What do you do when your long-time school mascot is offensive to others? That's the topic in Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell. Students from Eliot-Hine Middle School discuss the novel and interview the writer. California State Los Angeles theater professor Carolyn Dunn is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Favorite Books from Eliot-Hine:

Stunt Boy - Jason Reynolds

The Falling Sword - Ben Kane

The Firekeeper's Daughter - Angeline Boulley

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger

Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut

Charles Waters' Favorite Books:

Ordinary People - Judith Guest

Raymond Carver short stories

Bronx Masquerade - Nikki Grimes

Under the Mesquite - Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Carolyn Dunn's Favorite Books:

Love Medicine - Louise Erdich

The Master Butchers Singing Club  - Louise Erdich

Lilith's Brood - Octavia E. Butler

Angela Dominguez writes and illustrates the Stella Diaz series. She talks to us about her writing path from drawing to writing.

More author interviews at our website.

We continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, we revisit STELLA DIAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY by Angela Dominguez.

In 2000, the Central York School District pulled books from shelves that dealt with race. In fact, every book removed from school classrooms and libraries were written by people of color. After months of protests, the books were once again available to students in 2001.

We invited kids onstage at the City of Stem LA Maker Faire with host Kitty Felde to tell the audience about their favorite books: 

Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

Dork Diaries - Rachel Renee Russell

Zoey and Sassafras - Asia Citro

Go Team Spidey - Steve Behling

The Secret Series - Pseudonymous Bosch

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.

Book Club for Kids live onstage!

We visit the City of Stem LA Maker Faire to bring kids onstage to talk about their favorite books!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo

The Secret Cookie Club - Martha Freeman

Shel Silverstein's books of poetry

Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

This episode is supported in art by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.

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.

Its that time of year…summer reading programs at libraries are offering lots and lots of thank you gifts for reading books.

But how hard is it to find a book you'll love? No worries. We went out the the City of Stem/LA Maker Faire to ask the experts for their book suggestions.

Cleopatra in Space - Mike Maihack

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Az and the prisoner of azkaban- J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - J.K. Rowling

The Skull - John Klassen

Dragon Girls - Maddy Mara

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

The Ogress and the Orphans - Kelly Barnhill 

Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

We'll have a list of everybody's favorite book at our website bookclubforkids.org. And if you have a favorite book, you can be on the show, too. Just give us a call at 424-209-2285 and tell us your first name, the city where you live, the name of your favorite book, and why you love it. That number again is 424-209-2285.

And if you're looking for a good mystery set inside the uS Capitol, check out StATE OF THE UNION by Kitty Felde. It just got a five star review from Forward Clarion, which called Fina an "intelligent and precocious heroine who uses her critical thinking skills and keen observational senses to suss out information on the Chickcharney and the other mysteries in her daily life."

And now you can get the Spanish version of State of the Union called Estado de la Union, translated by Jorge Flores Gonzales. And available now from Chesapeake Press, wherever great books are sold.

This episode is supported in part by a grant from the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.

It's not too late to catch up on your summer reading. But the conundrum is always: what do I read next? We have some answers from members of the Junior Librarian Commmitee at Scripps Middle School in Michigan. In fact, we turn the microphone over to librarian Lauren Dulmage who asks our favorite question: what's your favorite book?

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

Refugee - Alan Gratz

Six Crimson Cranes - Elizabeth Lim

The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer

Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

We'll have a list of everybody's favorite book at our website bookclubforkids.org. And if you have a favorite book, you can be on the show, too. Just give us a call at 424-209-2285 and tell us your first name, the city where you live, the name of your favorite book, and why you love it. That number again is 424-209-2285.

And on a purely selfish note: my Fina Mendoza Mystery novel STATE OF THE UNION just got a five star review from Forward Clarion, calling the book a "delightful mystery novel with a message of unity and cooperation." 

And now you can get the Spanish version of State of the Union called Estado de la Union, translated by Jorge Flores Gonzales. Both books are now available wherever great books are sold.

We talk to Newbery Award winning writer Christopher Paul Curtis about where "The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" came from and why he finally quit his day job. Kitty Felde is host.

