Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Get out the Kleenex and a warm jacket and gloves. This week is a heartbreaking tale of troubled foster kid who finds comfort among a herd of cows in M...

More Favorite Books from the City of StemL/A Maker Faire

Got a favorite book? These future scientists have a few suggestions:
The Heck series -  Dale E. Basye
13 1/2 Incredible Things You Need to...

Revolution by Deborah Wiles

We take a trip to Mississippi in the summer of 1964 - Freedom Summer. The second in writer Deborah Wiles' 1960's trilogy. "Revolution" is discussed by...

The Shadows by Jacqueline West

Looking for a late summer thriller? We discuss the first book in Jacqueline West's Books of Elsewhere series The Shadows with the Girlfriends BookClub...

Favorite Books from the 2026 City of Stem Festivaal

We take our microphone out to the 2026 City of Stem/LA Maker Faire to ask these young scientists and astronauts about their favorite books. Several of...

A Conversation with Lisa Graff

Before she wrote children's books, Lisa Graff worked as a nanny. What lessons from that experience did she bring to her work on the page? Lisa talks t...

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 o...

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 I...

Passenger on the Pearl by Winifred Conkling

The Book Club for Kids podcast began in the smallest quadrant of Washington DC called Southwest. It was the waterfront for DC, the place where ships w...

Favorite Books from our Voicemail

You've been calling us with your favorite books. Here's the latest list:
Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger
House Arrest - K.A...

Milo Spec Accidental Agent by Linda Urban

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...

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman

What's it like to be adopted? Does your adopted family's history become your history or do you feel the need to find your biological story? Our book t...

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 Jenn...

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...

The Lions of Little Rock - Kristin Levine

Students from Washington DC's Jefferson Academy reflect on desegregation sixty years after the Little Rock Nine. They discuss Kristin Levine's novel T...

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 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."...

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 t...

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 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 S...

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 NORVEL...

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, Pennsylvani...

Favorite Books from Loyola Village Elementary School

What makes a great book? Readers from Loyola Village Elementary School in Los Angeles have some answers.

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...

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 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...

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,...

White House Clubhouse by Sean OBrien

Former White House speechwriter Sean O'Brien takes us inside the building to a secret passageway to the past in his mystery "White House Clubhouse." R...

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 classroom...

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.

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.

NPR's Susan Stamberg live from the National Archive

We pay tribute to NPR Special Correspondent Susan Stamberg as we reprise an episode taped before a live audience at the National Archives in 2017. Rea...

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 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...

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 Rob...

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 Doe...

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 Hil...

Donna Barba Higuera

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...

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 Charl...