Can't get enough of vampires?

Twilight fans looking for similar reading matter should take a look at this list of Twilight Readalikes.

If you enjoyed the first movie and are curious about the one coming up, you can see the stars of the film at this year's Comic-Con panel.

Given the heatwave we're experiencing in the greater Seattle area, the rainy forests and beaches of Forks sound most appealing right now, vampires or no! Remember your local public library is air conditioned. Apart from hanging out and reading indoors, look at the library website to find fun events and programs for all ages!

Join the University Book Store book group!

If you are between the ages of 9-13, come to the downtown Bellevue branch of University Book Store on the third Sunday of every month from 2-3:15pm for snacks and a fun discussion! August's book is A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck (a personal favorite of mine) and September's book is Ghost Canoe by Will Hobbs. If you attend a meeting, you'll also get to help pick future selections! You can also find book groups for all ages at your local library.

Settle down in the sun with a great comic!

Comics and graphic novels make perfect summertime reading. For some fun reading suggestions for ages 4-18, check out these lists:

Comics That Celebrate America's Cultural Diversity

Good Comics for Kids Summer 2009 Reading List

Parents, remember that there are plenty of wonderful comics and graphic novels out there for you too! For recommendations of great works for all ages, take a look at Graphic Novel Reporter and No Flying No Tights.

Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic & Medicine

Sadly the traveling exhibition, Harry Potter's World, is not coming to the Seattle area. However, even if you won't be near any of the libraries that are hosting it, you can still enjoy a lot of the information on the website, including a suggested reading list and online activities! Learn about Nicolas Flamel, mandrakes, unicorns, and more! This is a rich site for Harry Potter fans to explore.

Why not listen?

Summer vacation often brings road trips, long plane flights (not to mention waiting in airports) and other stretches of time when you crave entertainment but want to take a break from focusing on a book. Audiobooks may well be the answer! I listen to audiobooks while driving, cooking and pottering about the house. My daughter and I often sit together peacefully knitting, weaving or doing other crafts while an audiobook plays in the background.

There have been books I had trouble sinking my teeth into in traditional text format that have come to life in the hands (voice?) of the perfect reader. You can find audiobooks read to you by notable actors such as Lynn Redgrave, Simon Jones and Michael York. Some books are even performed by an entire cast of actors.

Research has shown that children's vocabulary is enriched nearly as much by listening to books being read aloud as they are by actually reading. In addition, listening to a book can be the ideal bridge for the child whose comprehension far outstrips his or her reading level. Sharing an audiobook together as a family can also be a great way to spark discussion.

How do you find audiobooks? There are certainly services you can rent them from, however the local public library has a wide selection of books available on cassette, CD or as a downloadable audio file. Locate them this way:

Home > Books & Reading > Browse Books > Browse by Format

Or, in the regular catalog, click on "Limit To" and select "Book on CD/Cassette" or "Player."

Happy listening! Now I'm going back to disk 5 of Carl Hiassen's "Scat" read by Ed Asner!