Episode 149 - Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure - Rachel Renée Russell

Isabel, Jasmine, Kirsten, Lucinda, and Jereme from Hollingworth Elementary School in West Covina, California

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.

Writer Rachael Renée Russell and daughter/illustrator Nikki Russell

Celebrity reader, actress/screenwriter Kate Orsini

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM Hollingworth ELEMENTARY:

Amazing Athletes: Tom Brady - Jeff Savage

Amazing Athletes: Serena Williams - John M. Fishman

Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling

Rachel Renée Russell’s Favorite Book:

Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

Nikki Russell’s Favorite Book:

Junie B. Jones - Barbara Park

Kate orsini’s favorite book:

Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein

All of Our Episodes

BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS episodes:

The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo

I Lived on Butterfly Hill - Marjorie Agosin

The Crossover - Kwame Alexander

Our Teacher is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories - Mary Amato

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda - Tom Angleberger

Crenshaw - Katherine Applegate

The Year I Flew Away - Marie Arnold

Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard

Tuck Everlasting - Natalie Babbitt

The Jumbies - Tracey Baptiste

Count Me In - Varsha Bajaj

The Girl Who Drank the Moon - Kelly Barnhill

The Worst Class Trip Ever - Dave Barry

The Thing About Jellyfish - Ali Benjamin

The Bad Guys - Aaron Blabey

Tangerine - Edward Bloor

The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch

The Length of a String - Elissa Brent Weissman

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The War That Saved My Life -  Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Code Talker - Joseph Bruchac

Because of Mr. Terupt - Rob Buyea

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine

The Storm Runner - J.C. Cervantes

Pashmina - Nidhi Chanani

The Secret Zoo - Bryan Chick

Troublemaker - John Cho

Al Capone Does My Shirts - Gennifer Choldenko

Swim Team - Johnnie Christmas

Passenger on the Pearl - Winifred Conkling

New Kid - Jerry Craft

Moo - Sharon Creech

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 - Christopher Paul Curtis

James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl

The Lemonade War - Jacqueline Davies

Flying the Dragon - Natalie Dias Lorenzi

Invisible - Christina Diaz Gonzalez

The Tiger Rising - Kate DiCamillo

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say - Angela Dominguez

Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper

The City of Ember - Jeanne Duprau

Hour of the Bees - Lindsay Eagar

Hello Universe - Erin Entrada Kelly'

Shooting Stars - Brian Falkner

Gilded - Christina Farley

A Place at the Table - Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Starfish - Lisa Fipps

The Great Brain - John D. Fitzgerald

Dead End in Norvelt - Jack Gantos

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia/Margaret Stohl

The Honest Truth - Dan Gemeinhart

Spy School - Stuart Gibbs

Old Yeller - Fred Gipson

Counting by 7’s - Holly Goldberg Sloan

Hypatia Academy - Esther Goldenberg

Absolutely Almost - Lisa Graff

Refugee - Alan Gratz

Turtles All the Way Down - John Green

Garvey’s Choice - Nikki Grimes

Jackie & Me - Dan Gutman

Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance - Donna Barba Higuera

The Night Diary - Veera Hiranandani

Turtle in Paradise - Jennifer L. Holm

Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz

Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case - Patricia Hruby Powell

The Parker Inheritance - Varian Johnson

Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi

Ungifted - Gordon Korman

Foxheart - Claire Legrand

The Lions of Little Rock - Kristin Levine

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L’Engle

Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword - Henry Lien

When the Sea Turned to Silver - Grace Lin

The Willoughbys - Lois Lowry

A Little Wicked - Janet Macreery

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano - Sonia Manzano

The Door by the Staircase - Katherine Marsh

A Mango Shaped Space - Wendy Mass

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass - Meg Medina

Not A Unicorn - Dana Middleton

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger

Eye of the Storm - Kate Messner

When Stars Are Scattered - Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson

The Meringue Witches - Isora Morales Suarez

Fish in a Tree - Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Ribblestrop - Andy Mulligan

