belongs in every school library.

KIDS' Q&A: KIMBERLY PAULEY
In Sucks to Be Me, Mina Hamilton's vampire parents are pushing her to decide whether to become a vampire herself. How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck — literally? In this Kids' Q&A, debut author Kimberly Pauley tells us how her cats try to stop her from writing, why she's considered the queen of hobbies, and more. Read Pauley's Q&A and save 30% on Sucks to Be Me.

KIDS' Q&A: STEPHANIE GREENE
In The Lucky Ones, the author of Christmas at Stony Creek delivers a haunting coming-of-age novel about two sisters — one 14 years old, the other 12 — their privileged family, and the summer their world is shifted forever. In this Kids' Q&A, Stephanie Greene tells us about the gecko that won't die, shares her idea of bliss, and more. Check out Greene's Q&A and save 30% on The Lucky Ones.

BOOK BUZZ: TRACTION MAN MEETS TURBO DOG
For every child who's ever picked up an expensive, new whiz-bang toy with all manner of electronic bells and whistles, only to then put it down in favor of a battered, old-fashioned doll, Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog is a must-read! This enchanting sequel to Mini Grey's terrific Traction Man Is Here! finds the square-jawed, "can-do" action figure entering a trash bin to rescue his brave pet, Scrubbing Brush, who has been unfairly discarded for the new and improved, battery-operated Turbo Dog. No one who reads this book will be able to stop smiling, whether they're a child now or only wish they were!

KIDS' Q&A: LAUREL SNYDER
After the king insists that Wynston devote his time to ruby-shining and princess-finding, his best friend Lucy sets off for the Scratchy Mountains to solve the mystery of her missing mother. When Wynston finds out, he goes after Lucy in Laurel Snyder's debut novel, Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains. In this Kids' Q&A, Snyder shares her plan to adopt all the stray cats and dogs in Baltimore, explains how an MFA in poetry turned into writing for kids, and more. Read Snyder's Q&A and save 30% on Up and Down the Scratchy Moutains.

GROSSONOMICS
"Problem: Boys Don't Like to Read. Solution: Books That Are Really Gross." That was a headline in the Wall Street Journal that caught our eyes last week. The article talked about the not-so-recent trend of publishers trying to attract the elusive boy-reader market by publishing "gross" books (i.e., Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger, and Help! What's Eating My Flesh from the 24/7 Science series). For better or for worse, gross books are becoming an acceptable option for hooking reluctant readers. And let's face it: sometimes they are quite hilarious. The newest in the gross book genre that won our hearts is Alan Katz's The Flim-Flam Fairies, which features all sorts of rough-and-tumble fairies of cast-off bodily detritus to compete with the loving and kind Tooth Fairy. Fairies like the Belly Button Lint Fairy (and it just gets worse) are truly gross. And, yes, it had much of our team crying with laughter, especially when we got to the Clipped Toenail Fairy. You can bet that boys will love this one. Browse our Grossonomics section for more ideas.

KIDS' TEAM COLUMN
This month, Sarah shares her thoughts on banned books in honor of National Banned Books Week (September 27-October 4).

The recent rumors flying that John McCain's vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, asked a librarian in Wasilla, Alaska, about censoring library books have sparked some interesting debates about book banning and forced the issue into the media spotlight. The recent buzz has come just in time for the American Library Association's National Banned Books Week. According to the ALA, the three most challenged children's books last year were And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, and Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes. I can't help but notice that these are all titles I loved. I also don't think it's a coincidence that most of the books found on the Frequently Challenged Books list on the ALA website are some of the best books I've ever read. They pushed the envelope, gave me a new perspective, and profoundly changed the way I looked at the world. So the next time you need a good book to read, check out the ALA's List of Most Frequently Challenged Books — you won't be disappointed.

KIDS' BESTSELLERS

1. Wee Sing around the World by Pamela Conn Beall (Music) 2. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult) 3. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Newbery Award Winners) 4. Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (Biography) 5. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (Middle Readers) 6. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham (Newbery Award Winners) 7. Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen (Young Adult) 8. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult) 9. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (Young Adult) 10. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adult)