This episode began with a chance meeting in a tiny art gallery in the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Writer Isora Morales Suarez was minding the store to pay the bills, but just had her first novel for kids published in English. The Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore discuss her unusual fairy tale The Meringue Witches with host Kitty Felde. Cuban ex-pat Adolfo Nodal is celebrity reader.

Writer MC Ryder talks about writing song lyrics and middle grade book series with host Kitty Felde.

It's that time of year: Halloween! This week, we tackle M.C. Ryder’s tale of romance, betrayal, and creatures of the night The Darkest Side of the Moon. Journalist and actress Hettie Lynne Hurtes is our celebrity reader. Our readers are from Rosecrans Elementary School in Compton, California. Kitty Felde is host.  NOTE: There are some plot spoilers.   Favorite Books from Rosecrans Elementary School: Attack on Titan - Hajime Isayama  Because of Winn Dixie - Kate DiCamillo Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Beyond the Story: 10-year Record of BTS - BTS, Myeongseok Kang    MC Ryder's Favorite Book: The Search - Iris Johansen   Hettie Lynne Hurtes' Favorite Book: Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte   The Fina Mendoza Mysteries

Peter Brown is both a writer and illustrator. We talk to him about how he plots a story and the teacher he hated who set him on his path to becoming a professional artist. Kitty Felde is host.

Peter Brown's wonderful book is now a movie! This week,we return to the source material. Do you have a relationship with the robot in your life? You'll fall in love with "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown. 4th graders from Flora Hendley Elementary School in Washington, D.C. discuss artificial intelligence and their own favorite robotic devices. U.S. Congressman Scott Peters from San Diego is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Flora Hendley Elemetary School: Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Dork Diaries- Rachel Renée Russell The True Story of the Three Little Pigs - Jon Scieszka Peter Brown’s Favorite Book: The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien Congressman Scott Peter’s Favorite Book: East of Eden - John Steinbeck

September is the perfect time of year to start a new habit. How about 15 minutes a day reading a book YOU want to read? Need some suggestions? Give a listen as we hear from kids as the City of Stem LA Maker Faire about the books they LOVE to read.  Projekt 1065 - Alan Gratz Little Women - Louisa May Alcott The Light in Hidden Places - Sharon Cameron Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Princess in Black - Shannon Hale The Magic Factory - Morgan Rice This episode is made possible by a grant from the LA Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.  And if you're looking for a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, check out the Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast. It tells the story of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves myseries inside the US Capitol...and introduces civics to kids. The podcast is based on the Fina Mendoza series of books in both English and Spanish.  Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th State of the Union Estado de la Unión  

As school is starting up, there are tons of books your teacher wants you to read. But what about a book YOU really want to read? Today we hear from kids as the City of Stem LA Maker Faire about the books ThEY love to read. Give a listen. Favorite Books:   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney  Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling Ada Twist, Scientist - Andrea Beaty Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

We talk to writer Charles Waters about his life as an actor and how it led to his life as a poet and children's book writer. He also talks about how the Highlights Foundation changed his life. Kitty Felde is host.

What do you do when your long-time school mascot is offensive to others? That's the topic in Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell. Students from Eliot-Hine Middle School discuss the novel and interview the writer. California State Los Angeles theater professor Carolyn Dunn is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Eliot-Hine: Stunt Boy - Jason Reynolds The Falling Sword - Ben Kane The Firekeeper's Daughter - Angeline Boulley Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut Charles Waters' Favorite Books: Ordinary People - Judith Guest Raymond Carver short stories Bronx Masquerade - Nikki Grimes Under the Mesquite - Guadalupe Garcia McCall Carolyn Dunn's Favorite Books: Love Medicine - Louise Erdich The Master Butchers Singing Club  - Louise Erdich Lilith's Brood - Octavia E. Butler

Angela Dominguez writes and illustrates the Stella Diaz series. She talks to us about her writing path from drawing to writing. More author interviews at our website.

We continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, we revisit STELLA DIAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY by Angela Dominguez. In 2000, the Central York School District pulled books from shelves that dealt with race. In fact, every book removed from school classrooms and libraries were written by people of color. After months of protests, the books were once again available to students in 2001. Give a listen to STELLA DIAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.

We invited kids onstage at the City of Stem LA Maker Faire with host Kitty Felde to tell the audience about their favorite books:  Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland Dork Diaries - Rachel Renee Russell Zoey and Sassafras - Asia Citro Go Team Spidey - Steve Behling The Secret Series - Pseudonymous Bosch

Book Club for Kids live onstage! We visit the City of Stem LA Maker Faire to bring kids onstage to talk about their favorite books! The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo The Secret Cookie Club - Martha Freeman Shel Silverstein's books of poetry Dog Man - Dav Pilkey   This episode is supported in art by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.

Its that time of year…summer reading programs at libraries are offering lots and lots of thank you gifts for reading books.   But how hard is it to find a book you’ll love? No worries. We went out the the City of Stem/LA Maker Faire to ask the experts for their book suggestions. Cleopatra in Space - Mike Maihack Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Az and the prisoner of azkaban- J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - J.K. Rowling The Skull - John Klassen Dragon Girls - Maddy Mara The Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney The Ogress and the Orphans - Kelly Barnhill  Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan We’ll have a list of everybody’s favorite book at our website bookclubforkids.org. And if you have a favorite book, you can be on the show, too. Just give us a call at 424-209-2285 and tell us your first name, the city where you live, the name of your favorite book, and why you love it. That number again is 424-209-2285.   And if you’re looking for a good mystery set inside the uS Capitol, check out StATE OF THE UNION by Kitty Felde. It just got a five star review from Forward Clarion, which called Fina an “intelligent and precocious heroine who uses her critical thinking skills and keen observational senses to suss out information on the Chickcharney and the other mysteries in her daily life.”     And now you can get the Spanish version of State of the Union called Estado de la Union, translated by Jorge Flores Gonzales. And available now from Chesapeake Press, wherever great books are sold. This episode is supported in part by a grant from the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.

It’s not too late to catch up on your summer reading. But the conundrum is always: what do I read next? We have some answers from members of the Junior Librarian Commmitee at Scripps Middle School in Michigan. In fact, we turn the microphone over to librarian Lauren Dulmage who asks our favorite question: what’s your favorite book? Twilight - Stephenie Meyer Refugee - Alan Gratz Six Crimson Cranes - Elizabeth Lim The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland   We’ll have a list of everybody’s favorite book at our website bookclubforkids.org. And if you have a favorite book, you can be on the show, too. Just give us a call at 424-209-2285 and tell us your first name, the city where you live, the name of your favorite book, and why you love it. That number again is 424-209-2285.   And on a purely selfish note: my Fina Mendoza Mystery novel STATE OF THE UNION just got a five star review from Forward Clarion, calling the book a “delightful mystery novel with a message of unity and cooperation.”    And now you can get the Spanish version of State of the Union called Estado de la Union, translated by Jorge Flores Gonzales. Both books are now available wherever great books are sold.

We talk to Newbery Award winning writer Christopher Paul Curtis about where "The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" came from and why he finally quit his day job. Kitty Felde is host.

