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Fun, competitive event challenges kids to recall details from their favorite books; other activities include arts and crafts, storytime

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- What kind of creature is Horton in "Horton Hears a Who"? What color are Harry Potter's eyes? These are just some of the possible trivia questions kids will be challenged to answer during the free "Super Saturday Smackdown" event which kicks off at 2 p.m. June 27 in Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) stores nationwide. The event will find kids of all ages squaring off Jeopardy!(R) style to answer questions about their favorite books. Kids in each store will choose the trivia categories, but here's a hint: Dr. Seuss, Encyclopedia Brown, Junie B. Jones, Nate the Great, Magic Tree House, Harry Potter, Fudge, Pendragon and the Artemis Fowl books are all possible trivia categories. Participants will have plenty of opportunities to show how much they know about books in several adrenaline-pumping trivia heats. Winners of each of the heats will advance to the semi-final and final rounds where one victorious kid will ultimately receive a prize for being the "Super Saturday Smackdown" trivia champion. In addition to the trivia tournament, kids will also participate in an arts and crafts project and storytime in select stores. Throughout the event, they can enjoy samples of delicious summertime treats and beverages such as Peach Raspberry Cobbler Cake and Peach FruitKula(R) from the Seattle's Best Coffee cafes, located in nearly all Borders superstores.

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The Smackdown coincides with Borders' "Summer Reading Challenge" happening through Aug. 31. For the Reading Challenge, kids ages 12 and under can read any eight books of their choosing and tell Borders what they've read by listing the titles on the "Summer Reading Challenge" coupon form available in Borders and Waldenbooks stores and online at www.borders.com/summerreading. After mom or dad signs the form, kids can come into any Borders or Waldenbooks store and choose from among a number of fun books each specially priced at just $4.99 -- at least a 50 percent savings off the regular price. Items include "Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery" by Deborah Howe, the "E.L. Konigsburg Collection," a box of four puzzles as well as entertaining and instructional books on how to draw SpongeBob SquarePants and Manga figures.

"The 'Super Saturday Smackdown' is all about driving excitement around books and reading," said Anne Kubek, executive vice president of Merchandising and Marketing for Borders. "The event will give kids the opportunity to really demonstrate their knowledge about the books they've read in a fun and friendly way. Of course, one trivia tournament event isn't enough to sustain kids' interest in reading all summer long. That's where the Borders 'Summer Reading Challenge' comes in. Kids are given the goal to read eight books -- any of their choosing -- and when they reach that goal they can come into any one of our stores and get another book for a great price."

"The 'Super Saturday Smackdown' is a fun and creative way to get children excited about summer reading. There are so many wonderful stories and characters out there waiting to be discovered. What better way to pass the summer than between the pages of a good book?" said author Judy Blume.

To find out if your local store is hosting the "Super Saturday Smackdown" event, click the Store Locator tab on Borders.com and search for your favorite store, and then click on the store's page to view a list of upcoming events.

About Borders Group

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 25,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates approximately 1,000 stores primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names. For online shopping, visit Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com/media.