Our stomachs are collectively rumbling here at Powell's in anticipation of that beautifully decadent holiday that is Thanksgiving. Seriously. We're hungry. But, instead of twiddling your thumbs while you're waiting to dig in, let us help you stock up on all the essentials. What's that, you say? Why, books to help your family make the connection between historical events and eating a turkey dinner, for one; teaching tools to help your family eat properly (and perhaps even help you out in the kitchen!); and current events-y books to fuel great dining conversation and keep everyone at the table in-the-know. So, put on your Pilgrim hat and read on, read on.

KIDS' Q&A: ADAM REX
We get the feeling that Adam Rex is one of those author/illustrators that will single-handedly bring the children's book industry into the 21st century. His newest book Pssst!, filled with hip-hop influenced illustrations and graphic novel storytelling, is a wonderful story about a girl's unusual trip to the zoo. The True Meaning of Smekday is a modern day Blade Runner for middle-schoolers. Learn more about this cutting edge author in his witty Q&A. And save 30% on both books.

Golden Books factoid #1:
The very first advertisement for Pat the Bunny read, "Oliver Wiswell is a wonderful book — but it won't squeak if you press it. For Whom the Bell Tolls is magnificent — but it hasn't any bunny in it."

KIDS' Q&A: GENNIFER CHOLDENKO
Gennifer Choldenko follows up her Newbery Award-winning smash hit, Al Capone Does My Shirts (cue blissful sigh), with an equally compelling middle-school drama If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period. Choldenko is fast becoming the queen of fiction for "tweens" — you know, that ever-growing group of early teen readers that walk into a bookstore and feel torn between browsing the middle-readers section and the young adult section. Well, fear no more: Choldenko is here! Read her Q&A, expel that sigh of relief you've been holding in, and save 30% on If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period.

ORIGINAL ESSAY: TRINKA HAKES NOBLE
In Trinka Hakes Noble's newest picture book, The Orange Shoes, the author gently weaves her own childhood experiences into the fictitious story of a young artist who learns less is more. In her original essay for Powells.com, Noble reflects on how the Great Depression affected her life and her books. Read it here and save 30% off The Orange Shoes.

Golden Books factoid #2:
The Poky Little Puppy is the bestselling picture book of all time with almost fifteen million copies sold.

KIDS' Q&A: RANDALL DE SEVE AND LOREN LONG
Randall de Seve's first book, Toy Boat, was inspired by a boat she and her daughter made from a can, a cork, a toothpick, and some white tape. With delightful illustrations by Loren Long this book will surely inspire a trip to a lake with your own homemade toy boat. In this Q&A, meet the author and illustrator team behind a wonderful new picture book and enjoy 30% off Toy Boat.

KIDS' Q&A: LIZ MURPHY
Whether you enjoy dancing at home where no one can see you, or under a spotlight in an auditorium full of people, Liz Murphy's vibrant book A Dictionary of Dance is sure to inspire you to get down. From hula to tap, with arabesques and jumps in between, Ms. Murphy illustrates the definitions of dance. Read our Q&A to learn more about this talented artist and save 30% off Dance.

KIDS' Q&A: LAURIE ROSENWALD
And to Name but Just a Few: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue is Laurie Rosenwald's first picture book. She has managed to make an exciting, fresh book about colors; creating a world where yellow taxis screech to a halt at red stop signs, and black cats relax with the morning crossword puzzle. Learn what makes Laurie tick in her fun Q&A and save 30% off And to Name but Just a Few.

THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is definitely a time to eat mashed potatoes and turkey, but it's also a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate our nation's heritage. Here are three books that offer facts about the holiday and one about giving thanks. Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson is an entertaining picture book that introduces Sarah Hale as a real-life hero determined to save Thanksgiving. Don't Know Much About the Pilgrims is packed with trivia and cartoons of life on the Mayflower. In Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving learn how this Patuxet Native American changed history. One book that reminds us to truly give thanks during this holiday is The Firefighters' Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts. Join firefighter Lou as he prepares a feast and helps out a wounded friend in this action-packed holiday read-aloud. Browse our entire aisle of Thanksgiving titles here.

FOOD AND MANNERS
Even pilgrims had to mind their manners! In her book Eating the Plates, Lucille Rech Penner takes us out to dinner with the pilgrims, showing us what they ate and how they behaved. To help modern kids learn their manners, read Do unto Otters by Laurie Keller, an adorable story about rabbits, otters, and the golden rule. To get your kid's assistance in the kitchen, we offer up Kids Cook 1-2-3 by Rozanne Gold, guiding you through easy and yummy dishes containing only three ingredients each. For an entertaining look at the picky eater, check out the new pop-up adaptation of Charlie and Lola's I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child. Please browse our stacks of cooking and etiquette for kids... and happy eating!

ENVIRONMENTAL BOOKS FOR KIDS
Have you heard the news? Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize! This green-savvy prize winner also has a book out for kids — an adaptation of his bestseller for adults, An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming. Two more notable environmental books: Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns takes a fascinatingly close look at the pollutants in our oceans; and, The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon is a colorful, informative resource for kids who want to know how global warming happens and what we can do to prevent it. For more books to educate your kids on the environment, browse our stacks here.

Golden Books factoid #3:
Margaret Wise Brown insisted on sharing the royalties for The Sailor Dog with her neighbor's son, who she claimed was responsible for the first draft of the story.

GUEST COLUMN BY ADAM P.
It is always exciting when an author stops in to Powell's and wants to sign all the copies we have of their books. But it is even more exciting when it is an author as nice as Printz Award-winning Laurie Halse Anderson. I didn't immediately recognize her, but when she told me her name, I excitedly jumped up out of my seat. She has written some of my favorite young adult novels of the past few years. What a thrill to have her stop in unannounced! We discovered that we had both recently read and loved Sherman Alexie's new book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and bonded over our love for John Green. Then she took a picture of me holding a copy of her book Catalyst. It was the most exciting part of my month, at least until Mo Willems stopped in yesterday!

Read Laurie's description (with pics!) of her trip to Powell's City of Books.

Golden Books factoid #4:
For more Golden Books trivia, check out Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon along the Way by Leonard S. Marcus. And browse all your favorite Golden Books here.