Readers from Las Vegas are live, onstage at the Las Vegas Book Festival, talking about Nikki Shannon Smith's tale of adventure Stranded. Award-winning journalist Rita Pardue from KUNV is celebrity reader. Taped before a live audience, readers have lots of questions for writer Nikki Shannon Smith. Kitty Felde is host. FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE LAS VEG…

Did you ever think you were a little different than everybody else in school? Suppose you found out there’s a reason for that and that reason is that you’re actually a witch. That's the story of "The Okay Witch," by Emma Steinkellner. Students from Virginia Road Elementary School in Los Angeles discuss the graphic novel and interview Emma. Actress …

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol...and teaching civics along the way. Join the Mendoza family as they celebrate not only Halloween, but also Dia de los Muertos. Here's a link to the FREE curriculum for this episode. You'll find more eductional …

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol. In Episode 18, all of Washington is talking about the capture of the Burrowing Owl that pooped on the president during the State of the Union address. But not about Fina. Papa's political fundraiser wi…

This episode began with a chance meeting in a tiny art gallery in the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Writer Isora Morales Suarez was minding the store to pay the bills, but just had her first novel for kids published in English. The Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore discuss her unusual fairy tale The Meringue Witches with host Kitty Felde. Cuban ex-pat Ad…

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol. In Episode 17, Fina and her loyal canine companion Senator Something track down Chickcharney in one of the U.S. Capitol's parking garages. But will Fina learn the bird's secret message? Want to know th…

Writer MC Ryder talks about writing song lyrics and middle grade book series with host Kitty Felde.By Kitty Felde

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol. In Episode 16, Fina's investigation takes her to the National Zoo where she finds out more about the Burrowing Owls. But Fina's client Monica suffers a major setback. Want to know the Facts Behind the …

It's that time of year: Halloween! This week, we tackle M.C. Ryder’s tale of romance, betrayal, and creatures of the night The Darkest Side of the Moon. Journalist and actress Hettie Lynne Hurtes is our celebrity reader. Our readers are from Rosecrans Elementary School in Compton, California. Kitty Felde is host. NOTE: There are some plot spoilers.…

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. Fina uses her detecting skills to help her father find her grandmother who has run away from home. Their search takes them to a church basement kitchen. Want to know more about the Facts Behind the Fiction? Thi…

Peter Brown is both a writer and illustrator. We talk to him about how he plots a story and the teacher he hated who set him on his path to becoming a professional artist. Kitty Felde is host.By Kitty Felde

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. Fina discovers some important clues about the mysterious bird that pooped on the president. Her teacher helps her solve some difficult math problems. And Fina tries to solve the mysteries of dogs. The Fina Mend…

Peter Brown's wonderful book is now a movie! This week,we return to the source material. Do you have a relationship with the robot in your life? You'll fall in love with "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown. 4th graders from Flora Hendley Elementary School in Washington, D.C. discuss artificial intelligence and their own favorite robotic devices. U.S. C…

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. Fina's father and grandmother have an enormous fight with serious consequences. And there's nothing Fina can do about it. In Episode 13, Congressman Arturo Mendoza scolds his mother for participating in an immi…

September is the perfect time of year to start a new habit. How about 15 minutes a day reading a book YOU want to read? Need some suggestions? Give a listen as we hear from kids as the City of Stem LA Maker Faire about the books they LOVE to read. Projekt 1065 - Alan Gratz Little Women - Louisa May Alcott The Light in Hidden Places - Sharon Cameron…

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. Fina's grandmother takes her to a meeting where an immigration reform protest is being organized. Abuelita's activism results in a major dispute with her son, Congressman Arturo Mendoza after she's nearly arres…

As school is starting up, there are tons of books your teacher wants you to read. But what about a book YOU really want to read? Today we hear from kids as the City of Stem LA Maker Faire about the books ThEY love to read. Give a listen. Favorite Books: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney Keeper of…

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. Fina is on the hunt for Chickcharney in the basement of the U.S. Capitol, but the hunt leads to some serious consequences. In Episode 11 of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast, Fina is wandering around the tunne…

We talk to writer Charles Waters about his life as an actor and how it led to his life as a poet and children's book writer. He also talks about how the Highlights Foundation changed his life. Kitty Felde is host.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. The Mendoza family finally find a church that feels like home. And Abuelita finds a new community of activists. And Gabby gets her phone back. Meanwhile, Fina is not happy with her new detecting partner St. Seb…

What do you do when your long-time school mascot is offensive to others? That's the topic in Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell. Students from Eliot-Hine Middle School discuss the novel and interview the writer. California State Los Angeles theater professor Carolyn Dunn is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Favorite Books from Eliot-Hin…

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. Fina enlists the help of an expert as she continues the search for the bird that pooped on the President: a bird dog. Meanwhile, Gabby's in the doghouse for posting selfies on Instagram. In episode 9 of The Fin…

Angela Dominguez writes and illustrates the Stella Diaz series. She talks to us about her writing path from drawing to writing. More author interviews at our website.By Kitty Felde

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol. All of Washington is shut down for the storm of the century. Meanwhile, Californians Fina and her sister Gabby learn the joys...and the downsides of snow. In Episode 8 of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries, Fina asks: …

We continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, we revisit STELLA DIAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY by Angela Dominguez. In 2000, the Central York School District pulled books from shelves that dealt with race. In fact, every book removed from school classrooms and libraries were written by people of color. After months of pro…