YOU can be on the Book Club for Kids podcast! Just give us a call at 424-209-2285 and tell us your: First name City where you live The name of your favorite book Why you love it And we will put you on a future episode. Your Favorite Books: Steve the Noob - Steve the Noob Missing Since Monday - Ann M. Martin Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl The Running Dream - Wendelin Van Draanen Drama - Raina Telgemeier House Arrest - K.A. Holt  

We talk to writer Yona Zeldis McDonough about ballet and how to write a good rejection letter. Kitty Felde is host.

This week, we travel back to occupied France during World War II for a tale of bravery and bread. Students from Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington, D.C. discuss Yona Zeldis McDonough’s novel The Bicycle Spy. Our celebrity reader Gwen Deglise Moore has been knighted by the French government for her work in cinema. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Jefferson Academy

What if you want to be on the Book Club for Kids podcast and you don't live in a city near DC or LA? No problem. You can just call us and tell us about your favorite book, just like these kids from around the country. Information about where to call and what to say at the end of the episode. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books: Sarafina and the Black Cloak - Robert Beatty The Cat I Never Named - Amra Sabic-el-Rayess & Laura L. Sullivan Diary of Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - Jeff Kinney One Piece - Sho Hinata The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 - Lauren Tarshis Hilo - Judd Winick The Bad Guys - Aaron Blabey  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows - J.K. Rowling  

Writer Beth Lincoln talks about how her debut novel The Swifts came to life and the difference between audiences for middle grade novels in the U.S. compared to Great Britain. Kitty Felde is host.

Do our names define us? We celebrate our 150th episode with readers at the Artesia branch of the LA County Public Library discuss Beth Lincoln's tale of a family whose names come from the dictionary. Our celebrity reader is LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from the Artesia branch of the LA County Library: The Lemonade War - Jacqueline Davies Restart - Gordon Korman Spy x Family - Tatsuya Endo Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl Counting by 7's- Holly Goldberg Sloan Beth Lincoln's Favorite Book: The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin This episode was supported in part by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.

Favorite Books from the City of Stem LA Maker Faire 2024: Wings of Fire: Winter Turning - Tui T. Sutherland A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Numeroff The Bad Guys - Aaron Blabey Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Shuffle - Jarrett J. Krosoczka   We have HUNDREDS of book suggestions from young readers at the website. Kitty Felde is host.    

Writer Jerry Craft confesses that he wasn't much of a reader when he was a kid. Kitty Felde is host.

We continue our series of episodes featuring books that have been banned or challenged around the country. This time, it’s the Newbery Award-winning graphic novel NEW KID by Jerry Craft. Books in Katy, Texas were pulled from library shelves in 2021 after a parent petition complained that it contained harmful content about critical race theory. CRT examines how racism has shaped laws and public policy in America. Writer Jerry Craft says he’d never heard the term before and had to google it. An African American parent in another part of the country objected to Craft’s use of the word “oreo” – a derogatory term used to describe a person as black on the outside, but white on the inside. She said she didn’t want her child to be exposed to the term. The challenge in Katy, Texas was dismissed and the book was returned to library shelves. What do you think? Listen to our Book Club for Kids podcast discussion of Jerry Craft's New Kid.

How do you work with your mother on a book? How do you work on 15 books with your mother? We talk to the mother/daughter team behind Dork Diaries, Rachel Renée and Nikki Russell. Kitty Felde is host.

Everybody wants to go to Paris…especially Nikki Maxwell! Readers from Hollingworth Elementary School discuss the latest entry in Rachel Renée Russell’s series. It’s Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure. Rachel and daughter Nikki Russell, who illustrates the books, answer questions from the kids. Our celebrity reader is actress/screenwriter Kate Orsini. Kitty Felde is host.

Madeleine L'Engle's granddaughters share their memories about their legendary grandmother and talk about some of her writing practices. Come see us at Comic Orange Saturday, April 13th from 11-3 at the Tustin Library.

We continue our series of episodes about books that have been banned or challenged around the country. This time, it’s the Newbery Award winning novel by Madeleine L’Engle: A Wrinkle in Time. According to the Carnegie Mellon Banned Books Project, the book was challenged in 1985 by parents in Florida who said the book “opposes Christian beliefs and teaches occult practices. The school principal did not remove the book from 4th grade curriculum. In 1990, a parent in Alabama asked to have the book removed because it “sends a mixed signal to children about good and evil.” The school board and superintendent voted unanimously to deny the request. Six years later, the book was challenged in North Carolina for undermining religious beliefs.The school board denied the request. Madeline L’Engle herself told the New York Times in 2001 that “it seems people are willing to damn the book without reading it.” We read it with a group of young readers and this is what they have to say about A Wrinkle in Time. This week, we tackle a classic – the 1963 winner of the Newbery Award “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. Our readers are 5th graders from the British International School in Washington, DC. Our celebrity reader is public radio journalist Stephanie O’Neill. Madeline L’Engle passed away in 2007, but we're joined by her granddaughters Charlotte Jones Volklis and Lena Roy.  They've written a biography of their grandmother based on her journals called “Becoming Madeleine.” Kitty Felde is host.  FAVORITE BOOKS FROM BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL: Panda-monium - Stuart Gibbs Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling The Tiger Rising - Kate DiCamillo Space Case - Stuart Gibbs FAVORITE BOOKS FROM CHARLOTTE JONES VOIKLIS AND LENA ROY A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L’Engle A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles STEPHANIE O’NEILL’S FAVORITE BOOK: Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White

Want to be on a future Book Club for Kids podcast episode? Listen to this special episode to find out how. Here's the favorite books on this episode: Wings of Fire - Tui Sutherland Never Let me Go - Kazuo Isiguro The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger The Cricket in Times Square - George Selden Dino-Mike - Franco Aureliani The Little Book of the Avengers - Roy Thomas Join us Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the City of STEM/LA Maker Faire all day at the Los Angeles State Historic Park north of downtown Los Angeles for YOUR chance to be on a future show!    

You may know John Cho from his acting work in "Star Trek" and "Harold and Kumar" movies. But listen to this thoughtful conversation Cho and host Kitty Felde about his work as a writer - including convincing his Korean immigrant parents that his work was his work as an artist was making the world a better place.

On April 29th, 1992, a jury in Simi Valley, a town just north of Los Angeles, did not convict four LAPD officers for the beating of an African American motorist named Rodney King. Within hours, rioting broke out across the city. A particular target was liquor and convenience stores owned by Korean immigrants. The event is at the heart of actor and writer John Cho’s novel Troublemaker.  Cho joins us to talk about his inspiration for the book and LAPD Officer Tony Hyong Im is our celebrity reader. Readers from Tyler Elementary School in Washington D.C. discuss their own solutions to finding solutions to a community’s anger. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Tyler Elementary School: My Year in the Middle - Lila Quintero Weaver Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling City Spies - James Ponti Godzilla - Shigeru Kayama JOHN CHO’S FAVORITE BOOK The Joke - Milan Kundera OFFICER TONY IM’S FAVORITE BOOK The Mickey Mantle Murder - Walt Brown

Looking for your next favorite book? Here are some suggestions from readers at  Watkins Elementary School on Capitol Hill: Geronimo Stilton - Geronimo Stilton Athletes vs Mathletes - W.C. Mack Scare Stories to Tell in the Dark - Alvin Schwartz Guts - Raina Telgemeier Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Basil and Oregano - Melissa Capriglione  Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan Matilda - Roald Dahl Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling Flora and Ulysses - Kate DiCamillo Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul - Jeff Kinney Another Kind - Trevor Bream Last Kids on Earth - Max Brallier The Babysitters Club - Ann M. Martin Stone Fox - John Reynolds Gardiner The Day the Crayons Quit - Drew Daywalt Magic Treehouse - Mary Pope Osborne The Getaway - Jeff Kinney Ranger's Apprentice - John Flanagan Grandude's Green Submarine - Paul McCartney Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

"Divergent" writer Veronica Roth talks about finding the courage to call yourself a writer...and bouncing back from failure.