Esperanza Rising - Pam Munoz Ryan

Monster - Walter Dean Myers

Alligator Bayou - Donna Jo Napoli

The Hound of Rowan - Henry Neff

Yummy - G Neri

Daring Darlene, Queen of the Screen - Anne Nesbet

The Apprentice Witch - James Nicol

One Amazing Elephant - Linda Oatman High

Wish - Barbara O’Connor

Wonder - R.J. Palacio

A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park

Ghost Boys - Jewell Parker Rhodes

Public School Superhero - James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

Pax - Sara Pennypacker

The First Rule of Punk - Celia Perez

Double Identity - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Tales from the Odyssey - Mary Pope Osborne

The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin

As Brave As You - Jason Reynolds

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell

Rooftoppers - Katherine Rundell

Dork Diaries 15: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure - Rachel Renée Russell

The Moon WIthin - Aida Salazar

The Carrefour Curse - Dianne K. Salerni

Orbiting Jupiter - Gary D. Schmidt

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu - Wendy Shang

Bees on the Roof - Robbie Shell

Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze - Alan Silberberg

Flickers - Arthur Slade

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

Hoodoo - Ronald L. Smith

Orleans - Sherri L. Smith

The Struggle: Mom and the Summertime Blues - The Smith Family

Orphan Island - Laurel Snyder

A Wish in the Dark - Christina Soontornvat

Maniac Magee - Jerry Spinelli

Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe - Tricia Springstubb

The Ethan I Was Before - Ali Standish

When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead

Cathedral of Bones - A.J. Steiger

The Okay Witch - Emma Steinkellner

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

On the Come Up - Angie Thomas

Stef Soto, Taco Queen - Jennifer Torres

Milo Speck, Accidental Agent - Linda Urban

Click Here: To Find Out How I Survived Seventh Grade - Denise Vega

Spy Mice - Heather Vogel Frederick

Other Words for Home - Jasmine Warga

Watch Us Rise - Renee Watson & Ellen Hagan

The Shadows - Jacqueline West

Revolution - Deborah Wiles

One Crazy Summer - Rita Williams-Garcia

Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel - Kimberly Willis Holt

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street - Karina Yan Glaser

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

COMING SOON:

The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls - James Bird

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels - Beth Lincoln

Lei and the Fire Goddess - Malia Maunakea

Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind - Misa Sugiura

Mascot - Charles Waters and Traci Sorell

The Bicycle Spy - Yona Zeldis McDonough

Episode 148 - Troublemaker by John Cho

On April 29th, 1992, a jury in Simi Valley, a town just north of Los Angeles, did not convict four LAPD officers for the beating of an African American motorist named Rodney King. Within hours, rioting broke out across the city. A particular target was liquor and convenience stores owned by Korean immigrants. The event is at the heart of actor and writer John Cho’s novel Troublemaker. Our celebrity reader is LAPD Officer Tony Hyong Im. Our readers from Tyler Elementary School in Washington DC try to come up with their own solutions to finding solutions to a community’s anger. Kitty Felde is host.

John Cho

Celebrity reader, LAPD Officer Tony Hyong Im

Favorite books from tyler elementary:

My Year in the Middle - Lila Quintero Weaver

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

City Spies - James Ponti

Godzilla - Shigeru Kayama

JOHN CHO’S FAVORITE BOOK

The Joke - Milan Kundera

OFFICER TONY IM’S FAVORITE BOOK

The Mickey Mantle Murder - Walt Brown

Episode 147 - Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Readers from Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia

There are some people we just don't notice. A quiet student, immigrants speaking in their own language, a homeless person living in a van - you could call them invisible. That's the name of our book Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Students from Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia discuss the bilingual graphic novel with host Kitty Felde. Our celebrity reader is Monica Sanchez.

Writer Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Celebrity Reader Monica Sanchez

Favorite Books from Swanson Middle School:

Fifth Quarter - Mike Dawson

The Tryout - Christina Soontornvat 

Cirque du Freak - Darren Shan

Every Last Word - Tamara Ireland Stone

Miss Quinces - Kat Fajardo

Michael Jackson in Comics - Ceka

Christina Diaz Gonzalez' Favorite Book:

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle

Favorite Books of Monica Sanchez

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

I'll Love You Forever - Owen Hart

Books by Monica Brown

Challenged Books: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Book Worm Girls Book Club from Omaha, Nebraska.

