Young Readers Challenge

I am hosting another 2008 challenge. This one is hosted at my YOUNG READERS site/blog. To join please visit this post and sign up via Mr. Linky OR through the comments if Mr. Linky should happen to not be working. A blog is NOT a requirement. You can post your interest and later on your list in the comments.

This challenge is for those interested in reading more children's literature. (From board books, novelty books like bath, shape, or pop-up, picture books, early readers, chapter books, etc.) Think of this as referring to the "E" (Easy) and "J" (Juvenile or Junior) sections of the library. The challenge will go from January to December 2008. Any books written for the 12 and under crowd. (Interested in reading books for the 13+ crowd? Then join the Young Adult challenge.)

Choose 12 or more books for the challenge. You can choose with a theme--Calecott winners and honor books OR perhaps Coretta Scott King Award winners and honor books. (And there are always the Newbery books to consider. Though there are plenty of challenges to indulge that interest.) Or not. (A theme is by no means required. I most likely will choose as I go, and pick a few per month. All spontaneous. If there's ever a theme, it's pure coincidence.) You could choose a handful of authors to focus on--Laura Ingalls Wilder, A.A. Milne, C.S. Lewis, E.B. White, etc. And read a few books by each. Or you could read twelve books by the same author--like all Beverly Cleary or all Judy Blume or all Barbara Parks. You might want to read twelve books about horses or dogs or elephants. Or you might want to read twelve books in a series. Or twelve fairy-tale related books. You could even get elaborate and read 26 books A-to-Z. Choose what you like. Choose as you go. Or plan it all out now. Whatever you want.

This would be a great challenge to join with your kids. You can read aloud to them. Or for older children, you can read a book together and take turns. Here are just three or four *big* reasons why reading aloud is so important:

• Provides the child with a reading role model
• Conditions the child to associate reading with pleasure, an association that is necessary in order to maintain reading as a lifelong activity
• Nurtures emotional development and improves self esteem
• Offers laughter and entertainment and an alternative to television