We continue our Banned Books series, airing episodes that have been banned or challenged around the country. This week, it’s Vernica Roth’s dystopian adventure Divergent. Back in 2015, Ashland High School in Oregon banned Divergent because – according to the school’s online newspaper - the book “shows a girl fighting against society which we do not want to strengthen.” What do you think? Give a listen to our discussion of Veronica Roth’s Divergent. We venture into a dystopian universe created by writer Veronica Roth. Divergent is a tale about finding out where you fit in – and whether you’re brave enough to take a literal leap of faith. Our celebrity reader is the 2018 Ms. Senior California and a familiar voice on KUNV Rita Pardue. Our readers are from Benjamin Trasker Middle School and we taped the episode at the Bowie, Maryland branch of the Prince Georges County Memorial Library. Kitty Felde is host.

What are the challenges of writing in two languages? Christina Diaz Gonzalez talks about some of the pitfalls of getting the nuances right when Spanish speaking characters are from different countries.

There are some people we just don't notice. A quiet student, immigrants speaking in their own language, a homeless person living in a van - you could call them invisible. That's the name of our book Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Students from Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia discuss the bilingual graphic novel with host Kitty Felde. Our celebrity reader is Monica Sanchez. Favorite Books from Swanson Middle School: Fifth Quarter - Mike Dawson The Tryout - Christina Soontornvat  Cirque du Freak - Darren Shan Every Last Word - Tamara Ireland Stone Miss Quinces - Kat Fajardo Michael Jackson in Comics - Ceka Christina Diaz Gonzalez' Favorite Book: A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle Favorite Books of Monica Sanchez Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling I'll Love You Forever - Owen Hart Books by Monica Brown

Who says kids who love STEM subjects aren't readers? We take to the stage for a live taping of the Book Club for Kids podcast at the 2023 LA Maker Faire/STEM Festival where host Kitty Felde asks kids our hardest question: What's your favorite book and why? Here's their answers: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling The Magic Treehouse - Mary Pope Osborn Frog and Toad are Friends - Arnold Lobel The Golden Books - Disney Little Blue Truck - Alice Schertle Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate Junie B. Jones - Barbara Park Pete the Cat - James Dean and Kimberly Dean Couch Potato - Jory John They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson The School for Good and Evil - Soman Chainani The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes Bad Kitty - Nick Bruel

Looking to start the New Year with some new books? Kids in LA County share their favorites with host Kitty Felde. Refugee - Alan Gratz The Secret Lives of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd Harry Potter and the Sourcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton Parrot in the Oven - Victor Martinez Enola Holmes - Nancy Springer The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan Dork Diaries - Rachel Renée Russell The Couch Potato - Jory John

More than 100 million people have fled violence and persecution around the world. But that's just a number. Who are these refugees? Meet Omar. Readers from Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia discuss When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson. Our celebrity reader is Matthew Saltmarsh from the UNHCR. Kitty Felde is host.

We're happy to report that our most popular episode in 2023 is no mystery...actually, it IS a mystery: Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance. And by the way, if your school is in LA County, we'll come out and tape a Book Club for Kids episode in your classroom! Just have your teacher, parent, or librarian contact us at the website and click on the "Want to be on the show?" button.

How do you know which books make the best gifts? Kids in LA County share a few suggestions with host Kitty Felde. The Last Kids on Earth - Max Brallier  The Art of Seduction - Robert Greene Dogman - Dav Pilkey You Matter - Christian Robinson What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night - Refe and Susan Tuma King and Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth - Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers The Hunger Games -  Suzanne Collins Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Mickey Mouse - Phoenix International

We continue to look through our many episodes of the Book Club for Kids podcast to examine the titles that have been banned or challenged. Today, we look at the 1977 Newbery Medal awarded novel by Mildred D. Taylor Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The book has been challenged in school districts from Burbank, California to Oviedo, Florida to Huntsville, Alabama mostly for the use of the "N" word. In Burbank, the book was removed from required reading lists, though kids can choose to read the book and it can be used in small groups after the teacher has undergone training on facilitating conversations on racism, implicit bias, and racial identity.  Mildred D. Taylor said "As a parent I understand not wanting a child to hear painful words, but as a parent I do not understand not wanting a child to learn about a history that is part of America, a history about a family representing millions of families that are strong and loving who remain united and strong, despite the obstacles they face." Here's some links to our resources: https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/roll-of-thunder-hear-my-cry/ https://ncac.org/update/letter-from-ncac-to-protest-the-challenging-of-roll-of-thunder-hear-my-cry https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-11-12/burbank-unified-challenges-books-including-to-kill-a-mockingbird We turn back the clock to a difficult period of history in Jim Crow America. The book is the Newbery award winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Readers from Immaculate Heart Catholic School discuss the difference between present-day Bronx and the south of the 1930's. Actress Tracy Leigh is celebrity reader. Literary historian Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings of the University of South Carolina offers her perspective on the author.

Writer Greg Neri talks to Kitty Felde about the role of luck and his rule of saying "yes" to new projects. 

Where do gangsters come from? How can we keep kids out of gangs? Our readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, D.C. have some ideas. They discuss G Neri’s graphic novel Yummy and have a few questions for him. Celebrity reader is Ariel Richardson.     FAVORITE BOOKS FROM CHARLES HART MIDDLE SCHOOL: Demon Slayer - Natsuki Hokami One Piece - Eiichiro Oda Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling G NERI’S FAVORITE BOOK: The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster ARIEL RICHARDSON’S FAVORITE BOOK: All About Love - Bell Hooks

It's the hardest question in the world: what's your favorite book? Kids from LA County schools have some answers for host Kitty Felde. The Fashion Fairies #2: Claudia the Accessories Fairy - Daisy Meadows Rascal - Sterling North Goosebumps - R.L. Stine Dog Man - Dav Pilkey Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland Jedi Academy - Jeffrey Brown The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

Last year, nearly two thousand books were challenged in libraries across America. According to the American Library Association, that’s a 20 percent jump over a year ago.    We looked back at the nearly 150 episodes of the Book Club for Kids and realized how many titles have been challenged over the years. We’re going to revisit those episodes and bring them to you over the coming months, along with the reasons they have been challenged. Our first book is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. According to the University of Tulsa, in 1986, a Wisconsin town banned the book after religious groups said a scene in the book where a spider licks her lips could be interpreted as sexual. A year later, the book was temporarily banned in schools after a woman complained about the depiction of tobacco and whiskey in the book. And in the early 1990’s a Texas public school system banned the book from elementary schools after the district said the use of curse words like “ass” were inappropriate. None the less, we present our podcast episode of James and the Giant Peach.       Link to Curriculum for James and the Giant Peach

Writer Claribel Ortega talks about why she loves writing fantasy. She also confesses that she's been writing about witches for a long time. Kitty Felde is host. And give a listen to our Dia de los Muertos episode of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast. Here's a link to the free curriculum guide.

