Book Club for Kids

Latest Episodes:

A Conversation with Lisa Thompson Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

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.

The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Did you have an imaginary friend when you were little? Nate did. And he's back. Just in time. Students from Garvanza Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss Lisa Thompson's novel "The Light Jar." NPR newscaster Dale Willman 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

Favorite Books from Manchester Elementary Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

We visit Maine to talk to readers at Manchester Elementary School about their favorite books.

Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss

The Wild Robot - Peter Brown

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun - Iro

Forgotten Girl - India Hill Brown

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

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 bookclubforkidspodcast@gmail.com and we'll send you all the information.

www.bookclubforkids.org

Episode 24 - Al Capone Does My Shirts - live from the Gaithersburg Book Festival Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

It's banned books week, as we continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, it's Gennifer Choldenko's tale "Al Capone Does My Shirts." Back in 2016, the book was challenged by a group that said the book "perpetuates negative stereotypes" by including Al Capone as a character in the book.

And earlier this year, a school board member in Pennsylvania called for a ban on the Newbery Honor book because a character called an autistic teenager stupid.

The school says the books are selected by professional staff members to support the district's educataional goals and meet the learning needs of students. The writer dedicated the book to her sister who had severe autism and was the inspiration for the character.

What do you think? Give a listen to our discussion of Jennifer Cheldenko's "Al Capone Does My Shirts."

It was a rainy, muddy, fabulous day at the Gaithersburg Book Festival where this group of middle school students from Maryland discussed whether they'd like living on Alcatraz and if it's better to be the oldest or youngest in the family. Gennifer Choldenko answers their questions about researching her book AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS. NPR newscaster Jack Speer is celebrity reader. Past Book Club for Kids guests drop by as well. Kitty Felde is host.

Episode 49 - Ungifted by Gordon Korman Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

What does it mean to be "gifted?" Don't we all have unique gifts to share with the world? Readers from Eliot-Hine Middle School on Capitol Hill discuss Gordon Korman's story of a prankster who lands in a "Gifted" program. KNX sports anchor (and Talking About Cars podcast host) Randy Kerdoon is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Donna Barba Higuera Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

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.

Lupe Wong Wont Dance Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

Honeymoon Road: Pete & Me & our Model T Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

In 1925, newlyweds Pete and Gert packed up their lives and headed west for California in a Model T Ford. Gert chronicled thejourney in a series of letters.

Now, one hundred years later, a pair of cousins Kitty Felde and Marie Felde follow their route to see America through their eyes.

Join us on a podcast journey at honeymoonroad.com.

Hypatia Academy by Esther Goldenberg Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

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

Back to School Episodes: Ribblestrop by Andy Mulligan with Peter Sagal Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

Americans have a romanticized image of English boarding schools. RIBBLESTROP is the opposite of that. Writer Andy Mulligan has created what must be the most dangerous school on planet earth. And this trio of readers at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, New Jersey, debate whether they'd like to attend. Peter Sagal, playwright and host of NPR's quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!" is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Favorite books from Carolina, Jack, and Eleanor:

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library - Chris Grabenstein

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls - Claire Legrand

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Andy Mulligan's favorite books:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

Animal Farm - George Orwell