Book Club for Kids

The place where young readers meet to talk about books. The show includes a celebrity reader and an interview with the author. The host is award winning public radio journalist Kitty Felde. Book Club won the California Library Association Technology Award and the DC Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Humanitites. Named one of the top 10 podcasts for kids by THE TIMES of London.

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff 04/29/2026

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff 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 Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library in Broomfield, 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/5683915

Favorite Books from Georgia and Florida 04/22/2026

Favorite Books from Georgia and Florida 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 - (click on the link and hear an interview with !) You can find more favorite books at our ! /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/40944855

Passenger on the Pearl by Winifred Conkling 04/15/2026

Passenger on the Pearl by Winifred Conkling This week marks the 173rd anniversary of the attempted escape of African American slaves on a ship docked at the Southwest waterfront, a ship called the Pearl. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/18697355

Favorite Books from our Voicemail 04/08/2026

Favorite Books from our Voicemail You've been calling us with your favorite books. Here's the latest list: 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/40749115

Milo Spec Accidental Agent by Linda Urban 04/01/2026

Milo Spec Accidental Agent by Linda Urban /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/22173272

Foxheart by Claire Legrand 03/25/2026

Foxheart by Claire Legrand 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/5683896

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman 03/18/2026

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman What’s it like to be adopted? Does your adopted family’s history become yours or do you 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/10701590

A Conversation with Jennifer L. Holm 03/11/2026

A Conversation with Jennifer L. Holm 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/23925537

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm 03/04/2026

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm 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. Favorite Books from Laura, Leah and Juliet: - RJ Palacio A Dog's Purpose - W. Bruce Cameron Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Rachel Myrow's Favorite Book: Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein Jennifer L. Holm's Favorite Book: The Black Cauldron - Lloyd Alexander /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/23870544

The Lions of Little Rock - Kristin Levine 02/25/2026

The Lions of Little Rock - Kristin Levine Students from Washington DC's reflect on desegregation sixty years after the Little Rock Nine. They discuss 's novel The Lions of Little Rock. The author describes how she came to tell the story. Former U.S. Education Secretary of Education is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/24278046

A Convesation with Lisa Yee 02/18/2026

A Convesation with Lisa Yee Ever wonder what it's like to write one of the American Girl novels? We get the inside scoop from Lisa Yee. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/40128855

Episode 160- Mazie Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee 02/11/2026

Episode 160- Mazie Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee 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 tells readers at that the book is based on her own family's history. Our celebrity reader is public radio journalist from LAist. Favorite Books from Overland Elementary School: Rick - Alex Gino 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 ! /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/40049960

Milo Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze 02/04/2026

Milo Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze 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. Favorite Books from Eliot-Hine Middle School: Holes - Louis Sachar The Girl Who Fell - S.M Parker ALan Silberberg's Favorite Book: Half Magic - Edward Eager Joshua Malina's Favorite Book: Busy, Busy World - Richard Scarry /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/39791500

A Conversation with Edward Bloor 01/28/2026

A Conversation with Edward Bloor Writer Edward Bloor talks about the biggest lesson he learned about writing and how to handle criticism with host Kitty Felde. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/17099552

Episode 114 - Tangerine by Edward Bloor 01/21/2026

Episode 114 - Tangerine by Edward Bloor 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/17007023

Bonus Episode - Conversation with Jack Gantos 01/14/2026

Bonus Episode - Conversation with Jack Gantos 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/5683904

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos 01/07/2026

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos Writer Jack Gantos has his own unusual take on a childhood in the town named after Eleanor Roosevelt - the real-life place called Norvelt, Pennsylvania. Readers from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia discuss DEAD END IN NORVELT with host Kitty Felde. KPFK radio host Wenzel Jones is celebrity reader. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/5683905

Favorite Books from Loyola Village Elementary School 12/31/2025

Favorite Books from Loyola Village Elementary School What makes a great book? Readers from in Los Angeles have some answers. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/23272988

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell 12/24/2025

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell Sophie's quest to find her mother takes her from London to Paris - mostly rooftop to rooftop. Katherine Rundell's novel "Rooftoppers" is our book this episode. Students from the British International School of Washington discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Director and audio book actress Stevie Zimmerman is celebrity reader. Katherine Rundell talks about writing for the stage vs. writing books for kids. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/11907917