Do witches have cliques? What happens when you're an outcast? Would you be brave enough to hunt down monsters? Students at Brookland Middle School in Washington, DC discuss Claribel Ortega's novel Witchlings. Veteran journalist Stephanie Roberts is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde his host. Want to learn more about Dia de los Muertos? Listen to this special episode from our sister podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES. There is free curriculum for this episode. Favorite Books from Brookland Middle School: Judy B Jones series - Barbara Park Best Babysitters Ever - Caroline Cala Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle Claribel Ortega's Favorite Book: The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien Stephanie Roberts' Favorite Book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day -Judith Viorst 

Writer Ali Benjamin (The Thing About Jellyfish) talks about how she manages to focus and block out distractions. Kitty Felde is host.

A young girl struggles to find out how her best friend died. It must be a deadly jellyfish. So she seeks out the experts. The book is The Thing by Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. Readers from Newport Mill Middle School discuss death, "borrowing" their parents' credit card, and jellyfish. Writer Ali Benjamin talks about finding a character's voice. Legendary marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Readers from Los Angeles County tell us their favorite books. Thanks to the LA County Department of Arts & Culture. Click here for a list of everybody's favorite book.

What makes a good mystery? We talk to writer Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance. Kitty Felde, who writes her own mystery series THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES is host.

Do you love a mystery? Do you love playing detective, looking for clues on every page? This week’s novel is about a lot of things – segregation, bullying, and most of all, a family mystery.  This week's episode is "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson. Our readers are from Washington DC’s AIM Academy. Actress Sheila Collins is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. FAVORITE BOOKS FROM AIM ACADEMY: The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds VARIAN JOHNSON’S FAVORITE BOOKS: Holes - Louis Sachar When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin Raina Telgemeier One Crazy Summer - Rita Williams-Garcia SHEILA COLLINS’ FAVORITE BOOK: The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros

Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry talks about book bans, balancing serious and silly topics, and gives a sneak preview of her newest book. Kitty Felde is host.

Looking for an "old fashioned" book...with a twist? We discuss Lois Lowry's tale The Willoughbys with readers from Taylor Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia. Our celebrity reader is the host of the daily news podcast The Gist Mike Pesca. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Taylor Elementary School: Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate DiCamillo Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Front Desk - Kelly Yang Number the Stars - Lois Lowry Lois Lowry's Favorite Books: Sarah, Plain and Tall - Sarah MacLachlan Indian Captive - Lois Lensky Mike Pesca's Favorite Book:  The Progress Paradox - Greg Easterbrook

We've got a group of fantasy lovers this week from Maryland. Readers at Newport Mill Middle School share their favorites and explain why fantasy is such a favorite among their peers. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books: Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan I Lived on Butterfly Hill - Marjorie Agosin A Magic Steeped in Poison - Judy I. Lin Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger  

Recorded live at Virginia's Fall for the Book Festival, our trio of readers Jay, Neha and Naomi discuss Mary Amato's novel Our Teacher is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories. Topics range from writing to the world's worst substitute teachers. Actor Jonathan Cagle-Mulberg is our celebrity reader. The kids ask writer Mary Amato about the book. Mindy Shaw is guest host.  

School's starting. Have you finished your reading assignment? Need some more book suggestions? We've got a bunch from kids in Ireland and Los Angeles! Here's a link to our episode of Esperanza Rising.  Kitty Felde is host.

Writer Kate DiCamillo admits that she's a pantser, not a plotter. Host Kitty Felde talks with the Newbery Award-winning writer.

Suppose you discovered a tiger in a cage. Would you set him free? That's the dilemna for the heros of The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo. Readers from Maury Elementary in Washington, DC tackle the book and its moral questions. Writer Kate DiCamillo joins us as well. Veteran political reporter Dave Bryan is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Does teaching teach you how to be a better writer? Book Club for Kids host Kitty Felde asks Diane K. Salernia who moved from the classroom to the writer's room.

Do you like spooky stories? Give a listen to The Carrefour Curse,  tale about the power of gemstones and family secrets. Readers from Atwater STEAM Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss the mystery with host Kitty Felde. Writer Dianne K. Salerni admits that she was inspired by a forbidden TV show. Our celebrity reader is Lost in Space actress Marta Kirsten.

We’re sharing our airwaves with one of our friends from Kids Listen, a grassroots organization of people who make podcasts for kids. Give a listen to the Ten News podcast. It’s their on the road episode...all about space. Ten News Road Trip Remix:   We're hitting the road and tuning into our favorite space segments with the Ten News. ⁠  Did you ever hear the segment about the 9th planet from Jacob and Olivia Rozencwaig from the Curious Kid Podcast?   Or, when Bethany spoke to Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut, and commander of the International Space Station!?⁠   And of course, we can’t stop talking about the James Webb telescope!   Tune in to today's road trip remix to learn about all things outer space.   Sign up for the Ten News Newsletter!   Email us your curious facts, funny stories, and eye rolling jokes at: [email protected]   Follow the show on Instagram   Check out our website for sources and a transcript of today's episode!

What comes first, the story or the characters? How do you become a graphic novelist? We get the answers from writer/illustrator Johnnie Christmas of Swim Team. Kitty Felde is host.

Everybody in the pool! We discuss swimming lessons and look back at the days when people of color were barred from public pools. The book is Swim Team. Writer Johnnie Christmas says a personal experience inspired the graphic novel. Readers from the Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore talk about their own swimming journey. Our special celebrity reader is Olympic medal winning swimmer Natalie Hinds. Kitty Felde is host. You can get an autographed copy of Kitty Felde's first book in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series of books called Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza by clicking here. It's available in English or Spanish.

Is a road trip in your summer plans? Looking for great podcasts for kids and grownups? Listen to our Summer Sampler of kidcasts from our fellow podcasters at Kids Listen. You may find your next favorite show...after Book Clubs for Kids and The Fina Mendoza Mysteries, of course.

Did you know the people behind the Book Club for Kids podcast produce another podcast: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries. The series is based on the book series by Kitty Felde, about the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries in the U.S. Capitol...and introduces civics along the way. Book One in the series Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza is being released in English and Spanish (Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza) by Chesapeake Press on July 3rd.  Listeners to the Book Club for Kids podcast can get a 20% discount on the paperback. Just go to IPGBook.com and enter the promo code Fina2023 at checkout. Here's the link.

Writer Tricia Springstubb tells Book Club for Kids host Kitty Felde about finding the perfect "voice" for a protagonist.

Do you know a busy body? Somebody who's a bit too nosy for their own good? Meet Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe by Tricia Springstubb. Students from Randall Highlands Elementary School in Washington, DC discuss the book and hear a reading from the book by actress Peggy Miley. Kitty Felde is host. There is free curriculum for this episode.

The writer of The City of Ember shares the writing advice she gave her students...and how she ignored some of it to finish her latest work. Kitty Felde is host.

