Aug 05 2026 | 00:21:03
Book Club for Kids goes to Omaha where this month, the Omaha Public Library is sponsoring the Omaha Reads program, encouraging the city to read local author Rainbow Rowell's unlikely romance ELEANOR & PARK. Members of the Book Worm Girls Book Group discuss the show with host Kitty Felde. Omaha Congressman Brad Ashford is our celebrity reader. Writer Rainbow Rowell tells how the book she pitched to her agent became very personal indeed.
Jul 29 2026 | 00:23:58
The worst summer vacation ever? Being stuck in the middle of a New Mexico desert with the crabbiest grandfather on planet earth. But there are also magical bees that promise the end of of a drought.
Students from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia discuss HOUR OF THE BEES and writer Lindsay Eager tells where the tale began.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham from New Mexico is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.
Jul 22 2026 | 00:09:30
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.
Jul 15 2026 | 00:21:06
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
Jul 08 2026 | 00:05:15
Summer reading book suggestions from kids at the LA Maker Faire:
The Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger
Jazzies Big Imagination - JaLisa Jackson
Animal Farm - George Orwell
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney
Whatever After - Sarah Mlynowski
Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan
A Day with the Animal Mechanics - Sharon Rentta
Want to be on a future show? Here's how!
www.bookclubforkids.org
Jul 01 2026 | 00:08:22
We meet the writer behind Pseudonymous Bosch: Raphael Simon. Host Kitty Felde chats with him about all things writing.
Jun 24 2026 | 00:18:58
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
Jun 17 2026 | 00:38:37
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
Jun 10 2026 | 00:23:45
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.
Jun 03 2026 | 00:06:16
Got a favorite book? These future scientists have a few suggestions:
The Heck series - Dale E. Basye
13 1/2 Incredible Things You Need to Know About Everything - DK Publishing
Teenage Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution - Kevin Eastman and Tom Walz
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
Dog Man - Dav Pilkey
The Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger
Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
Sophie Mouse - Poppy Green and Jennifer A. Bell
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer
More favorite book at our website: bookclubforkids.org
May 27 2026 | 00:17:40
We take a trip to Mississippi in the summer of 1964 - Freedom Summer. The second in writer Deborah Wiles' 1960's trilogy. "Revolution" is discussed by a trio of George Washington Middle Schoolers at the neighborhood bookstore Hooray for Books! in Alexandria, Virginia. Wiles talks about writing fiction from the facts of history. News Anchor Mark Austin Thomas is celebrity reader.
May 20 2026 | 00:17:16
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.
May 13 2026 | 00:07:55
We take our microphone out to the 2026 City of Stem/LA Maker Faire to ask these young scientists and astronauts about their favorite books. Several of them are OUR favorite books, too! And you can click on the links to hear the Book Club for Kids episode about that book. Kitty Felde is host.
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- J.K. Rowlings
Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan
The Girl Who Drank the Moon - Kelly Barnhill
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
My Wierd School - Dan Gutman
The Forgotten Five - Lisa McMann
Last Gamer Standing - Katie Zhao
May 06 2026 | 00:04:12
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.
Apr 29 2026 | 00:17:49
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.
FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE BROOMFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY:Eragon - Christopher Paolini
Warriors - Erin Hunter
Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel - Megan Morrison
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente
Holes - Louis Sachar
FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE BROOMFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY:
Eragon - Christopher Paolini
Warriors - Erin Hunter
Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel - Megan Morrison
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente
Holes - Louis Sachar
Apr 22 2026 | 00:05:20
Ever wonder what kids in Georgia and Florida are reading? Here's a few suggestions from readers at Druid Hills Middle School in Decatur, Georgia and Indian Trace Elementary School in Weston, Florida.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea - TJ Klune
Superman Smashes the Klan - Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru
Unwind - Neal Shusterman
Percy Jackson the Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
The Giver - Lois Lowry
(click on the link and hear an interview with Lois Lowry!)
You can find more favorite books at our website!
Apr 15 2026 | 00:40:49
The Book Club for Kids podcast began in the smallest quadrant of Washington DC called Southwest. It was the waterfront for DC, the place where ships would dock bringing everything from building supplies to fresh fish to slaves. This week marks the 178th anniversary of what Washington Post writer Colbert King calls "one of the most courageous acts in antebellum America": the attempted escape of African American slaves on a ship docked at the Southwest waterfront, a ship called the Pearl.
