Book Club for Kids

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 tale of 7th grade angst and dealing with the loss of a parent. Seventh graders from Eliot-Hine Middle School in Washington, D.C. discuss the book and ask questions of author Silberberg. Actor Joshua Malina ("West Wing," "Scandal," the "West Wing Weekly" podcast) is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.
NOTE: the phone number mentioned in the episode doesn't work anymore. But if you want to be on the show, email us for information about how your school or library can be featured on a new episode: [email protected].
 
Favorite Books from Eliot-Hine Middle School:
Holes - Louis Sachar
The Girl Who Fell - S.M Parker
Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper
ALan Silberberg's Favorite Book:
Half Magic - Edward Eager
Joshua Malina's Favorite Book:
Busy, Busy World - Richard Scarry

Writer Edward Bloor talks about the biggest lesson he learned about writing and how to handle criticism with host Kitty Felde.

A story about family divisions, economic divides, history, and growing citrus trees. It's "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor. Our readers from the Laurence School in Los Angeles discuss the novel and interview our writer. Actress Jovita Molina is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.
www.bookclubforkids.org

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 NORVELT. Jack talks about his first 36 rejections, his switch from teaching to writing full time, and about his beloved hometown of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. It's a conversation we had at Mitchell's Book Corner on Nantucket Island.
Jack received the 2012 Newbery Award and the Scott O'Dell Award for Best Historic Fiction for "Dead End in Norvelt." His other works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert honors; Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book.

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. Wenzel Jones is celebrity reader.
Favorite books from Belvedere Elementary in Virginia:
The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
Candymakers - Wendy Mass
Wereworld - Curtis Jobling
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
Warriors series - Erin Hunter
Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Jack Gantos' Favorite Book:
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
"Hard to find another classic on my shelf that I reread every five years - the language, themes, journey, spleen and spine of it are very satisfying."
Wenzel Jones' Favorite Book: 
Onions in the Stew - Betty MacDonald