Would you like to live your entire life underground? What happens if the lights go out and never come on again? Students from Overland Elementary School for Advanced Studies in Los Angeles discuss Jeanne DuPrau’s post-apocalyptic novel City of Ember with host Kitty Felde. They have a few questions for the author. Actress Melanie MacQueen (Robotech, Lady Luck) is celebrity reader.  FAVORITE BOOKS FROM OVERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Valkyrie - Kate O’Hearn When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead Spy School - Stuart Gibbs JEANNE DUPRAU’S FAVORITE BOOK: The Borrowers - Mary Norton MELANIE MACQUEEN’S FAVORITE BOOK: Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne

It’s that time of year when all you can think about is “how long until summer vacation?” So how do you keep kids engaged? Find a book they love. How? We hear from a group of 4th graders in Los Angeles who have a few suggestions. Some are Book Club for Kids podcast episodes. Just click on the links: Dog Man - Dav Pilkey The Bad Guys - Aaron Blabey Harry Potter series - J.K Rowling The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo Ordinary People Change the World series The Witches - Roald Dahl Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Land of Stories - Chris Colfer Thirst - Varsha Bajaj The Giver - Lois Lowry The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan Baseball books Pig the Stinker - Aaron Blabey Wings of Fire (the graphic novel) - Tui T. Sutherland Wayside School series - Louis Sachar Big Ideas for Curious Minds: an Introduction to Philosophy Lots more book suggestions on our "Books We Love" page of the website. And check out Kids Radio LA, the podcast from the students at Atwater STEAM Elementary (and Mr. R!)     

The Force is with us on Book Club as we tackle a tale of middle grade angst and paper cuts. Who can rescue these hapless heroes? How about a Yoda fingerpuppet who seems to have all the right answers. Our readers from Washington, DC beg writer Tom Angleberger to write more books in the series. Cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz is celebrity reader.  Kitty Felde is host. NOTE: Kitty Felde's novel Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza will be released in both English and Spanish (Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza) on July 3rd.  Fina Mendoza is the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who moves to Washington with her older sister Gabby and solves mysteries inside the U.S. Capitol. She also introduces civics to elementary school readers. Published by Chesapeake Press, distributed by IPG. Kitty makes free class visits. 

We asked kids around the country to answer the hardest question in the world: what's your favorite book? And why? Here's just some of the suggestions we got from YOU: Wish - Barbara O'Connor Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper A Stroke of Magic: The Dinosaur Woman - Brunella Costagliola   The Cat I Never Named -  Amra Sabic-El-Rayess and Laura L. Sullivan Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan And if you have a favorite book, you can be on the BookClub for Kids podcast, too. Just record yourself on your smartphone telling us your first name, the city where you live, the name of your favorite book and why you love it and email the voice memo to us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!   

It was 1973 when the president of Chile was thrown out of office by a military coup. That’s the backdrop for the novel I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin. Students from Sequoyah School in Pasadena, California discuss the book. Val Zavala, longtime public television journalist, is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Book Club for Kids isn't the only podcast about great books for kids. Give a listen to Matthew Winner's Children's Book Podcast.

After months of rain, Southern California FINALLY had a weekend of sunshine. So we all paid a visit to the LA Maker Faire and City of Stem festival near downtown Los Angeles. We asked kids to tell us all about their favorite books. Some of these might become YOUR favorite book, too! The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss The Couch Potato - Jory John Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney The Berenstain Bears - Jan Berenstain Spy School - Stuart Gibbs To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee Feeling Sorry for Celia - Jaclyn Moriarty The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett Calvin & Hobbs - Bill Watterson

How does a cover end up on a book? Writer Lisa Fipps is the author of Starfish, a middle grade novel in verse with a gorgeous, memorable cover. Lisa takes us behind the scenes of her experience with working with an editor and a cover designer. Lisa also talks about how her training as a journalist helped her write books for kids. Also, come join Book Club for Kids at the Los Angeles Maker Faire on Saturday, April 1, 2023. We'll be there taping interviews with kids for upcoming Book Club for Kids podcast episodes. Here's the info: Los Angeles Maker Faire Los Angeles State Historic Park (near Chinatown in downtown LA) 1245 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 FREE 9 AM - 5 PM  

How do you handle a bully? What do you do when someone body shames you? Our heroine turns to poetry in this week’s book Starfish by Lisa Fipps. Readers from Columbia Heights Educational Campus in Washington, DC offer their own insights on why people pick on each other and ask writer Lisa Fipps what she does to tackle writers block. Our celebrity reader is NPR favorite, comedienne Ophira Eisenberg. Kitty Felde is host.

You never know who will show up at a Maker Faire. This week, host Kitty Felde asks kids from Hawaii about their favorite books.

Looking for your next great read? These kids at the Orange County  Maker Faire have another shelf of suggestions! PS: it IS a Maker Faire, so host Kitty Felde talks to one young train enthusiast about his special invention. Book list at the Books We Love page of our website www.bookclubforkids.org.

What mysterious creatures haunt the Caribbean Islands? Writer Tracey Baptiste tells tales of things that go bump in the night in THE JUMBIES. Students from Cienega Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Actress Tamika Katon-Donegal is celebrity reader.

Marie Arnold writes middle grade and YA fiction, as well as adult romances. She talks about juggling genres and her secret weapon Hold On Nancy with host Kitty Felde.

Moving is difficult, especially when you don't speak the language, you're being haunted by a witch, and your best friend is a rat. That's the starting point for Marie Arnold's middle grade novel The Year I Flew Away. Students from Jefferson Academy in Washington, D.C. discuss rodents and video games. Actor Barry Cutler is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Before she wrote children's books, Lisa Graff worked as a nanny. What lessons from that experience did she bring to her work on the page? Lisa talks to host Kitty Felde.

How do we measure up to our parents' expectations? Does everybody deserve a day off? What's the toughest part of being a homeschooled kid? Our group of readers from the Broomfield Public Library in Colorado weigh in on these questions and more as they discuss Lisa Graff's novel Absolutely Almost. Lisa talks about where the characters came from and how she wrote her first book for her newborn baby brother. NYC actor Thaddeus Fitzpatrick is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Arthur Slade writes slightly dark middle grade and YA fiction. How dark? We ask him.

A pair of twins from rural Canada take Hollywood by storm. But there's a darker side to their life in silent movies. Readers from Gilbert Paterson Middle School in Lethbridge, Ontario discuss Arthur Slade's novel Flickers. Our celebrity reader is actor, comedian, and game show host Gavin Crawford. Kitty Felde is host. Spoiler alert: this episode includes plot details.

Writer Laurie Halse Anderson talks about writing that first draft, where she finds inspiration, and track and field with host Kitty Felde.