Bonus Episode - Katherine Marsh 12/17/2025

Bonus Episode - Katherine Marsh Katherine Marsh says her son helped a lot with the creation of "The Door by the Staircase." She also offers some writing tips. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/8037305

Episode 79 -The Door By The Staircase by Katherine Marsh 12/10/2025

Episode 79 -The Door By The Staircase by Katherine Marsh This week, we get a new look at an old fairy tale – the story of the Russian witch known as Baba Yaga. A boys book club in Portland, Oregon met us at Powell's Books to discuss Katherine Marsh's novel "The Door by the Staircase" with host Kitty Felde. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who represents Portland on Capitol, is celebrity reader. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/7955708

A Conversation with Sean OBrien 12/03/2025

A Conversation with Sean OBrien How does a White House speechwriter turn into a writer for kids? How do you become a Washington speech writer to begin with? We speak to Sean O'Brien, former speechwriter to then-Vice President Joe Biden. Kitty Felde is host. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/39157310

White House Clubhouse by Sean OBrien 11/26/2025

White House Clubhouse by Sean OBrien Former White House speechwriter takes us inside the building to a secret passageway to the past in his mystery "White House Clubhouse." Readers from in Fairfax, Virginia discuss how Theodore Roosevelt's mantras are still relevant to them today. Actress is celebrity reader. is host. FAVORITE BOOKS FROM OAKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: The Chronicles of Whetherwhy: the Age of Enchantment - Anna James Echo - Walk Two Moons - The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare SEAN O'BRIEN'S FAVORITE BOOK: All the King's Men - Robert Penn Warren ELIZABETH LOGUN'S FAVORITE BOOK: Charlotte's Web - E.B. White /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/39158790

Favorite Books from You and the National Book Festival 11/19/2025

Favorite Books from You and the National Book Festival If you’ve listened to the show before, you know that we ask everybody our favorite question: What’s your favorite book and why. We ask it in classrooms, we ask it in libraries, and we ask if of YOU. A pair of twin brothers from Washington state picked up a phone and recorded their answers on the voice memo app of a smartphone and sent it to us. We also visit the National Book Club in the other Washington: Washington, D.C. Kitty Felde is host. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/39066830

A Conversation with Janet Macreery 11/12/2025

A Conversation with Janet Macreery We have a conversation with "A Little Wicked" author Janet Macreery about two kids of writers: plotters and pantsers. Kitty Felde is host. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/38980585

A Conversation with Janet Macreery 11/12/2025

NPR's Susan Stamberg live from the National Archive 11/05/2025

NPR's Susan Stamberg live from the National Archive 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. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/19712183

A Conversation with Lisa Thompson 10/29/2025

A Conversation with Lisa Thompson Does a background in radio help you write dialogue? What's the one thing you should never include in a book designed for readers with dyslexia? We ask the expert: Lisa Thompson, author of "The Light Jar" and other middle grade novels. /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/38797660

The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson 10/22/2025

The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson Did you have an imaginary friend when you were little? Nate did. And he's back. Just in time. Students from in Los Angeles discuss 's novel "The Light Jar." NPR newscaster is celebrity reader and Kitty Felde is host. FAVORITE BOOKS FROM GARVANZA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: The Stand - Stephen King A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson LISA THOMPSON'S FAVORITE BOOK: Charlotte's Web - E.B. White DALE WILLMAN'S FAVORITE BOOKS: Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon Tom Swift - Victor Appleton /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/38685345

Favorite Books from Manchester Elementary 10/15/2025

Favorite Books from Manchester Elementary We visit Maine to talk to readers at Manchester Elementary School about their favorite books. Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss Toilet-bound Hanako-kun - Iro Forgotten Girl - India Hill Brown Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus - Dusti Bowling Naruto the Boy Ninja - Masashi Kishimoto Warriors - Erin Hunter Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney I Survived - Lauren Tarshis Ellie's Story: A Dog's Purpose - W. Bruce Cameron If you'd like to be on the Book Club for Kids podcast, send us an email to and we'll send you all the information. www.bookclubforkids.org /episode/index/show/bookclubforkids/id/38487230

Book Club for Kids

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