Book Club For Kids

We're happy to report that the number 3 most popular episode of Book Club for Kids is no mystery...actually, it IS a mystery: Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance. 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. 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.

Can you believe it? Book Club for Kids began ten years ago in the summer of 2015. And we’re celebrating by counting down our top ten most listened to episodes over the past decade. This week, just in time for the second installment in the Bad Buys series is the graphic novel that started it all: number four on our top ten list, Aaron Blabey’s The Bad Guys. 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.

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

We continue our celebration of ten years of podcasting by looking back at our most popular episodes. This week, it's number 5 on our top ten list: New Kid. How do you fit in at a new school? Readers from Randle Highlands Elementary School in Washington, D.C. discuss the Newbery Award-winning graphic novel New Kid by Jerry Craft. They even suggest an alternate version of the book. Actor Gary Anthony Williams is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Randle Highlands Elementary School: Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney The Creepy Cafetorium - Nick Murphy, Colleen Af Venable, Paul Ritchey, Marcie Colleen, Joe McGee, and Shelby Arnold Nina the Birthday Cake Fairy - Daisy Meadows Jerry Craft’s Favorite Book: Bud, Not Buddy - Christopher Paul Curtis Gary Anthony Williams’ Favorite Book: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Douglas Adams Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! - Dr. Seuss

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.

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

We're celebrating our ten year anniversary as a podcast! And to celebrate, we're counting down our list of the TOP TEN MOST LISTENED TO EPISODES. This week, it's number 7: 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. Favorite Books from Jefferson Academy Recommended by Jefferson Academy's Aarianna, Enyjaih, and Reece: Little Women - Louisa Mae Alcott 145th Steet - Walter Dean Myers Recommended by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton: Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson Recommended by Kami Garcia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis The White Mountains - John Christopher The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien Spiderwick - HollyBlack/Tony DiTerlizzi The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman Recommended by YOU: Ready Player One - Ernest Cline

Ever wonder what a writer uses for inspiration? Angie Thomas tells us what gets her fingers flying over the keyboard.   www.bookclubforkids.org

Today it’s a book for older kids – "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas. Our main character is an aspiring rap star dealing with sudden fame and the reputation of her late father. Our readers are from West Education Campus in Washington, D.C. Actress Tallie Johnson is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.  Favorite Books from West Education Campus: Lost and Found (Bluford High Series #1) – Anne Schraff The Day Tajon Got Shot - Beacon House Writers When We Collided - Emery Lord Angie Thomas’ Favorite Book: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Mildred D. Taylor

What's your favorite book? A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 7 -Lemony Snicket Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan Angry Aztecs (Horrible Histories) - Terry Deary Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery Invisible Inkling - Emily Jenkins Cat Kid Comic Club - Dav Pilkey Aru Sha - Roshani Chokshi Frizzy - Claribel Ortega

Students from Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Washington, DC talk about "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. The conversation covers everything from death to Nazis to books. Actress Melanie MacQueen (Robotech) is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Markus Zusak interview is courtesy of the Australian bookstore Booktopia.  Spoiler Alert: plot points are discussed in this episode. FAVORITE BOOKS FROM STUART-HOBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL: The Girl Who Drank the Moon - Kelly Barnhill Dork Diaries - Rachel Renee Russell Harry Potter Prisoner of  Azkaban - J.K. Rowling MARCUS ZUSAK'S FAVORITE BOOKS: What's Eating Gilbert Grape - Peter Hedges Wonder Boys - Michael Chabon The Odyssey - Homer, translated by Emily Wilson MELANIE MACQUEEN'S FAVORITE BOOK: Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne

This week, host Kitty Felde asks future scientists what they are reading. Here's some suggestions: Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas Books of Bayern - Shnnon Hale Five Worlds - Mark Siegel The Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo Percy Jackson 5: The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes - Rick Riordan Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

Last week, we talked about “Refugee,” Alan Gratz’ tale of kids fleeing violence and political oppression around the world. It’s a tough read. I had to put it down a few times. But how difficult is it to write a book about a tough subject? We asked Alan Gratz.

  What would it be like to leave everything you know, everything you own, everyone you love to escape war, persecution, or poverty? In “Refugee,” Alan Gratz imagines how three young people struggle to survive as they excape to freedom. Students from Washington Latin Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Actress Amy Solano is celebrity reader. SPOILER ALERT: plot points are discussed in this episode.   FAVORITE BOOKS FROM WASHINGTON LATIN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Long Haul - Jeff Kinney The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas Twilight - Stephenie Meyer Alan Gratz’ Favorite Book: As Brave as You - Jason Reynolds Amy Solano’s Favorite Book: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

We brought our giant microphone to the 2025 City of Stem/LA Maker Faire in Los Angeles on Saturday, asking kids our favorite question: what's your favorite book? Here are just some of the titles: The Maze Runner series - James Dashner Twins - Rain Telgemeier My Weird School - Dan Gutman Ellray Jakes - Sally Warner Magic Treehouse - Mary Pope Osborne Dog Man - Dav Pilkey The Canyon's Edge - Dusti Bowling The Baby-Sitters Club - Ann M. Martin Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Fazbear Fights - Scott Cawthon   

We continue our series highlighting episodes that feature books that have been banned or challenged. This week, it’s Walter Dean Myers’ tale of a kid on trial for murder “Monster.”   In 2021, parents in Signal Mountain Middle/High School in Tennessee complained about mature language and sexual content in some 7th grade reading club selections. In response, a teacher told parents she was removing “Monster” from the reading list.  Myers reacted to the book ban by saying,”I think that most often the people wanting to censor books are well-meaning and concerned about the welfare of their children. But I suggest that children will be exposed to the world in spite of their efforts, and that exposure is best handled in a school setting. I write to establish the humanity of the children I identify as my major audience. I’m not trying to push any boundaries.”  Give a listen as a group of readers from Washington,DC discuss the book and make up your own mind.

Last week, we took a trip to Hawaii to discuss “Lei and the Fire Goddess.” This week, we talk to author Malia Maunakea about using Google maps as a writer, the difference between writing fiction and non-fiction, ADHD, even tax write-offs! Kitty Felde is host.

This week, we talk about myths – whether it’s on Capitol Hill or Hawaii. Our book is “Lei and the Fire Goddess” by Malia Maunakea. Our readers are members of the Page Turners Book Club at East City Bookshop in Washington, DC. Our celebrity reader is playwright Kiki Rivera. Kitty Felde is host. The kids mention Keeper of the Lost Cities  I mention a book with the DC myth about the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill: Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza Favorite Books from the Page Turners Book Club at East City Bookshop: Hooky - Miriam Bonastre Tur Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Mac B. Kid Spy - Matt Barnett  A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes Who Was... Sisters - Raina Telgemeier Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Dragon Masters - Tracey West   Malia Maunakea's Favorite Book: The Far Side - Gary Larson

This week we talk to some older readers at the Culver City book Festival about their favorite books. Once again, fantasy seems to be the fan favorite. Give a listen. Favorite Books from Older Readers at the Culver City Book Fest Once and Future - Cory McCarthy & A. R. Capetta Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Big Nate - Lincoln Peirce Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Jewell Parker Rhodes, winner of the American Book Award, talks about the difficulty of writing "Ghost Boys" and about her own reading journey with host Kitty Felde. bookclubforkids.org