We continue our stroll through episodes of the Book Club for Kids, focusing on books that are banned or challenged. Today we look at Rainbow Rowell’s novel Eleanor and Park. 

 In 2013, the book was challenged by a group of parents in the Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota. They pointed to 227 instances of what they described as “vile profanity” and sexuality and demanded that the book be removed from school libraries. A review committee of parents, staff, and a single student considered the request, but decided that the book was powerful, realistic, and relevant to the high school community and should be allowed to remain in school libraries. The school district revised its policy stating that, “In any case where materials selected may be of questionable fit for some students in the intended audience, educators should consult with a principal regarding parental notification and potential options for alternatives.”

We hear from kids in America’s heartland, discussing Eleanor and Park.

Book Club for Kids goes to Omaha where this month, the Omaha Public Library is sponsoring the Omaha Reads program, encouraging the city to read local author Rainbow Rowell's unlikely romance Eleanor & Park." Members of the Book Worm Girls Book Group discuss the show with host Kitty Felde. Former Congressman Brad Ashford is our celebrity reader. Writer Rainbow Rowell tells how the book she pitched to her agent became very personal indeed.

Congressman Brad Ashford

Book Club for Kids goes to Omaha where this month, the Omaha Public Library is sponsoring the Omaha Reads program, encouraging the city to read local author Rainbow Rowell's unlikely romance "Eleanor & Park." Members of the Book Worm Girls Book Group discuss the show with host Kitty Felde. Omaha Congressman Brad Ashford is our celebrity reader. Writer Rainbow Rowell tells how the book she pitched to her agent became very personal indeed.

---

favorite books from omaha:

Recommended by the Book Worm Girls book club, Victoria, Malia, Reece, and Bella:

Percy Jackson series - Rick Riordan
Out of My Mind – Sharon M. Draper
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

Recommended by Congressman Brad Ashford:

View from the Summit: The Remarkable Memoir by the First Person to Conquer Everest - Sir Edmund Hillary
The Hardy Boys

---

Episode 146 - When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson

Readers from Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia

More than a hundred million people have fled violence and persecution around the world. But that’s just a number. Who are these refugees? Meet Omar. He’s the protagonist in the graphic novel When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson. It’s based on a true story. Our celebrity reader is Matthew Saltmarsh from UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Our readers are from Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia.

Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson

Matthew Saltmarsh from UNHCR

favorite books from dorothy hamm middle school:

One of Us is Lying - Karen McManus

A Tale of Magic - Chris Colfer

Tokyo Ever After - Emiko Jean

This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality - Jo Ann Allen Boyce

Killer Instinct - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Matthew Saltmarsh’s Favorite book:

Sophie’s World - Jostein Gaarder

A mural at Dorothy Hamm Middle School of Ronald Deskins, Michael Jones, Lance Newman, and Gloria Thompson, the first African American students at the school in 1959.

Episode 145 - Yummy by G Neri

Christian, Jaidyn, and Kreem from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, DC

Where do gangsters come from? How can we keep kids out of gangs? Our readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, D.C. have some ideas. They discuss G Neri’s graphic novel Yummy and have a few questions for him. Celebrity reader is Ariel Richardson.

Writer G Neri

Celebrity reader Ariel Richardson

Favorite Books from Charles Hart Middle School:

Demon Slayer - Natsuki Hokami

One Piece - Eiichiro Oda

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

G Neri’s favorite book:

The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster

ariel richardson’s favorite book:

All About Love - Bell Hooks

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

Samantha, Jalen, and Shannon from Immaculate Conception School in the Bronx, New York

We continue to look through our many episodes of the Book Club for Kids podcast to examine the titles that have been banned or challenged. Today, we look at the 1977 Newbery Medal awarded novel by Mildred D. Taylor Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

The book has been challenged in school districts from Burbank, California to Oviedo, Florida to Huntsville, Alabama mostly for the use of the N word 

In Burbank, the book was removed from required reading lists, though kids can choose to read the book and it can be used in small groups after the teacher has undergone training on facilitating conversations on racism, implicit bias, and racial identity. 

