2017 Reading Challenge Sign-Ups: Children's Lit

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.

Host: Julie @Smiling Shelves

Full Info & Sign-Up

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.

Original artwork by Charles Haigh-Wood (1856-1927)

Host: Becky @Becky's Book Reviews

Full Info & Sign-Up

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!