What role did African-Americans play in the Revolutionary War? Chains - the first in a trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson - takes us to Manhattan in the 1770's. A trio of readers from Maryland discuss the book. Actress S.W. James is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Looking for ideas of how to spend that holiday gift card? Readers from Taylor Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia have lots of suggestions for favorite books! Bomb - Steve Sheinkin Olympians Ares - George O'Connor Finding Junie Kim - Ellen Oh Big Nate- Lincoln Peirce The Tail of Emily Windsnap - Liz Kessler  Ms. Rapscott's Girls - Elise Primavera The Baby-Sitters' Club - Anne M. Martin Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls Henry Huggins - Beverly Cleary Pinkalicious - Victoria Kann  Twins - Varian Johnson The Vampire Book: Encyclopedia of the Undead - J. Gordon Melton The Werewolf Book: Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings - Brad Steiger The Never Girls - Kiki Thorpe Cleopatra in Space - Mike Maihack The Gingerbread Man - Gail Yerrill Honestly Katie John - Mary Calhoun    

Do you see colors when you do math problems? The heroine of A MANGO SHAPED SPACE. Kids from the Mother/Daughter Book Club at One More Page bookstore in Virginia discuss the book. Writer Wendy Mass says the idea literally jumped out at her from the shelf.

Writer Stuart Gibbs didn't start out as a writer of middle grade novels. He also didn't expect to be interrupted in his interview by a member of the wildlife community in the middle of Washington, DC. He talks to host Kitty Felde.

Is there really a secret school in Washington, DC to train kids to become spies? We ask the experts in this episode: kids from Key Elementary in our nation's capital, writer Stuart Gibbs, and the man whose job description includes overseeing the activities and budget of the CIA, Congressman Eric Swalwell. Our celebrity reader is jounalist Claudia Peschuitta. Kitty Felde is host.

Is there a difference between writing poetry and prose? Writer Aida Salazar talks to host Kitty Felde about her relationship to poetry and about the telling details in writing. You can hear other conversations with writers at the website bookclubforkids.org.

How do tween girls talk about menstruation, puberty, gender identity, and crushes? Our readers from the Oakland youth group CinnamonGirl discuss Aida Salazar’s coming of age novel The Moon Within with host Kitty Felde. Filmmaker and journalist Patricia Nazario is celebrity reader. NOTE: this episode is appropriate for older tweens.

Looking for your next great read? Students at Malxolm X Elementary School in Washington, DC have some suggestions for books that will inspire you or scare you or make you laugh. Kitty Felde is host.

Writer Kelly Barnhill writes in longhand and explains that the habit began when her laptop burst into flames. She also confesses she's written a number of books that are only for her.

It's our celebration of Halloween! For the next two week's we'll be hearing about all kinds of witches. Who says witches and monsters and dragons have to be the bad guys? That's certainly not the case in Kelly Barnhill's 2017 Newbery Award-winning novel THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON. A trio of readers from Woodbridge, Virginia discuss the the power of the moon and how much sorrow children can handle with host Kitty Felde. Writer Kelly Barnhill discusses fake news and how a swamp monster popped into her head out of nowhere. KCRW Morning Edition host Chery Glaser is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Have you been thinking about writing serialized fiction for Substack or Kindle Vella?  Middle grade novelist Christina Farley loves the format made popular by Charles Dickens. She offers an introduction to Vella in this conversation with Kitty Felde.  

Love mythology? What do you know about Korean mythology? Writer Christina Farley brings it to life in her romantic fantasy Gilded. Readers from the Richard Byrd Library in Springfield, Virginia discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Actress Julia Cho is our celebrity reader.

Looks like Rick Riordan is the clear favorite with this lot. Listen to some other great book suggestions from readers at the Orange County Maker Faire. Kitty Felde is host. You can find dozens and dozens of favorite books at our website www.bookclubforkids.org. If you're a teacher or librarian in Southern California or the DC area, your readers can be on the show, too! We're booking tapings NOW for this school year. It's free. Email us for information: [email protected].

Can bad guys turn over a new leaf? 5th graders at Kimball Elementary School in Washington, DC discuss Aaron Blabey's graphic novel The Bad Boys. Actor Steve DeVorkin is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Book Club for Kids is the show where kids talk about books. Free reading tips at the website. You can be on the show, too. Info at the website.

We take the show on the road to the Orange County, California Maker Faire to ask kids and robots the name of their favorite book and why they love it. Our special guest, Star Wars superstar R2D2 shares his favorite books with host Kitty Felde. Special thanks to Steve of Astromech.net, the club that builds R2D2 robots. 

Students from Washington DC's Jefferson Academy reflect on desegregation sixty years after the Little Rock Nine. They discuss Kristin Levine's novel The Lions of Little Rock. The author describes how she came to tell the story. Former U.S. Education Secretary of Education John King is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

We visit our favorite Virginia bookstore HOORAY FOR BOOKS to talk to members of the store’s youth advisory council. These young readers are quite the experts. Every month, they take home what’s called an ArC – an advanced readers copy – of a new book. And then they meet after school to let bookstore owner Ellen Klein know what they thought – and whether they think she should buy the book for their bookshelves. Host Kitty Felde brought her microphone to ask them our favorite question: what’s your favorite book?

What do kids worry about? Readers at Washington DC's Jefferson Academy discuss their own fears as they tackle John Green's novel "Turtles All the Way Down." MPR News Host Kerri Miller is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Find out how you can be on the show. Click HERE.

We meet the writer behind Pseudonymous Bosch: Raphael Simon. Host Kitty Felde chats with him about all things writing.

Would you like to live forever? When is it okay to lie? How do we prepare for a disaster? These and other big questions are tackled by students at Farmdale Elementary School in Los Angeles as they discuss The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch. Actress Satomi Hofmann is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Our producer Chad Francis picked this episode as his favorite! www.bookclubforkids.org

Last week, we heard a bit from writer Jennifer L. Holm when we discussed her book "Turtle in Paradise." In this Bonus Episode, we hear more about Jenni's trilogy of books inspired by family stories.

Got a nickname? Everybody in Key West seems to have one. Including a little girl named Turtle. Readers at the Broomfield Public Library in Colorado discuss Jennifer Holm's "Turtle in Paradise" with host Kitty Felde. KQED public radio's Rachel Myrow is celebrity reader.

Are your kids lagging behind in their summer reading? Maybe they just haven't found their next favorite read. We ask the experts - kids at this year's City of Stem event - to tell us about their favorite books. Kitty Felde is host.

Who knew there was a legion of mice who help the CIA keep the world safe? Their headquarters? In the walls and basement of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. Our readers are from the Ambassador School of Global Education in Los Angeles and they have a few questions for writer Heather Vogel Frederick. Our celebrity reader knows something about espionage: former CIA operative Valerie Plame. Kitty Felde is host.

How do you find a writing partner? And once found one, what's the best way to write a book together? Co-authors Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang share secrets about their working relationship with host Kitty Felde.

As we celebrate our nation's birthday, we ask the question: What does an American look like?  Readers from Fulton County, Georgia discuss Not Your All American Girl by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang. Our celebrity reader is comedian Becca Nix Tham. Check out the long list of favorite books at the website bookclubforkids.org.

As you probably know, we also produce another podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES, an audiodrama designed to introduce elementary school kids to civics. Fina is the 10-year old daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries inside the US Capitol. After the attack on the Capitol on January 6th of last year, we saw the need to help parents and teachers talk to kids about what happened – without scaring them half to death, and to put the insurrection in some sort of historic context that kids could understand. We created a special episode with curriculum that can be used in the classroom. Now with the televised congressional hearings looking at the January 6th attack, we’ve again heard from parents looking for ways to have a conversation about January 6th with their kids. So this week, instead of talking about our favorite books, we’re talking about democracy. There is FREE curriculum to accompany this episode.

