Book Club for Kids

Latest Episodes:

Episode 89 - Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Is a podcast about a graphic novel like dancing about architecture? Give a listen to our latest episode "Pashmina" by Nidhi Chanani. It's a tale about a magical pashina and secrets and mothers and daughters. Our readers are students at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, DC. Rasika Mathur is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Episode 60 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Williamsburg has changed enormously since Betty Smith published "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" in 1943. But a trio of DC readers tell host Kitty Felde that they find contemporary themes - the chasm between rich and poor, the rise of the #MeToo movement - in the novel. Nancy Smith Pfeiffer, the 95 year old daughter of Betty Smith, tells us about rushing home from school to read the latest pages of the novel, hot off her mother's typewriter. Actress Sonia Manzano (Maria from "Sesame Street") is celebrity reader since the book is her favorite.

The Storm Runner - live from the Bay Area Book Festival Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

It's our 100th episode!

To celebrate, we travel up to the Bay Area Book Festival to tape a live show celebrating "The Storm Runner" by J. C. Cervantes. This fantasy tale with Mayan mythology is a "Rick Riordan Presents" novel. Public radio journalist Erika Quilar from KQED is celebrity reader. Our readers are 6th graders at Albany Middle School in Northern California and they quiz our author. Kitty Felde is host.

Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

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.

A Conversation With Shawn Harris Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

What makes a good collaboration between writer and illustrator in children's books? We ask longtime illustrator Shawn Harris.

Episode 161 The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

We take a little trip into space with some of the oddest astronauts you'll ever meet. It's Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris' graphic novel "The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza." Students from Grover Heights Elementary School in Central California deconstruct the story and celebrity reader Jonathan Cormur from the Dorktales Storytime podcast give us a taste of the humor. Cowriter and illustrator Shawn Harris answers questions from our young readers.

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM GROVER HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins

The Last Fallen Star - Graci Kim

SHAWN HARRIS' FAVORITE BOOK:

Calvin and Hobbes - Bill Watterson

JONATHAN CORMUR'S FAVORITE BOOK:

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

A Conversation with writer Varsha Bajaj Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Writer Varsha Bajaj talks to Kitty Felde about the connection between therapy and writing and the importance of having another set of eyes on a developing manuscript.

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Episode 115 - Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

"Count Me In" by Varsha Bajaj looks at the power of social media to combat hate. The story involves a hate crime: an attack on an Indian American family and how that changes a shy girl named Karina and the boy next door who used to hang out with what the grandfather called a pack of hyenas. Our readers are 5th graders from PS 174 in Queens, New York and they interview our author. Our celebrity reader is public radio journalist Deepa Fernandes. Kitty Felde is host.

www.bookclubforkids.org

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

We are always thrilled when a middle grade novel is turned into a movie and this month, Katherine Applegate's tale of a very special gorilla THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN began airing on Disney Plus. We love Katherine Applegate. In fact, we talked to her a couple of years ago about another of her books about another wonderful animal: an invisible cat. So here's to you, Katherine Applegate: we reprise our episode of Crenshaw.

The book is the story of a family on the verge of becoming homeless. Our student readers from Gunston Middle School talk about their own experiences volunteering at a homeless shelter. Actor Rodney Lizcano from the Denver Theater Center is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Eleanor & Park - Book Club Goes to Omaha for Eleanor & Park Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

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.

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