Book Club for Kids

Witches, monsters, and a brave little thief. These are the ingredients in Claire Legrand's novel "Foxheart." Readers in Boulder, Colorado discuss whether they'd head off on a quest and ask the author questions. Actor Wesley Mann is our celebrity reader.

Writer Jennifer Holm discusses her Key West trilogy, family history, and nicknames.

Got a nickname? Everybody in Key West seems to have one. Including a little girl named Turtle. Readers in Broomfield, Colorado discuss Jennifer Holm's "Turtle in Paradise" with host Kitty Felde. KQED public radio's Rachel Myrow is celebrity reader.

The 1978 classic mystery is the pick of readers in Connecticut. Students at Abraham Pierson School also explain why readers of all ages love mysteries. Actor Doug Cox is celebrity reader. And children's book expert Anita Silvey shares some of Ellen Raskin's writing secrets. Kitty Felde is host.

If you heard last week’s show SPY SCHOOL, you heard part of a conversation with writer Stuart Gibbs. What you didn’t hear was the wildlife encounter in the middle of that conversation that stopped us in the middle of our tracks. Stuart Gibbs shows off his knowledge of the groundhog family. And we talk about how a Hollywood agent was the one who first inspired him to write for kids.

Is there really a secret school in Washington, DC to train kids to become spies? We ask the experts in this episode: kids from Key Elementary in our nation's capital and the man whose job description includes overseeing the activities and budget of the CIA, California Congressman Eric Swalwell. Author "Spy Kids" Stuart Gibbs joins us to share the inspiration for our novel "Spy Kids." 

Readers from DC's Jefferson Academy discuss kindness to those who are different and the use of different points of view with host Kitty Felde. Public radio's "On the Media" cohost Bob Garfield is celebrity reader.

We talked to Jack Gantos briefly on Episode 36, "Dead End in Norvelt," but had to leave out much of the conversation. Here, Jack talks about getting 36 early rejections, his transition from teaching to writing, and of course, his beloved Norvelt, Pennsylvania. With host Kitty Felde.

Writer Jack Gantos has his own unusual take on a childhood in the town named after Eleanor Roosevelt - the real-life place called Norvelt, Pennsylvania. Readers from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia discuss "Dead End in Norvelt" with host Kitty Felde. KPFK radio host Wenzel Jones is celebrity reader.

Kids from Virginia discuss the second in writer Deborah Wiles' trilogy about 1960 America: "Revolution." KNX-CBS Newsradio anchor Mark Austin Thomas is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Kids of all ages share titles from their favorite books with host Kitty Felde

Kids from LA's Ambassador School of Global Education discuss Heather Vogel Frederick's tale of espionage inside the walls of the International Spy Museum SPY MICE. Former CIA agent Valerie Plame is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Can you fight cancer by climbing a mountain? A trio of 6th graders from Arlington, Virginia discuss Dan Gemeinhart's novel "The Honest Truth" with host Kitty Felde. Dan talks about creating characters. Mountaineer Christina Dale talks about climbing Mt. Rainier and reads from the book.

Readers from Colorado discuss Lisa Graff's novel "Absolutely Almost" with host Kitty Felde. Actor Thaddeus Fitzpatrick is celebrity reader.

Young readers from Chicago and northern Virginia share their favorite books with host Kitty Felde.