Debby Ryan's New Disney Show, Jessie

The adorable Debby Ryan from Suite Life on Deck and 16 Wishes is in a new Disney show called Jessie, premiering tonight, September 30. In the show, Debby Ryan plays Jessie, a small town girl with big dreams who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when she decides to move to New York City. She accepts a job as a nanny and moves in with the Ross family -- dad Morgan, a famous movie director, mom Christina, a former supermodel turned business mogul, and their four children.

Conflict and chaos arise as Jessie attempts to live her dream in the big city while caring for four kids -- 13-year-old Emma (played by Peyton List from the Rodrick Rules movie); a 10-year-old adoptee from India named Ravi (also from the Wimpy Kid movies); Luke, a mischievous 12-year-old adopted at age five from Detroit. The baby of the family is 7-year-old Zuri, who was adopted at birth from Africa.

Are you excited for this new show? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Goosebumps Questions? Ask R.L. Stine

Have you read all the Goosebumps books, watched all the TV shows, and wondered infinitely what goes on in the mind of Goosebumps creator, R.L. Stine? Well, here’s your chance to find out!

R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps HorrorLand and the new Hall of Horrors book series, is ready to answer your burning questions. Submit your questions in the Comments below and we’ll choose 10 of the most creative and terrifyingly ghoulish questions to pass on to R.L. Stine.

Check back here on October 26 to read the answers and see if your question was chosen.

— Amabel, Scholastic Media

Time To GET GOOSEBUMPS!

What comes to mind when you think of October? Fall foliage? Pumpkins? Halloween? Know what comes to mind for us? GOOSEBUMPS! This October, the STACKS is gearing up for all things Goosebumps and you won’t want to miss it. The master of fright himself, Goosebumps author, R.L. Stine, will be stopping by for a special STACKS Q&A with readers. You can submit a question to R.L. Stine, read a sneak peek of the new Hall of Horrors book and even enter the Stacks Blast Sweepstakes for a chance to win a bevy of Goosebumps prizes! Be sure to check the STACKS every week for new ways to GET GOOSEBUMPS this October!

If you happen to live in the Washington, DC, Tampa, Dallas, Los Angeles, or Chicago area, the GET GOOSEBUMPS Mall Tour will be stopping by with some frightfully fantastic fun! Drop by to make your very own Goosebumps prank video to share with friends, win Goosebumps swag and more!

Get Goosebumps Mall Tour 2011 Dates:
October 1 – St. Charles Towne Center Mall / Waldorf, MD
October 8– Tyrone Square Mall / St. Petersburg, FL
October 15 – Irving Mall / Irving, TX October 22 – Brea Mall / Brea, CA
October 29 – Orland Square / Orland Park, IL

Don’t forget to check back here next week to submit your questions R.L. Stine!

—Amabel, Scholastic Media

Floors by Patrick Carman

Patrick Carman has written lots of books. You may have read his 39 Clues book (Book 5: The Black Circle), or Skeleton Creek, or Atherton, or Trackers, or his Land of Elyon series. But his newest book is something totally different. I just read it and it's really fun! It kind of reminds me of The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Here is Mr. Carman himself to tell you about it.

Movie Titles in Other Words

Titles in Other Words!
Last summer, I introduced the STACKS to a new game called Book Titles in Other Words, where I gave you titles of famous books with slightly different phrasing and you had to figure out the original title. Now, let's take the game to the big screen! This game is all about movie titles. Below is a list of movie titles that I changed the wording to. Now it's your job to solve them all!

 Here's one for practice: Pretty and the Creature
Give up? It's Beauty and the Beast!

Now here are 10 more movies for you to decode!

1. Space Battles
2. Departed with the Gusts
3. Allen and the Woodland Rodents 
4. Sugar, I Compressed the Children 
5. The Rainforest Novel 
6. Vehicles 
7. Plaything Fable 
8. King of the Bracelets
9. Spirit Wave Rider
10. Knotted

Get your thinking caps on, and post all your answers in the Comments! Check back next Tuesday for the answers.

— Brian, STACKS Writer (a.k.a. BlackBird268)

How to Talk Like a Pirate Answers

Ahoy, mateys! Last week in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I posted a Talk Like a Pirate Trivia Quiz. So how did all you landlubbers fare translating the pirate phrases below? Check out the answers!

