Parents whose children were too young to catch the first wave of "Twilight" hysteria might have noticed that there's a "New Moon" rising Friday, and it's taking with it a new generation of "Twilight" fans, particularly girls who are 11 and up.

In local theaters, advance ticket sales for the sequel show that anticipation is high: Some showings of "New Moon" are already sold out, particularly some of the first Friday matinees.

The anticipation compares to that of the last "Harry Potter" sequel, which appealed to all ages. Consolidated spokeswoman Rachel Gibson said ticket sales for "New Moon" "will probably rival that, if not surpass it."

Even children's tickets — for those 11 and under — are selling briskly for the midnight shows, perhaps because public schools are closed for furloughs on Friday, Gibson said.

If those young kids can see it, what about yours?

"(Teens) are smart enough to get it," said Hawai'i State Library children's librarian Maile Davis, noting the books — traditional, digital and audio — are constantly in demand at the library.

The movie is rated PG-13. Davis thinks that's a good guideline for the books, too, because teens can distinguish between fantasy and reality.

A "New Moon" thread has drawn many comments on www.Hawaii.MomsLikeMe.com.

Yesterday, moms eager for a "'Twilight'" fix were in the majority, but not all planned to take kids.

The concern is whether Bella, the main character, is a good role model for girls. MomsLikeMe user Lisa Haddad, mother and step-mother of six teens and tweens, said, "We have this teenage girl who is basically obsessed with the boy to the point of foolishness."

That's not a point lost on many young readers, who take the main character Bella to task for many reasons.

Parents might use "Twilight" to initiate a conversation on romantic relationships, using Bella's obsession with Edward as a jumping off point. "There are examples of healthy relationships, and this is not one of them," Davis said.

If younger children ask about "Twilight," parents can tell them, "It's not for you," she suggests.

To ease the disappointment for younger kids, Davis offered age-appropriate fantasy titles: Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series (an upcoming movie) or Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart" (another movie).