We talk to writer Charles Waters about his life as an actor and how it led to his life as a poet and children's book writer. He also talks about how the Highlights Foundation changed his life. Kitty Felde is host.

As school is starting up, there are tons of books your teacher wants you to read. But what about a book YOU really want to read? Today we hear from kids as the City of Stem LA Maker Faire about the books ThEY love to read. Give a listen.

Favorite Books:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney 

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger

Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

Ada Twist, Scientist - Andrea Beaty

Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

September is the perfect time of year to start a new habit. How about 15 minutes a day reading a book YOU want to read? Need some suggestions? Give a listen as we hear from kids as the City of Stem LA Maker Faire about the books they LOVE to read. 

Projekt 1065 - Alan Gratz

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

The Light in Hidden Places - Sharon Cameron

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

Princess in Black - Shannon Hale

The Magic Factory - Morgan Rice

This episode is made possible by a grant from the LA Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan. 

And if you're looking for a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, check out the Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast. It tells the story of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves myseries inside the US Capitol...and introduces civics to kids.

The podcast is based on the Fina Mendoza series of books in both English and Spanish. 

Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza

Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza

Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th

State of the Union

Estado de la Unión

Peter Brown's wonderful book is now a movie! This week,we return to the source material.

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.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

Dork Diaries- Rachel Renée Russell

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs - Jon Scieszka

The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

East of Eden - John Steinbeck

It's that time of year: Halloween! This week, we tackle M.C. Ryder's tale of romance, betrayal, and creatures of the night The Darkest Side of the Moon. Journalist and actress Hettie Lynne Hurtes is our celebrity reader. Our readers are from Rosecrans Elementary School in Compton, California. Kitty Felde is host. 

NOTE: There are some plot spoilers.

Favorite Books from Rosecrans Elementary School:

Attack on Titan - Hajime Isayama 

Because of Winn Dixie - Kate DiCamillo

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Beyond the Story: 10-year Record of BTS - BTS, Myeongseok Kang 

MC Ryder's Favorite Book:

The Search - Iris Johansen

Hettie Lynne Hurtes' Favorite Book:

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries

Writer MC Ryder talks about writing song lyrics and middle grade book series with host Kitty Felde.

This episode began with a chance meeting in a tiny art gallery in the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Writer Isora Morales Suarez was minding the store to pay the bills, but just had her first novel for kids published in English. The Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore discuss her unusual fairy tale The Meringue Witches with host Kitty Felde. Cuban ex-pat Adolfo Nodal is celebrity reader.

Are you that aunt or uncle – the one who only gives books for birthdays and holidays? I hope so. But if it's been a few years since you've picked up a middle grade novel, we have help from some experts – kids who visited us at the City of Stem LA Maker Faire to tell us about their favorite books. Start making your list and checking it twice…

Favorite Books for Black Friday Shopping:

Eragon - Christopher Paolini

The Good Egg - Jory John and Pete Oswald

The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer

Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi

Hop on Pop - Dr. Seuss

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Babysitter's Club - Ann M. Martin

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

This episode is made possible by a grant from the LA Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan. 

How did Oprah inspire a writing career? Listen to this conversation with Nikki Shannon Smith, author of Stranded.

Readers from Las Vegas are live, onstage at the Las Vegas Book Festival, talking about Nikki Shannon Smith's tale of adventure Stranded. Award-winning journalist Rita Pardue from KUNV is celebrity reader. Taped before a live audience, readers have lots of questions for writer Nikki Shannon Smith. Kitty Felde is host.

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE LAS VEGAS BOOK FESTIVAL:

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo

Cleopatra in Space - Mike Maihack

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Wings of Fire -  Tui T. Sutherland

Battle Dragons City of Thieves - Alex London 

Weird Kid - Greg von Eekhout

Oh My Gods! - Stephanie Cooke

NIKKI SHANNON SMITH'S FAVORITE BOOK:

Roots - Alex Haley

RITA PARDUE'S FAVORITE BOOK:

Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

Did you ever think you were a little different than everybody else in school? Suppose you found out there's a reason for that and that reason is that you're actually a witch. That's the story of "The Okay Witch," by Emma Steinkellner. Students from Virginia Road Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss the graphic novel and interview Emma. Actress Diane Adair is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

www.bookclubforkids.org

Ghosts (Fantasmas) - Raina Telegemeier

The Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi

Dork Diaries -Rachel Renée Russel

Sisters - Raina Telegemeier

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Holes - Louis Sachar

Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine

A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

We continue our series of episodes highlighting banned books. This week, it's Elizabeth Acevedo's novel The Poet X. The novel in verse was challenged in 2020 by parents in North Carolina who argued that the book was unconstitutionally hostile to religion. The challenge was turned down by the courts. It was again challenged in 2023 in Wisconsin because of objections about frank language about  sex.  In both cases, the books were part of the high school's curriculum.

The book is all about poetry and body image and standing up for yourself. It's the National Book Award winning novel The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, DC discuss the novel with host Kitty Felde. Our celebrity reader is actress Monica Vigil from our other podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES.

Did you ever wish that you had a pet elephant? Well, Jordan was lucky enough to find one. That unusual relationship is at the heart of our book Jordan and Marshmallow by Alina Chau. Readers from Atwater Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss disabilities, sports, and Indonesia with host Kitty Felde. Our celebrity reader is NPR's host of "All Things Considered" Ailsa Chang.

One Piece - Eiichiro Oda

The Wild Robot - Peter Brown

Dogman - Dav Pilkey

Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey

The Funjungle Series - Stuart Gibbs

Trickster: Native American Tales - Matt Dembicki

Dirty Rotten Bugs: Arthropods Unite to Tell Their Side of the Story -

Jujutsu Kaizen - Gege Akutami

Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi

Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

Alina Chau's Favorite Book:

Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne

Ailsa Chang's Favorite Book:

When Love is More than Words - Jocelyn Chung

For a writer who both illustrates and creates the story for a book, which comes first? We ask writer/illustrator Alina Chau who created "Marshmallow & Jordan."

Everybody wants to go to Paris…especially Nikki Maxwell! Readers from Hollingworth Elementary School discuss the latest entry in Rachel Renée Russell's series. It's Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure. Rachel and daughter Nikki Russell, who illustrates the books, answer questions from the kids. Our celebrity reader is actress/screenwriter Kate Orsini. Kitty Felde is host.

We end the year with a special episode from our other podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES. Fina is the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries in the U.S. Capitol with the help of a big orange dog named Senator Something. This episode takes place January 6th, 2021 and is designed to help adults talk to kids about the events of that day. It's based on the book LOSING IS DEMOCRATIC: HOW TO TALK TO KIDS ABOUT JANUARY 6TH and contains curriculum for use in the classroom or homeschool. 

Here's a link to purchase an autographed copy of the book.

For Black History Month and Valentines Day, we have a special love story – part fiction, part fact, based on a landmark US Supreme Court case. It's called "Loving Vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case" by Patricia Hruby Powell. It's the story of an interracial couple who only wanted to marry the person they loved. Our celebrity reader, actress Crystal West. Readers from Virginia discuss the book and the legal case that took place in their own state. Kitty Felde is host.

We polled readers at the City of Stem/LA Maker Faire about their favorite books. (By the way, Book Club for Kids will be taping more book suggestion interviews at this year's event on Saturday, April 12th at Exposition Park in Los Angeles.) Kitty Felde is host.

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE CITY OF STEM/LA MAKER FAIRE:

Orphan, Monster, Spy - Matt Killeen

Wonder - R.J. Palacio

Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Never-Ending Day - Wanda Coven

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

The Fourth Closet - Christopher Hastings, Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley

Felix and Phoebe's Robot - Team 4 Element

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

We speak to Israeli writer Ofir Lobel, author of "101 Ways to Lose Your Homework: the Snotty Snail" about the difference between writing in graphic novels and writing a screenplay for a movie. He also talks about writing in a country at war. Kitty Felde is host.

