The hot forecast for books this summer is in the tween girl category. Up first, Simon & Schuster will release Next to You (US$3.99), a book based on the live-action tween romance flick of the same name, starring Sabrina’s Melissa Joan Hart. The book, which is set to hit stores in August is geared to girls ages 12 and up.

Also in August, Scholastic will launch the first two titles based on the adventures of Purple Moon’s interactive character franchise Rockett Movado. Scholastic will support Rockett’s World #1: Who Can You Trust? and Rockett’s World #2: What Kind of Friend Are You? (US$3.99 each), both geared to girls ages eight to 12, with a free Rockett Movado poseable doll with each purchase. Scholastic’s Web site will include a Rockett’s World page, located in the Kids Books section, which will house sample chapters and activities.

For younger girls, Golden Books is putting out two new Barbie titles next month. My Ultimate Pink Book (US$10.99), an interactive scratch-and-sniff title, and a Barbie Sleepover Kit (US$9.99), which includes Let’s Have a Sleepover, Slumber Party, selections from Awesome Parties, a Barbie doll outfit and press-on earrings, are both suitable for girls ages three to seven.

For Store Use Only

To help retailers get consumers into a book-buying frame of mind, Disney’s publishing arm Hyperion Books for Children is currently distributing The Fall 1999 Read Aloud Anthology, a CD featuring a variety of authors reading selections from the books that comprise Hyperion’s fall release schedule. Included on the CD are Toni Morrison reading The Big Box, Julie Andrews reading Little Bo and Bell Hooks voicing Happy to Be Nappy. Hyperion is not making the CD available for sale to consumers.