Writer Beth Lincoln talks about how her debut novel The Swifts came to life and the difference between audiences for middle grade novels in the U.S. compared to Great Britain. Kitty Felde is host ..read more

Do our names define us? We celebrate our 150th episode with readers at the Artesia branch of the LA County Public Library discuss Beth Lincoln's tale of a family whose names come from the dictionary. Our celebrity reader is LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from the Artesia branch of the LA County Library: The Lemonade War - Jacqueline Davies Restart - Gordon Korman Spy x Family - Tatsuya Endo Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl Counting by 7's- Holly Goldberg Sloan Beth Lincoln's Favorite Book: The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin This episod ..read more

Favorite Books from the City of Stem LA Maker Faire 2024: Wings of Fire: Winter Turning - Tui T. Sutherland A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Numeroff The Bad Guys - Aaron Blabey Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Shuffle - Jarrett J. Krosoczka   We have HUNDREDS of book suggestions from young readers at the website. Kitty Felde is host.     ..read more

Writer Jerry Craft confesses that he wasn't much of a reader when he was a kid. Kitty Felde is host ..read more

We continue our series of episodes featuring books that have been banned or challenged around the country. This time, it’s the Newbery Award-winning graphic novel NEW KID by Jerry Craft. Books in Katy, Texas were pulled from library shelves in 2021 after a parent petition complained that it contained harmful content about critical race theory. CRT examines how racism has shaped laws and public policy in America. Writer Jerry Craft says he’d never heard the term before and had to google it. An African American parent in another part of the country objected to Craft’s use of the word “oreo” – a ..read more

How do you work with your mother on a book? How do you work on 15 books with your mother? We talk to the mother/daughter team behind Dork Diaries, Rachel Renée and Nikki Russell. Kitty Felde is host ..read more

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 ..read more

Madeleine L'Engle's granddaughters share their memories about their legendary grandmother and talk about some of her writing practices. Come see us at Comic Orange Saturday, April 13th from 11-3 at the Tustin Library ..read more

We continue our series of episodes about books that have been banned or challenged around the country. This time, it’s the Newbery Award winning novel by Madeleine L’Engle: A Wrinkle in Time. According to the Carnegie Mellon Banned Books Project, the book was challenged in 1985 by parents in Florida who said the book “opposes Christian beliefs and teaches occult practices. The school principal did not remove the book from 4th grade curriculum. In 1990, a parent in Alabama asked to have the book removed because it “sends a mixed signal to children about good and evil.” The school board and supe ..read more

You may know John Cho from his acting work in "Star Trek" and "Harold and Kumar" movies. But listen to this thoughtful conversation Cho and host Kitty Felde about his work as a writer - including convincing his Korean immigrant parents that his work was his work as an artist was making the world a better place ..read more