Looking for your next great read? Our experts - kids from the City of Stem festival in Downey, California - have a few suggestions for host Kitty Felde.

We take the show on the road to the Enoch Pratt Free Library Children's stage at the Baltimore Book Festival for a conversation about Robbie Shell's novel BEES ON THE ROOF. Our group of readers have been meeting to talk about books almost since they first

What makes a great book? Readers from Loyola Village Elementary School in Los Angeles have some answers.

Imagine a world where deadly tornadoes are so common, kids can't ride their bikes outside anymore. That's the future Kate Messner writes about in Eye of the Storm. Students from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Laura Furgione, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service is celebrity reader and talks about the science of tornadoes.

Writer Dana Middleton has some advice about finishing a novel or story. She also looks back at the beginning of her writing career.

You think you've got problems? Try being born with the horn of a unicorn in the middle of your head. Dana Middleton's tale of fitting in and standing out is discussed by students from Louis Armstrong Middle School, Walter Reed Middle School, and Toluca Lake Elementary School. They've got a list of questions for the writer as well.  Pam Rogers, creator of the poetry and nonsense podcast Buttons & Figs is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

We return to the Culver City Book Festival to find out what younger kids are reading. Kitty Felde is host. You can see a list of all their favorite books at the website.

We celebrate National Poetry Month with the National Book Award winning novel The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington DC talk about poetry, MeToo, and favorite books with host Kitty Felde. Celebrity reader is Monica Vigil, who costars in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast, which launches season 2 on May 3rd.

How do you get unstuck as a writer? Author Jacqueline Davies talks about how she took a vacation from the YA novel she was working on and wrote The Lemonade War in 19 days just to prove to herself that she could finish a book. Jacqueline also has advice for writers working on a series. Kitty Felde is host. Free tips for reluctant readers at the website: www.bookclubforkids.org

Did you ever have a lemonade stand when you were a kid? This particular lemonade stand led to The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. Fifth graders from Loyola Village Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Actress Linda Graves is celebrity reader.

Think scientists and math majors are all about  numbers? Nope. They're great readers as well. We ask kids at the City of STEM festival at the Columbia Space Center in Downey, California to tell us their favorite books.

Writer Dan Gutman talks about his other popular My Wierd School series.

Interested in baseball? Time travel? Civil rights? Anger management? Readers from Murch Elementary School in Washingotn, D.C. tackle them all in this episode about Dodger legend Jackie Robinson. The book is Dan Gutman’s Jackie & Me, a time travel story that takes us back to 1947 on the night before Jackie’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Another Dodger legend, two time National League batting champ Tommy Davis is our celebrity reader. He talks about how Jackie Robinson was the one who persuaded him to sign with the Dodgers. Kitty Felde is host.

How many rejections did writer A.J. Steiger get before her first book was published? A lot, says A.J. The author talks about rejection, world building, and the very first book she wrote at age 9. Kitty Felde is host.

What makes us human? Do you believe in reincarnation? How does the loss of family affect us? Our book this week Cathedral of Bones raises so many questions for our readers at Changing Hands bookstore in Tempe, Arizona. Writer A.J. Steiger discusses world building in a fantasy novel. Our celebrity reader is actor Gary Lamb. Kitty Felde is host.

What are kids in Southern California reading these days? Host Kitty Felde takes Book Club for Kids on the road to talk to young readers at the Culver City Book Festival to find out. 

Kitty Felde talks to the author of Lupe Wong Won't Dance Donna Barba Higuera about creating an unlikeable character. She also gives us a sneak preview of a new science fiction novel she's writing.

Does square dancing count as an athletic activity? Lupe Wong doesn't think so and is willing to fight the system to make her point. Readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, DC discuss the book with host Kitty Felde and interview the writer Donna Barba Higuera. Our celebrity reader is the former president of United Square Dancers of America. 

Thinking of writing a series? We ask New York Times bestselling writer Shannon Messenger about the 101 things a series writer has to think about. Kitty Felde is host.

Whatever happened to Atlantis? To elves? To magic? This week, readers from St. Elizabeth School in Maryland discuss Shannon Messenger's fantasy adventure Keeper of the Lost Cities. The girls ask our writer to pick her favorite characters, something she hates to do. Our celebrity reader is KPCC's All Things Considered host Nick Roman. Kitty Felde is host.

Writing a novel is hard enough, why would a writer choose to write one in verse? We continue our conversation with Jasmine Warga, author of Other Words for Home. She also tackles the topic of Own Voices in her choice to write about a family of Syrian refugees.

Kids from Washington, DC consider life as a refugee as they discuss the Newbery-Honor winner Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga. Readers from Tyler Elementary School talk about learning a new language, moving away from home, and even non-verbal communication in an era of wearing masks. Our celebrity reader is Sarra Gahzi, Country Director for Jordan with the International Rescue Committee. Kitty Felde is host. FYI, here's a link to curriculum for last week's episode, "Losing is Democratic."

Something a little different this week. As we approach January 6th, parents and teachers may be looking for a way to discuss the attack on the U.S. Capitol with children. Our other podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES created this special 2-part episode to help open a discussion about the events, without scaring kids. In this episode, 10-year-old detective Fina Mendoza, the daughter of a congressman, has a new mystery to solve: who stole the 5th grade's pizza? Her class discusses the attack with their teacher, putting it in a larger context about winning and losing. The episode includes a discussion about the electoral college, Washington's decision to not run for a third term, and how democracy is like baseball. Free curriculum at the website finamendozamysteries.com.

Something a little different this week and next. As we approach  January 6th, parents and teachers may be looking for a way to discuss the attack on the U.S. Capitol with children. Our other podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES created this special 2-part episode to help open a discussion about the events, without scaring kids.  In this episode, 10-year-old detective Fina Mendoza, the daughter of a congressman, has a new mystery to solve: who stole the 5th grade's pizza? Her class discusses the attack with their teacher, putting it in a larger context about winning and losing. The episode includes a discussion about the electoral college, Washington's decision to not run for a third term, and how democracy is like baseball. Free curriculum at the website finamendozamysteries.com.

Newbery Award-winning writer Jerry Craft confesses that he was not much of a reader as a kid. But he wanted to create a book for kids like him. He talks about which comes first in his graphic novels, the pictures or the words. He tells host Kitty Felde how to write a joke in four panels.

We're so excited to talk about the Newbery Award-winning graphic novel New Kid by Jerry Craft. Students at Randle Highland Elementary School in Washington, DC debate whether they'd rather go to a fancy pants school on the other side of town, or the school in their own neighborhood. Actor Gary Anthony Williams is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

What makes a book personal to you? We talk to a group of readers from Albuquerque, New Mexico about the books that mean something special to them. Kitty Felde is host.

Get out the Kleenex and a warm jacket and gloves. This week is a heartbreaking tale of troubled foster kid who finds comfort among a herd of cows in Maine. Readers from Carter G. Woodson Charter School in Chicago discuss Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. U.S. Senator Angus King is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

How do you write a novel together without destroying a friendship? We ask the writers of "A Place at the Table," Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan. 

How do you write a novel together without destroying a friendship? We ask the writers of "A Place at the Table," Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan. 

