Book Club for Kids

kitty felde
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Oct 22, 2025 • 23min

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 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
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Oct 15, 2025 • 9min

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 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  
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Oct 8, 2025 • 45min

Episode 24 - Al Capone Does My Shirts - live from the Gaithersburg Book Festival

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.
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Oct 1, 2025 • 26min

Episode 49 - Ungifted by Gordon Korman

  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.
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Sep 24, 2025 • 8min

Donna Barba Higuera

Donna Barba Higuera, author of Lupe Wong Won't Dance, talks about creating an unlikeable character and shares endearing qualities of Lupe. They also discuss the scarcity of difficult characters in middle grade novels and give a sneak preview of upcoming science fiction novels.
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Sep 17, 2025 • 24min

Lupe Wong Wont Dance

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. 
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Sep 10, 2025 • 23min

Honeymoon Road: Pete & Me & our Model T

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.
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Sep 3, 2025 • 24min

Hypatia Academy by Esther Goldenberg

This podcast explores the book 'Hypatia Academy' by Esther Goldenberg, featuring invisible students and K'lepreechons. They also discuss favorite books including 'Out of My Mind' and the 'Savvy' series, as well as the fascination with dystopian novels like Divergent and the Hunger Games.
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Aug 27, 2025 • 23min

Back to School Episodes: Ribblestrop by Andy Mulligan with Peter Sagal

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
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Aug 20, 2025 • 9min

A Conversation with Shannon Messenger

Shannon Messenger, New York Times bestselling writer, discusses how she keeps a long series organized, her journey from film school to writing children's books, and the influences of film school on her writing style.

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