Mildred D. Taylor said "As a parent I understand not wanting a child to hear painful words, but as a parent I do not understand not wanting a child to learn about a history that is part of America, a history about a family representing millions of families that are strong and loving who remain united and strong, despite the obstacles they face."

Here are some links to our sources:

• https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/roll-of-thunder-hear-my-cry/

• https://ncac.org/update/letter-from-ncac-to-protest-the-challenging-of-roll-of-thunder-hear-my-cry

• https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-11-12/burbank-unified-challenges-books-including-to-kill-a-mockingbird

  We turn back the clock to a difficult period of history in Jim Crow America. The book is the Newbery award winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Readers from Immaculate Heart Catholic School discuss the difference between present-day Bronx and the south of the 1930's. Actress Tracy Leigh is celebrity reader. Literary historian Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings of the University of South Carolina offers her perspective on the author.

Writer Mildred D. Taylor

Celebrity reader, actress Tracy Leigh

Literary historian Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings of the University of South Carolina writes books under the name Dinah Johnson

Favorite Books from Immaculate Conception School:

Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson

The Apollo series - Rick Riordan

The Giver - Lois Lowry

Tracy Leigh’s Favorite Book:

Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White

Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings’ Favorite Magazine:

The Brownies’ Book

Banned Books: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Robert, Sabine, and Dorothy from Equitas Academy in Los Angeles, California

In 2022, nearly two thousand books were challenged in libraries across America. According to the American Library Association, that’s a 20% jump over a year ago.

We looked back over our nearly 150 episodes of the Book Club for Kids podcast and were surprised to see how many of our titles are on challenged or banned lists.

Once a month, we’ll be reprising our Banned Books Episodes, along with the reasons these particular books raised red flags for some readers.

We encourage you to listen to these episodes, the discussion with the kids, and judge for yourself.

James and the Giant Peach was banned in Wisconsin after a religious group complained that a spider licking her lips was sexual.

Book Club for Kids believes we are most threatened by a generation that does not or cannot read, not by their choice of book.

It’s one of those moments in history when we’d just rather escape in a giant peach. It’s a discussion of Roald Dahl's first book for kids James and the Giant Peach. Public radio’s Cash Peters is celebrity reader. Students from Equitas Academy Charter Middle School discuss the book with host Kitty Felde.

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl Museum and Story Center

Celebrity reader Cash Peters

 James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl

Also by Roald Dahl:

"Boy"

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

"Matilda"- Roald Dahl

Recommended by Sabine, Robert, and Dorothy:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K.Rowlings
The Road – Cormac McCathy (mature)
Savvy – Ingrid Law

---

Episode 144 - Witchlings by Claribel Ortega

Readers from Brookland Middle School in Washington, DC

Do witches have cliques? What happens when you're an outcast? Would you be brave enough to hunt down monsters? Students at Brookland Middle School in Washington, DC discuss Claribel Ortega's novel Witchlings. Veteran journalist Stephanie Roberts is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde his host.

Writer Claribel Ortega

Celebrity Reader Stephanie Roberts

Favorite Books from Brookland Middle School:

Judy B Jones series - Barbara Park

Best Babysitters Ever - Caroline Cala

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle

Claribel Ortega's Favorite Book:

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

Stephanie Roberts' Favorite Book:

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day -Judith Viorst 

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Want to learn more about Dia de los Muertos? Listen to this special episode from our sister podcast THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES.

There is free curriculum for this episode.

LISTEN NOW

Episode 143 - The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Katie, Ravi, Isaac, and Francis from Newport Mill Middle School in Maryland

A young girl struggles to find out how her best friend died. It must be a deadly jellyfish. So she seeks out the experts. The book is The Thing by Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. Readers from Newport Mill Middle School discuss death, "borrowing" their parents' credit card, and jellyfish. Writer Ali Benjamin talks about finding a character's voice. Legendary marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Writer Ali Benjamin

Celebrity reader Diana Nyad

Favorite books from newport mill middle school:

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

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Ali benjamin’s favorite books:

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - E. L. Konigsburg

Einstein’s Dreams - Alan Lightman

diana nyad’s favorite book:

Endurance - Alfred Lansing

The Parker Inheritance - Varian Johnson

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.