This week, Book Club for Kids honors its roots by reprising our one episode featuring a non fiction book: Passenger on the Pearl by Winifred Conkling, taped before a live audience at Virginia's Fall for the Book Festival. Lolita Marie is our celebrity reader.
www.bookclubforkids.org
Apr 08 2026 | 00:08:10
You've been calling us with your favorite books. Here's the latest list:
Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger
House Arrest - K.A.Holt
The Running Dream - Wendelin Van Draanen
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus - Barbara Park
That Pigeon Needs a Bath - Mo Willems
A Dinosaur in the Toilet - Horace Hughes
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
The Land of Stories - Cris Colfer
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Sarafina and the Black Cloak - Robert Beatty
Missing Since Monday- Ann Martin
The Cat I Never Named - Amra Sabic-El-Rayess
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules -Jeff Kinney
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Diary of Steve the Noob - Steve the Noob
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.
Apr 01 2026 | 00:20:03
Mar 25 2026 | 00:23:42
Witches, monsters, and a brave little thief. Those are the ingredients in Claire Legrand's novel "Foxheart." The book was chosen by Book Club for Kids fan Kailas. She and her two fellow readers Iona and Gabi discussed the novel one sunny Sunday afternoon upstairs at Boulder Bookstore with host Kitty Felde. Our celebrity reader is actor Wesley Mann. And writer Claire Legrand explains how "Foxheart" began as a short story on a website.
Mar 18 2026 | 00:23:43
What's it like to be adopted? Does your adopted family's history become your history or do you feel the need to find your biological story? Our book this week is "The Length of a String" by Elissa Brent Weissman. It's a Holocaust story about a Jewish family separated by the war. Readers from the Girlfriends Book Club of Baltimore at Hazelwood Elementary Middle School discuss the book and pose lots of questions to our writer. Actor and producer Bari Hochwald is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.
Mar 11 2026 | 00:09:56
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.
Mar 04 2026 | 00:20:57
Got a nickname? Everybody in Key West seems to have one. Including a little girl named Turtle. Readers at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library in Broomfield, Colorado discuss Jennifer Holm's "Turtle in Paradise" with host Kitty Felde. KQED public radio's Rachel Myrow is celebrity reader.
Wonder - RJ Palacio
A Dog's Purpose - W. Bruce Cameron
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling
Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein
The Black Cauldron - Lloyd Alexander
Feb 25 2026 | 00:21:53
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.
Feb 18 2026 | 00:07:51
Ever wonder what it's like to write one of the American Girl novels? We get the inside scoop from Lisa Yee.
Feb 11 2026 | 00:19:10
We explore an immigration story: a Chinese immigrant who ends up in Minnesota. It's the Newbery Honor Award winning tale "Maisie Chen's Last Chance." Writer Lisa Yee tells readers at Overland Elementary School that the book is based on her own family's history. Our celebrity reader is public radio journalist Josie Huang from LAist.
Favorite Books from Overland Elementary School:
Rick - Alex Gino
The City of Ember - Jeanne Duprau
Lisa Yee's Favorite Book:
Honestly Katie John - Mary Calhoun
Josie Huang's Favorite Book:
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
And check out our other podcast The Fina Mendoza Mysteries!
Feb 04 2026 | 00:20:34
Can a book be funny and deal with one of the toughest topics around? "Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze" is writer and illustrator Alan Silberberg's tale of 7th grade angst and dealing with the loss of a parent. Seventh graders from Eliot-Hine Middle School in Washington, D.C. discuss the book and ask questions of author Silberberg. Actor Joshua Malina ("West Wing," "Scandal," the "West Wing Weekly" podcast) is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.
NOTE: the phone number mentioned in the episode doesn't work anymore. But if you want to be on the show, email us for information about how your school or library can be featured on a new episode: bookclubforkidspodcast@gmail.com.
Holes - Louis Sachar
The Girl Who Fell - S.M Parker
Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper
Half Magic - Edward Eager
Busy, Busy World - Richard Scarry
Jan 28 2026 | 00:03:05
Writer Edward Bloor talks about the biggest lesson he learned about writing and how to handle criticism with host Kitty Felde.
Jan 21 2026 | 00:23:53
A story about family divisions, economic divides, history, and growing citrus trees. It's "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor. Our readers from the Laurence School in Los Angeles discuss the novel and interview our writer. Actress Jovita Molina is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.
Jan 14 2026 | 00:18:06
We had a longer conversation with Jack Gantos at the Nantucket Book Festival - too much to include in Episode 36, our discussion of DEAD END IN NORVELT. Jack talks about his first 36 rejections, his switch from teaching to writing full time, and about his beloved hometown of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. It's a conversation we had at Mitchell's Book Corner on Nantucket Island.
Jack received the 2012 Newbery Award and the Scott O'Dell Award for Best Historic Fiction for "Dead End in Norvelt." His other works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert honors; Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book.