What does it mean to be an ally? How do you confront racism face to face? What's it like to be the child of an immigrant? And can food bring people together? We talk about it all with a trio of students from Columbia Heights Educational Campus in Washington, DC. Writers Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan answer questions about writers block from our readers. Our celebrity reader is USA Today journalist Tami Abdollah. Kitty Felde is host.

Got a favorite book? Need a great book to read next? These fourth graders from Cienega Elementary School in Los Angeles have LOTS of suggestions.

Want to keep that Halloween feeling going? We offer a Southern tale of witches and spooky houses. And the Civil War. It's Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. We're lucky to have DC's Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton as our celebrity reader. Students from Washington DC's Jefferson Academy discuss the novel with host Kitty Felde.

Today and Tuesday are special days in the Catholic and Mexican calendar: Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. As an added bonus episode of Book Club for Kids, we wanted to share this snippet from our other podcast The Fina Mendoza Mysteries. It's the story of a 10-year-old detective on Capitol Hill, but it's also a family story about coming to terms with the death of Fina's mother. In this mini-episode, Fina and her sister Gabby and grandmother Abuelita remember her on Dia de los Muertos. There is also free curriculum that accompanies this episode.

He's known as Pseudonymous Bosch, but writer Rafael Simon talks to us about structuring a series and how he considers himself both a plotter AND a pantser. Kitty Felde is host.

Would you like to live forever? When is it okay to lie? How do we prepare for a disaster? These and other big questions are tackled by students at Farmdale Elementary School in Los Angeles as they discuss The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch. Actress Satomi Hofmann is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. www.bookclubforkids.org

The 4th and 5th graders in the Bookopolis Book Club meet weekly to discuss, share, and celebrate their love of books. They share some of their favorites with us.

Did Harry Potter make you wish you were going to boarding school? This week, we visit another extraordinary boarding school with invisible students and k'lepreechons. It's Hypatia Academy by Esther Goldenberg. It's the favorite book of this trio of Maryland readers. NPR's Morning Edition host Rachel Martin is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.   www.bookclubforkids.org  

Is there a connection between archeology and writing? Writer Gina McMurchy-Barber digs deep with host Kitty Felde. www.bookclubforkids.org

Suppose you had a sibling with Down Syndrome? How would this change your life? That's the question in The Jigsaw Puzzle King by Gina McMurchy-Barber. Readers from Hamilton Wentworth District School Board Remote School in Ontario, Canada discuss the book and discuss the merits of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.  We're joined by celebrity reader Tammy McLeod, who just broke the Guinness World Record for speed, solving a jigsaw puzzle. Kitty Felde is host.

Where do ideas come from? Writer Sherri L. Smith shares some of the things that inspired her writing. She also has some advice for young writers. Kitty Felde is host.

Hurricanes and pandemics - sounds like the latest headlines. But it's a dystopian novel by Sherri L. Smith called Orleans. Readers from the Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy in Maryland discuss the book with host Kitty Felde and talk about why dystopian novels are so popular with young readers. Public radio journalist Cheryl Devall is celebrity reader. More episodes at bookclubforkids.org

Book Club for Kids wants to send you back to school with some inspiration from kidcasters from around the country. In this special bonus episode, you'll get a taste of what's available for young ears, produced by our colleagues at Kids Listen, a collaborative of creators of content for kids. 

Attention fantasy writers: Christina Soontornvat, whose novel A Wish in the Dark offers some tips about world building in a mythical Thailand. More author interviews at www.bookclubforkids.org.

This week, readers at The Meridian School in Seattle discuss Christina Soontornvat's unusual novel A Wish in the Dark and interview the author. Actress Pimmie Juntranggur is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. You can find a list of everyone's favorite book and find out how your young reader can be on the show at the website www.bookclubforkids.org.

Looking for some great end-of-summer book suggestions? Kids from around the world have some great suggestions. Kitty Felde is host. Complete list of books at www.bookclubforkids.org.

Looking for a late summer thriller? We discuss the first book in Jacqueline West's Books of Elsewhere series The Shadows with the Girlfriends BookClub Baltimore. Public radio journalist Doualy Xaykaothao is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Free reading tips at the website: bookclubforkids.org.

Veera Hiranandani explains why she chose to use diary entries to tell her story in The Night Diary and offers tips to young people about how to get their older relatives to open up about their life stories. Kitty Felde is host.

What would you bring with you if you had to leave your home forever? It's just one of the topics we discuss with readers from Tyler Elementary School in Washington, D.C. as we tackle The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. It's a novel written as a diary about the creation of independent India and Pakistan. Our celebrity reader is actress Nivi Varanasi. Kitty Felde is host.

We ask kids and their parents to answer our favorite question: what's your favorite book? Listen for some great summer reading suggestions!

We reprise our episode taped before a live audience at the National Archives. Readers from the Girlfriends BookClub Baltimore discuss A Little Wicked by Janet Macreery with host Kitty Felde. Celebrity reader is NPR Special Correspondent Susan Stamberg.

Geoff Rodkey is both a successful screenwriter and writer of books for kids. Including "We're Not From Here." He talks about the difference between writing screenplays and novels, about science fiction, and about creating non-binary characters. Kitty Felde is host. Lots more interviews with authors at the website www.bookclubforkids.org.

Earth is doomed, so a band of survivors is looking for a friendly planet to save them. But our earthling reputation isn't so great. Will they be allowed to stay? Readers from Maury Elementary School discuss Geoff Rodkey's We're Not From Here. Our celebrity readers is Mat Kaplan, host of Planetary Radio. Kitty Felde is host. Free reading tips: www.bookclubforkids.org

We get book suggestions from readers at the Nantucket Book Festival.  www.bookclubforkids.org

Pets play such an important part in our lives and the loss of an animal creates a hole in our hearts. The Newbery Honor award winning classic Old Yeller by Fred Gipson does the same thing. We hear from a trio of fifth graders from Lafayette Elementary School in Washington, DC who talk about their own pets. Actor and dancer Michael McKinley is celebrity reader. Dog expert Mia Cobb from Australia joins us. Kitty Felde is host.   www.bookclubforkids.org

How long does it take to publish a book? Newbery award winning writer Meg Medina says most of her time is spent rewriting and rewriting. More conversations with writers at our website www.bookclubforkids.org.

Book Club for Kids goes to Hooray For Books! bookstore in Alexandria, Virginia to talk about Meg Medina's novel about bullying and mother-daughter relationships Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Our celebrity reader is National Public Radio Arts Correspondent Mandalit Del Barco. Writer Meg Medina discusses the writing process with a pair of aspiring writers, Lila and Julia. Kitty Felde is the host. www.bookclubforkids.org

We continue the conversation with writer Rob Buyea about how his experiences as a classroom teacher influenced his writing of "Because of Mr. Terupt." Kitty Felde is host. www.bookclubforkids.org

Were you lucky enough to have one special teacher who changed your life? This week, our book is all about that gifted educator and the classroom that was lucky enough to have him: "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea. Readers from Harmony Township Elementary School in New Jersey talk about their own teachers - and about learning in this socially distanced/hybrid/covid school year. They also interview author Rob Buyea. Actor Garrett M. Brown is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Reading tips, book suggestions, and more at our website www.bookclubforkids.org