For 2017, I'm cutting back on reading challenges even more than I did in 2016 (which was quite a bit!) There are two children's book challenges though that I couldn't pass up. First, there is Julie's
Newbery (and Caldecott) Challenge which was a lot of fun this year. I mostly read Caldecott books in 2016, but there are plenty more I have not read yet. And I've been wanting to read more middle grade books lately, so perhaps I will tackle more Newberys in 2017 as well. With Caldecott Honor books now counting in the new year, I'm going to go all out and aim for the highest level.
Goal: Konisgburg level which requires 75+ points
Caldecott Honor & Medal books earn 1 point
Newbery Honor books earn 2 points
Newbery Medal books earn 3 points
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The second kids' lit challenge I am joining is the
2017 Picture Book Challenge which couldn't be more perfect for me! Yes, I read picture books to my toddler son, but doing so has rekindled a love of these books for myself as well. I am always on the lookout for great picture books -- new and old -- and am repeatedly amazed by the depth, breadth, and sheer beauty of this "genre." I'm choosing the checklist option for this challenge which I think will be a great way to read a variety of picture books throughout the year.
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Original artwork by Charles Haigh-Wood (1856-1927) |
Goal: Complete Checklist (yes, all 102!)
1. An alphabet book
2. A counting book
3. Concept book: shapes or numbers or opposites or colors
4. a book set on a farm or in the country
5. a book set in the city or in an urban area
6. a book set at the beach, in the ocean, or by a lake
7. a book with human characters
8. a book with animal characters
9. a bedtime book
10. a rhyming book
11. a book celebrating art
12. a book celebrating dance
13. a book celebrating music
14. a book celebrating family (parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc.)
15. a book about feelings, expressing feelings
16. a book with a twist (unexpected) ending
17. a book about pets (cats, dogs, fish)
18. a book celebrating libraries or reading
19. a book translated into English (originally published in another language/country)
20. Mother Goose related
21. a book about adoption
22. a book by Gail Gibbons
23. a book by Jon Scieszka
24. a book featured on Reading Rainbow
25. free choice
26. out of print
27. wordless picture book
28. a book by Margaret Wise Brown
29. a board book
30. a book about trains or planes
31. a book about cars or trucks
32. a book about starting school
33. a book about friendship (sharing, caring, forgiving)
34. a book about being ME, about being unique, special, loved, etc.
35. a fairy tale
36. a twisted (adapted) fairy tale
37. a book about a holiday
38. a new-to-you author
39. a new-to-you illustrator
40. a book about new experiences (dentist, doctor, sleepovers, movies, playing sports, learning to swim, etc.)
41. a series book
42. a book celebrating food (cooking, eating, trying new foods, eating healthy)
43. a book published before 1950
44. a book published in the 1950s
45. a book published in the 1960s
46. a book published in the 1970s
47. a book published in the 1980s
48. a book published in the 1990s
49. a book published in the 2000s
50. a book published 2010-2016
51. a book published in 2017
52. a book by Dr. Seuss
53. a book by Mo Willems
54. a book by Jan Thomas
55. a book by Eric Carle
56. a book by Laura Numeroff
57. a book by Patricia Polacco
58. a book by Jon Klassen
59. a book by Beatrix Potter
60. a book by Kevin Henkes
61. a book written or illustrated by LeUyen Pham
62. a Caldecott winner
63. a Caldecott honor
64. a picture book biography
65. a nonfiction picture book
66. a book from your childhood
67. a book you discovered as an adult
68. a book celebrating writing, being an author or illustrator
69. a library book
70. an audio book
71. a book about dinosaurs OR dragons
72. nonfiction book about animals (or animal)
73. a challenged book OR a controversial book
74. a book that makes you laugh
75. a book that makes you cry
76. hate the text, love the art
77. love the text, hate the art
78. a book with a great cover
79. a book with an ugly cover
80. a book about toys
81. a book about weather
82. a picture book for older readers
83. a book of jokes, riddles, tongue-twisters
84. a book about seasons
85. a song
86. a poetry book
87. a book by a celebrity
88. a book published in Australia
89. a book published in the UK
90. a book about science or math
91. a book about history or historical event
92. a book about sports
93. a book about celebrating birthdays
94. a book about a President or world leader
95. a book about another country
96. a book celebrating faith
97. a pop-up book, or, a book with cut-outs or flaps or fold-outs
98. a bilingual book
99. a television series that has been adapted to a book
100. a book that has been adapted to a television series
101. an adaptation of a myth or legend
102. a book about babies
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I've already been doing most of my (short) reviews over on Goodreads since stepping away from more formal reviews here on the blog, but I've also printed out the checklist to keep track with pen and paper. I'm thinking monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly progress posts here on the blog would be nice to share the titles I've been reading -- I'll have to see what works!