When I read this simple, heartwarming story a few months ago, I knew I wanted to read it with my book club soon, so here we are! In August 2026, my book club for ages 9 and 10, Read, Write, Explore, will read Sonia Mehta’s On Air with RJ Rini. This is what I hope to do with my book clubbers as we read!
On Air with Varsha
As On Air with RJ Rini is the first book we will be reading in August 2026, we’ll begin with a radio show of sorts (and this will link well with our next activity too)! I will ask each of my book clubbers to hold something that could be their pretend-mic (just like Rini on the book cover!) and I’ll ask each one a question, which they have to respond to quickly and clearly—as if they’re being interviewed on radio!
Radio Show
Let’s host a radio show! What are some things you should keep in mind when you are hosting a radio show? A cheery greeting? Energy and enthusiasm? Clarity and conviction? In pairs, we’ll take it in turns to interview one another, and to add a spark to the session, I will record each interview and play it back to my book clubbers.
Dialogue Writing
Creative writing is an integral part of my book club for ages 9 and 10, and as we read On Air with RJ Rini, we’ll do some dialogue writing. Think about someone you admire. If you met them, what questions would you ask? How do you think they would answer? This exercise is perfect for teaching children to ask the right questions. What kinds of questions spark conversation, and what kinds of questions lead to dead ends? Let’s find out!
Join a book club!
Read, Write, Explore is an online book club for ages 9 and 10. We read one book over the course of four classes, but please note that although we read excerpts in class, a significant amount of reading happens independently! Each class, I let my book clubbers know how much I would like them to read before we meet again. During our online interactions, we read sections from the book, but focus on activities like listening, speaking, critical thinking and creative writing. Join us!
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