The Best Way to Create Lifelong Readers

Kitty Felde hosts the Book Club for Kids Podcast where she discusses books with kids.

The discussion helps kids to relate books to their own lives and make connections. Find out why talking about books will help your kids learn to love reading!

To learn more about Book Club for Kids, visit: www.bookclubforkids.org

Listen here:

The Idea is Born

Kitty got the idea for the podcast when she was at a large book fair, and people kept visiting her booth with their kids, and the kids would say they listened too (to her public radio show).

She wondered why the kids were listening, and it was because they were stuck in the car while their parents drove.

She asked kids what they wanted to hear about, and they said books.

She started a show that included book discussions with kids, talking with authors and more.

Talking to Kids

Adults don’t often take the time to listen to kids, and kids have amazing thing to say. Adults are very polished; kids think it and they say it!

Her podcast focuses on talking to kids and respecting their opinions.

She interviews kids of all ages, but especially focuses on kids from 5th- 8thgrade. They pick the book and are then prepared to talk about it.

What have you learned talking to kids?

Dystopian Novels are actually hopeful- the lead character is a girl and she is strong and everyone treats her with respect.

Kitty interviewed two different groups of kids: one on Capitol Hill and one in a small town.

Both groups of kids said they had concerns about feeling safe and secure. This surprised her.

That was a primary concern for the kids.

What role does discussion play in literacy and learning for kids?

1. Helps Reinforce that books are important.

It can help them that books are worth reading. It has to feel that way to kids to get them to read instead of staying on their devices.

2. Allows kids to find connections between real lives and books

Books are a sparking place- kids realize it has to do with them.

It allows them to see what they see in a book and understand that it has to do with their lives.

3. Helps them to organize their thoughts.

This is going to help them everywhere else in their lives. Kids have to come up with a plan for discussion.

We want to Create Lifelong Readers

Middle grade is where we lose a lot of readers.

70% of middle graders read 10 books a year.

By high school that number has dropped to less than half that amount.

We’re losing them in middle school, so that’s the time to instill that love of reading.

Kitty says there are many unexpected encounters when discussing books with kids.

There is a magic that happens when discussing books with kids.