Write On! Book Sequel Writing Prompt

Write On! After the Last Page. . .

This week we have yet another fabulous idea straight from you guys. This week's Write On! Writing Prompt comes from hoolianlegacy101.
Everyone should say what they think happened to their favorite book characters after the series ended.

Ponychatty2 must have a psychic connection with hoolianlegacy101, because ponychatty2 also asked:
Write about if you could write the next book in your favorite series.

Well, I know I am always sad when a great series comes to an end. I looove to know what happens next. I am a big epilogue person. Like when Harry Potter ended,
[SPOILER ALERT! STOP READING HERE IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED THE HARRY POTTER SERIES!]

I loved that J.K. Rowling wrapped it up, nineteen years later with Harry marrying Ginny, and Ron marrying Hermione, and they all saw their kids off to Hogwarts.

So inquiring minds like hoolianlegacy101 and ponychatty2 want to know:
What happens in your favorite book series after the ending? Or what would the NEXT book in your favorite series be?

Let us know in the Comments below!

—Ratha, Stacks Writer

Meet the A.N.T. Farm Stars!

A.N.T Farm Interview!
We know you are fans of China Anne McClain and A.N.T. Farm featuring three gifted middle school students who get accepted into a prestigious A.N.T. (Advanced Natural Talents) program at their local high school. They have to deal with all the problems of high school – three years earlier than expected! It stars China Anne McClain as Chyna. She can sing and play almost any instrument. Sierra McCormick plays Olive, who has a photographic memory. Then Jake Short plays Fletcher, who is an artistic genius and practical joker. Throw into the mix the actual high-schoolers, including Stefanie Scott, who plays Lexi, the popular cheerleader and Chyna’s rival. And of course, no show would be complete without the older-brother-who-is embarrassed-of-his-younger-sister character, played by Carlon Jeffery. In this interview, we hit on the show, music, & books. Check it out!

13 Gifts by Wendy Mass

If you loved 11 Birthdays and Finally by Wendy Mass, then we have good news for you. Her newest book is out now, titled 13 Gifts, and it looks like it is going to be every bit as good!

Watch this video with the author and see for yourself!

How to Talk Like a Pirate

International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Perhaps you've seen the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (rated PG-13). Maybe you've swashbuckled with your brother or sister. Possibly you've even worn the skull and crossbones on your t-shirts or back-to-school accessories. What more is there for a buccaneer to do? Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day of course!

Yes, on September 19 each year, you, along with everyone around the world, can annoy entertain your friends by talking like a pirate all day. Are you ready to sail the seven seas? Or should you prepare to walk the plank? See if you can translate these popular pirate sayings.

What does it mean when a pirate says:

1. Shiver me timbers!
2. X marks the spot
3. Ahoy, matey!
4. All hands on deck.
5. Prepare to walk the plank.
6. Aye Aye!
7. Yo, ho, blow the man down!
8. Heave ho!
9. Where’s the poop deck?
10. Lily-livered landlubber!

Grab some Pirate Booty (er, the puffed corn treat that is!) and settle down to decipher the above. Remember, your answers don’t have to be exact. Just enough to get the gist of pirate lingo, so you’re prepared to talk like a pirate all day!

Leave your answers in the Comments, and check back next week for answers. Aarrr.

-- Ratha, Stacks Writer

Guinness World Records 2012 Create a Caption

It has become kind of an annual tradition here to post a Create a Caption for the new Guinness World Records book. Two years ago, we had the photo of the guy who holds the record for wearing the most T-shirts at once. Last year it was the kid who holds the world record for balancing the most spoons on his face. They are pretty funny pictures, and your captions for them were hilarious! Well this year, it's dogs. . . skipping rope.

That's right. In the Guinness World Records 2012 book, you will find this picture of the most dogs skipping one rope at the same time.

SPONSORED POST: Dolphin Tale

This blog post is sponsored by Dolphin Tale.

The Dolphin Tale movie (rated PG) about the dolphin named Winter with a prosthetic tail, comes out in theaters on September 23. To prepare you for the movie, Abby Stone, Winter's actual trainer from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), has answered some of YOUR questions. Read on to find out more about Winter, the amazing dolphin with a fake tail, and what the life of a dolphin trainer is like.

Q: How did Winter feel about the tail and what was her reaction?