Book Club for Kids

What makes a good collaboration between writer and illustrator in children's books? We ask longtime illustrator Shawn Harris.

We take a little trip into space with some of the oddest astronauts you'll ever meet. It's Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris' graphic novel "The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza." Students from Grover Heights Elementary School in Central California deconstruct the story and celebrity reader Jonathan Cormur from the Dorktales Storytime podcast give us a taste of the humor. Cowriter and illustrator Shawn Harris answers questions from our young readers.
FAVORITE BOOKS FROM GROVER HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
The Last Fallen Star - Graci Kim
SHAWN HARRIS' FAVORITE BOOK:
Calvin and Hobbes - Bill Watterson
JONATHAN CORMUR'S FAVORITE BOOK:
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

It's Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen. And it was the choice of a group of 7th graders from Newport Middle School in Maryland. Writer Victoria Aveyard talks about the difference between writing books and writing screenplays. Our celebrity reader, NPR's Renee Montagne, brings to life our lightning girl Mare who is decidedly not excited about becoming a princess. Kitty Felde is host.
www.bookclubforkids.org

Writer Varsha Bajaj talks to Kitty Felde about the connection between therapy and writing and the importance of having another set of eyes on a developing manuscript.
www.bookclubforkids.org

"Count Me In" by Varsha Bajaj looks at the power of social media to combat hate. The story involves a hate crime: an attack on an Indian American family and how that changes a shy girl named Karina and the boy next door who used to hang out with what the grandfather called a pack of hyenas. Our readers are 5th graders from PS 174 in Queens, New York and they interview our author. Our celebrity reader is public radio journalist Deepa Fernandes. Kitty Felde is host.
www.bookclubforkids.org