Book Club for Kids

Latest Episodes:

A Conversation with Shannon Messenger Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Thinking of writing a series? We ask New York Times bestselling writer Shannon Messenger about the 101 things a series writer has to think about. Kitty Felde is host.

Number One on Book Club for Kids' Top Ten List - Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

We added up the numbers and found our NUMBER ONE top listened-to episode over the past decade of Book Club for Kids! It's Shannon Messenger's fantasy adventure Keeper of the Lost Cities. Readers from St. Elizabeth School in Maryland discuss The girls ask our writer to pick her favorite characters, something she hates to do. Our celebrity reader is host of the Roman on the Radio podcast Nick Roman. Kitty Felde is host.

Top Ten Episodes Number 2 James and the Giant Peach Aug 06, 2025

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It was our fourth episode and Roald Dahl's first book for children. Number Two on our top ten list is "James and the Giant Peach" with Cash Peters as celebrity reader. Students from LA's Equitas Academy discuss the book with host Kitty Felde.

Free curriculum guide at bookclubforkids.org.

A Conversation with Varian Johnson Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

What makes a good mystery? We talk to writer Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance. Kitty Felde, who writes her own mystery series THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES is host.

TOP TEN EPISODES #3: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

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.

TOP TEN LIST #4: The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

A Conversation with Jerry Craft Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

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

TOP TEN LIST: #5 New Kid by Jerry Craft Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

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 on Writing Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

TOP TEN LIST: #6 The Wild Robot by Peter Brown Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

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