This week, it's a graphic novel with evil twins, lost homework, and a giant snail. Oh, and a talking frog. The book is "101 Reasons Why I Lost My Homework Again: The Snotty Snail" by Ofir Lobel. Our readers are from Valley Beth Shalom Day School in Encino, California. Sportswriter Keith Thursby is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Favorite Books from Valley Beth Shalom Day School:

A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket

Harry Potter - JK Rowling

Dragon Masters - Tracey West

A Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson

Ofir Lobel's Favorite Book

Little Nicolas -Rene Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe

Keith Thursby's Favorite Book:

 The Jim Murray Reader - Jim Murray & Vin Scully

We'll have a list of everybody's favorite books at our website, www.bookclubforkids.org.

And if you have a favorite book, you can be on the BookClub for Kids podcast, too. Just have your parent, teacher, or librarian send us an email at kitty@bookclubforkids.org and we'll send you all the information.  

We have a free newsletter for teachers, parents, and librarians, full of free tips about how to turn kids into lifelong readers. You can sign up at our website: www.bookclubforkids.org. 

 This episode is made possible by a grant from the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan. I'm KF, thanks for listening.

 And by the way, the makers of Book Club for Kids have created a very different podcast, a mystery about the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries on Capitol Hill…and teaches civics along the way. It's called The Fina Mendoza Mysteries and it's available now for free wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you like the series, check out the books the podcast is based on. Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza and State of the Union are available in both English and Spanish and book 3 Snake in the Grass – about how the bitter partisanship on Capitol Hill has led someone to put snakes in the gym bags and trash cans of members of Congress – comes out April 1, 2025. Get it here.

Looking for your next favorite read? We've got it, courtesy of kids at the City of Stem/LA Maker Faire.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo

Magic Treehouse - Mary Pope Osborne

Bunny vs Monkey -Jamie Smart

A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Fart Quest - Aaron Reynolds

Hilo - Judd Winick

Masterminds - Gordon Korman

The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart

We have LOTS of other book suggestions at our website

But a different version of the show aired on a local cable channel, LA36, taping episodes at the downtown LA public library. This year, we'll be sharing those conversations once a month and we start with readers from St. Mark's Lutheran School in Hacienda Heights, California discussing Gail Carson Levine's classic take on Cinderella "Ella Enchanted" with host Kitty Felde.

You can WATCH this episode on YouTube. Click here.

What's your favorite book?

A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 7 -Lemony Snicket

Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan

Angry Aztecs (Horrible Histories) - Terry Deary

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

Invisible Inkling - Emily Jenkins

Cat Kid Comic Club - Dav Pilkey

Aru Sha - Roshani Chokshi

Frizzy - Claribel Ortega

Students from Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Washington, DC talk about "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. The conversation covers everything from death to Nazis to books. Actress Melanie MacQueen (Robotech) is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Markus Zusak interview is courtesy of the Australian bookstore Booktopia. 

Spoiler Alert: plot points are discussed in this episode.

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM STUART-HOBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL:

The Girl Who Drank the Moon - Kelly Barnhill

Dork Diaries - Rachel Renee Russell

Harry Potter Prisoner of  Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

MARCUS ZUSAK'S FAVORITE BOOKS:

What's Eating Gilbert Grape - Peter Hedges

Wonder Boys - Michael Chabon

The Odyssey - Homer, translated by Emily Wilson

MELANIE MACQUEEN'S FAVORITE BOOK:

Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne

Jewell Parker Rhodes, winner of the American Book Award, talks about the difficulty of writing "Ghost Boys" and about her own reading journey with host Kitty Felde.

bookclubforkids.org

. We continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, it's Jewell Parker Rhodes' tale of a young black boy shot by a white police officer "Ghost Boys." The book was temporarily banned in Florida's second largest school district over a complaint that the book was "propaganda" against the police. A rural school district in California removed the book from curriculum after a parent complained about political views in the book.  Give a listen to our discussion of "Ghost Boys."

Last Saturday was the culver city book festival and book club for kids was there, gathering great suggestions for your next favorite read. We've got a different take on Shakespeare, a it of underwear humor, and a debate about which does a better job of telling the story; the book or the movie.

Favorite Books from the Culver City Book Festival:

The Apothacary - Sarah Penner

These Violent Delights - Chloe Gong

Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey

The Wild Robot - Peter Brown

Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

Angels and Demons - Dan Brown

If you're a teacher or librarian in LA County and you'd like your readers to star on a Book Club for Kids podcast, send us an email to bookclubforkidspodcast@gmail.com and we'll send you all the information.