Varian Johnson

Celebrity reader Sheila Collins

Favorite Books from AIM Academy:

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas

Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi

Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds

varian johnson’s favorite books:

Holes - Louis Sachar

When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead

The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin

Raina Telgemeier

One Crazy Summer - Rita Williams-Garcia

Sheila collins’ favorite book:

The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros

Celebrity reader Sheila Collins didn’t just want to tell us about her favorite book, she wanted to show us!

Episode 142 - The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Readers from Taylor Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia

Looking for an "old fashioned" book...with a twist? We discuss Lois Lowry's unusual tale The Willoughbys with readers from Taylor Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia. Our celebrity reader is the host of the daily news podcast The Gist Mike Pesca. Kitty Felde is host.

Writer Lois Lowry

Celebrity Reader Mike Pesca

Favorite Books from Taylor Elementary School:

Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate DiCamillo

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger

Front Desk - Kelly Yang

Number the Stars - Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry's Favorite Books:

Sarah, Plain and Tall - Sarah MacLachlan

Indian Captive - Lois Lensky

Mike Pesca's Favorite Book: 

The Progress Paradox - Greg Easterbrook

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

Our readers from Maury Elementary: Kevin, Rain, Aniyah, and Kelis

Suppose you discovered a tiger in a cage. Would you set him free? That's the dilemna for our heros in the book The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo. Readers from Maury Elementary School in Washington, DC tackle the book. Writer Kate DiCamillo joins us as well. Veteran political reporter Dave Bryan is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Writer Kate DiCamillo

Veteran political reporter Dave Bryan

Favorite books from Maury Elementary:

Home of the Brave - Katherine Applegate

Smile -  Raina Telgemeier

Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi

Favorite book of Kate DiCamillo:

Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

Favorite Book of Dave Bryan:

Walt Disney's Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier

(A Little Golden Book) - Irwin & Mel Crawford

Episode 141 - The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni

Phoebe, Jayden, Ella, Margot, Alexa and Mae from Atwater STEAM Elementary School star on this week’s podcast.

Do you like spooky stories? Give a listen to The Carrefour Curse,  tale about the power of gemstones and family secrets. Readers from Atwater STEAM Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss the mystery with host Kitty Felde. Writer Dianne K. Salerni admits that she was inspired by a forbidden TV show. Our celebrity reader is Lost in Space actress Marta Kristen.

Celebrity reader Marta Kristen.

Writer Dianne K. Salerni shares a book with her cat Luna

Favorite Books from Atwater elementary:

Ivy & Bean - Annie Barrows

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo

The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch

Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

The Giver - Lois Lowry

The Land of Stories - Chris Colfer

Marta Kristen’s favorite book:

The City of Joy - Dominique Lapierre

Dianne K. Salerni’s favorite book:

No More Dead Dogs - Gordon Korman

Mr. Rodriguez’ class at Atwater STEAM Elementary School in Los Angeles

Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe by Tricia Springstubb

Carter, Dominique, and Amena from Randle Highlands Elementary School

Writers are often confused when editors talk about “voice” in children’s literature. The title character in “Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe” has one of the most unique voices in print. Readers from Randle Highlands Elementary School in Washington, D.C. discuss the book with host Kitty Felde and ask questions of writer Tricia Springstubb. Actress Peggy Miley is celebrity reader.

Tricia Springstubb

Celebrity reader actress Peggy Miley

Favorite Books from Randle Highlands Elementary School:

Break an Egg - Nancy Ohlin and Quvenzhané Wallis

Dork Diaries - Rachel Renée Russell 

Things Not Seen - Andrew Clements

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L’Engle

Tricia Springstubb’s Favorite Books:

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Peggy Miley’s Favorite Books:

Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

I’ve Been Thinking - Maria Shriver

The Little Red Hen - Jordan Hutchinson

Honeybunch - Helen Louise Thorndyke

Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene

The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank

Shakespeare