NBC's 'Today' Picks Disney Book Group's Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan for 'Al's Book Club For Kids'

Suppose the "twilight of the Gods" never happened and Zeus still ruled from Mt. Olympus (now in America) but no one knew except a small group of oddly exceptional kids like Percy Jackson, the hero of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Hyperion Books for Children/Miramax; June 2005; $17.95). Percy Jackson is a 12 year old boy, a good kid, who thinks himself a misfit because he suffers from ADHD, is dyslexic and has problems controlling his temper. He blames himself for his frequent change of schools, but when the algebra teacher he thinks is a monster actually turns into one and attacks him, he finds it hard to ignore the truth--all along odd things have been happening to him that are not his fault.

When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

"Al's Book Club For Kids" will have extensive online components at Todayshow.com. Parents and kids alike from across the country can be part of the club by emailing questions for the authors, who will answer a select few live on "Today." Todayshow.com will continue the discussions with the author online after each book club segment airs.

About Disney Book Group

Disney Book Group is part of Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW). Disney Book Group's imprints include Hyperion Books for Children, Jump at the Sun, Disney Press, and Disney Editions. DPW is the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines with 441 children's magazines published and 120 million children's books sold each year. Headquartered in New York, DPW publishes books and magazines in 85 languages in 75 countries, reaching more than 100 million readers each month.

About NBC News' "Today"

NBC News pioneered the morning news program when it launched "Today" over 55 years ago, with Dave Garroway as host. The three-hour live broadcast provides the latest in domestic and international news, weather reports and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports. After more than 48 years of the standard two-hour format, the third hour was launched in October of 2000, making "Today" the only three-hour national morning show broadcast. The program is unparalleled in its ratings dominance in the morning news arena, serving as America's overwhelming favorite for more than eleven consecutive years.