This week, host Kitty Felde asks future scientists what they are reading. Here's some suggestions:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas

Books of Bayern - Shnnon Hale

Five Worlds - Mark Siegel

The Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo

Percy Jackson 5: The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes - Rick Riordan

Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

Last week, we talked about "Refugee," Alan Gratz' tale of kids fleeing violence and political oppression around the world. It's a tough read. I had to put it down a few times. But how difficult is it to write a book about a tough subject? We asked Alan Gratz.

What would it be like to leave everything you know, everything you own, everyone you love to escape war, persecution, or poverty? In "Refugee," Alan Gratz imagines how three young people struggle to survive as they excape to freedom. Students from Washington Latin Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Actress Amy Solano is celebrity reader.

SPOILER ALERT: plot points are discussed in this episode.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Long Haul - Jeff Kinney

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

As Brave as You - Jason Reynolds

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

We brought our giant microphone to the 2025 City of Stem/LA Maker Faire in Los Angeles on Saturday, asking kids our favorite question: what's your favorite book? Here are just some of the titles:

The Maze Runner series - James Dashner

Twins - Rain Telgemeier

My Weird School - Dan Gutman

Ellray Jakes - Sally Warner

Magic Treehouse - Mary Pope Osborne

Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

The Canyon's Edge - Dusti Bowling

The Baby-Sitters Club - Ann M. Martin

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Fazbear Fights - Scott Cawthon 

We continue our series highlighting episodes that feature books that have been banned or challenged. This week, it's Walter Dean Myers' tale of a kid on trial for murder "Monster." 

 In 2021, parents in Signal Mountain Middle/High School in Tennessee complained about mature language and sexual content in some 7th grade reading club selections. In response, a teacher told parents she was removing "Monster" from the reading list. 

Myers reacted to the book ban by saying,"I think that most often the people wanting to censor books are well-meaning and concerned about the welfare of their children. But I suggest that children will be exposed to the world in spite of their efforts, and that exposure is best handled in a school setting. I write to establish the humanity of the children I identify as my major audience. I'm not trying to push any boundaries."

 Give a listen as a group of readers from Washington,DC discuss the book and make up your own mind.

Last week, we took a trip to Hawaii to discuss "Lei and the Fire Goddess." This week, we talk to author Malia Maunakea about using Google maps as a writer, the difference between writing fiction and non-fiction, ADHD, even tax write-offs! Kitty Felde is host.

This week, we talk about myths – whether it's on Capitol Hill or Hawaii. Our book is "Lei and the Fire Goddess" by Malia Maunakea. Our readers are members of the Page Turners Book Club at East City Bookshop in Washington, DC. Our celebrity reader is playwright Kiki Rivera. Kitty Felde is host.

The kids mention Keeper of the Lost Cities 

I mention a book with the DC myth about the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill: Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza

Favorite Books from the Page Turners Book Club at East City Bookshop:

Hooky - Miriam Bonastre Tur

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Mac B. Kid Spy - Matt Barnett 

A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes

Who Was...

Sisters - Raina Telgemeier

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

Dragon Masters - Tracey West

Malia Maunakea's Favorite Book:

The Far Side - Gary Larson

This week we talk to some older readers at the Culver City book Festival about their favorite books. Once again, fantasy seems to be the fan favorite. Give a listen.

Once and Future - Cory McCarthy & A. R. Capetta

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Big Nate - Lincoln Peirce

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Today it's a book for older kids – "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas. Our main character is an aspiring rap star dealing with sudden fame and the reputation of her late father. Our readers are from West Education Campus in Washington, D.C. Actress Tallie Johnson is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. 

Lost and Found (Bluford High Series #1) – Anne Schraff

The Day Tajon Got Shot - Beacon House Writers

When We Collided - Emery Lord

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Mildred D. Taylor

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.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library - Chris Grabenstein

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls - Claire Legrand

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

Animal Farm - George Orwell

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.

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.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

Dork Diaries- Rachel Renée Russell

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs - Jon Scieszka

The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

East of Eden - John Steinbeck