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Smiling Shelves

Introducing the Newbery Reading Challenge 2017!

12/7/2016

37 Comments

 
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​Welcome to the fourth year of the Newbery Reading Challenge! Newbery and Caldecott books are fun to read - whether it's our first time experiencing them, or we're revisiting them from our childhood. If you want to challenge yourself to read more Newbery and Caldecott books this year, then you have found the right place!

Here are the rules:​
Each book you read is worth points. You get:
  • 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
  • 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
  • 1 point for a Caldecott Book (Both Medal winners and Honor books are worth a point this year!)

In addition to that, you pick a level to aim for:
  • L'Engle: 15 - 29 points
  • Spinelli: 30 - 44 points
  • Avi: 45 - 59 points
  • Lowry: 60 - 74 points
  • Konigsburg: 75+ points

You can get to this level with any combination of points you want. You can read all Newbery Medal winners. You can throw in a few Honor Books. If you want, you can even read 75 Caldecott Medal winners! How you get to your point level is totally up to you. 

Also, anywhere in the point range for your level counts as completing that level. So for example, if you signed up for the Avi level and read 46 points' worth of books, then you have completed that level!

List of Newbery Medal Winners & Honor Books
List of Caldecott Medal Winners & Honor Books

Challenge Guidelines:
  • Rereads count (because you were probably a kid when you read it last, and your perspective on the story just might have changed since then).
  • Audiobooks and ebooks count.
  • And paper books count, too. :)
  • All books must be read between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017. Books begun before January 1 don’t count.
  • Books can be used for other challenges as well.
  • You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can link up reviews from Amazon, Goodreads, etc., or just hang out with us in the comments!
  • Reviews are encouraged, but not necessary. There will be a headquarters page for you to link up your reviews if you want to share your thoughts.
  • Choose your point level. You can always aim for a higher point level, but you can't move to a lower one.

To join the Newbery Reading Challenge:
  • Write a post (or a comment) stating your intention to join. Choose your point level. You can find the challenge image above to use in your post.
  • Add your link to the Linky at the bottom of this post. Make sure you include the link to your sign-up post, not just your homepage.

Sign Up for the Newbery Reading Challenge 2017

37 Comments
Kailana link
12/7/2016 09:14:18 am

I am not sure if I am going to do any reading challenges this year, but I am curious to read some of the books that fit in these categories. I will have to think about it. :)

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/7/2016 09:43:08 pm

I love Newbery books because they are fast reads, but usually very meaningful. I hope you decide to join us!

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Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
12/7/2016 01:07:28 pm

Excited for another year of this challenge! And Caldecott Honor books counting this year is awesome -- I read soooo many of them in 2016! I'll get my sign up post together soon :) Thanks for hosting again!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/7/2016 09:46:48 pm

Including the Caldecott Honor books was your idea, so I'm glad it'll help you out! Welcome aboard for another year! :)

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Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
12/30/2016 09:53:56 pm

OK, I'm officially signed up! :)

Jamie link
12/7/2016 08:19:20 pm

Here is my sign-up post:
http://jannghi.blogspot.com/2016/12/introducing-newbery-reading-challenge.html

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/7/2016 09:45:38 pm

Awesome! I'm glad you're joining us again, Jamie! I added your link to the linky in the post. Hope you have fun with your Newbery and Caldecott reads! :)

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Lindsey link
12/8/2016 09:46:03 am

I love this idea and I'm definitely going to comb through those lists to find some new books for my 9 year old!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/12/2016 09:26:23 am

There are so many good Newberys out there! I hope you find some he enjoys!

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Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf link
12/8/2016 10:37:52 pm

I'm going to join in this year, scout out some books for my 7yo, who is becoming quite an avid reader. I'll write up a post and link up soon!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/12/2016 09:26:51 am

Welcome, Monika! I'm glad you're joining us!

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Joy @ A Little Reading link
12/12/2016 07:39:05 pm

So glad you're doing this again. I didn't do very well with the 2016 challenge - only read one book that qualified. Hoping to do better in 2017. I'll get my blog post up and then come back and sign up. Thanks for hosting!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/12/2016 09:11:56 pm

I'm glad you're joining us for another year, Joy!

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Lizzy @ The Bent Bookworm link
12/28/2016 06:06:28 am

I'm excited to be joining you all! I'm aiming for the Lowry level.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/5/2017 02:43:39 pm

Welcome, Lizzy! I'm so glad you're joining us!

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Sarah
1/4/2017 11:42:35 pm

I found your challenge a Book Riot list of 2017 Reading Challenges. I am excited to join. I will be aiming for the Lowry Level.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/5/2017 02:44:12 pm

I'm glad you found us, Sarah! Have fun with the challenge! :)

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Christine Field
1/6/2017 02:25:16 pm

I love picture books and have always intended to read more books for older children/teens. Now my granddaughters are beginning to read chapter books so I need to be up on what's out there!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/9/2017 02:33:43 pm

This challenge is a great way to do that. There are so many awesome chapter books out there. I hope you enjoy!

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Toni
1/6/2017 07:32:21 pm

I'm in. I found your challenge a Book Riot list of 2017 Reading Challenges. I am thrilled to join. I will be aiming for the Avi Level.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/9/2017 02:34:16 pm

I'm glad you're joining in! Have fun!

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Rebekah
1/8/2017 12:46:31 am

Can't wait to get started with this reading challenge! I'm aiming for my goal to be for the Avi level.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/9/2017 02:34:44 pm

Welcome, Rebekah! Have fun!

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Lori
1/14/2017 04:36:14 pm

Trying to expand my reading this year. I'll be aiming for Avi level

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/23/2017 04:38:55 pm

Welcome, Lori! I hope you have fun with this challenge!

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Jenna @ Falling Letters link
1/25/2017 12:03:15 pm

One of my goals this year is to read more 'classic' middle grade, so I think I think this will be a good challenge to try! :)

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
5/4/2017 10:28:30 am

This does sound right up your alley! I'm glad you're joining in, Jenna!

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Linds
5/1/2017 01:59:53 pm

I hope it's okay to join late. I'm new to this site, but I've already been reading Newbery honor books this year, so this seemed like fun. I'll be shooting for the Konigsburg level.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
5/4/2017 10:28:55 am

Welcome! It's never too late to join. I'm glad you're here! :)

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Jean Schaffert link
6/4/2017 09:34:16 pm

This is my 4th year reading the Newbery books. So far I've read 277 of 408. My problem now is trying to find them. I still have 20 books that I can't find or are selling for over $20. Do you have any suggestions for places to look for them?

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Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
6/5/2017 05:52:43 pm

Whoa! That's an awesome number of Newbery books you've read! Have you checked out interlibrary loan? Beyond just requesting books from other libraries in your particular system (county/region, etc.), a lot of libraries can request loans from outside their system on your behalf. Depending on your library there could be a fee, so I can't say for sure if it's more affordable than the used copies you are finding.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
6/11/2017 09:33:06 pm

Congratulations! 277 is so impressive! I'll be happy if I can just get through all of the winners, although I'd like to do them all someday. Christine has a great suggestion. I use my inter-library loan all the time, and they've been able to find some not-so-common books. If you haven't looked into that yet, I'd definitely give it a try!

Jean Schaffert
5/2/2019 04:51:17 pm

Just thought I'd update you all in case this site is still active. I just finished book #404 out of the 415 Newbery Medal and Honor books. Only 11 left to go, and I have copies of all of them.

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Christine link
5/2/2019 05:00:34 pm

That is AMAZING! You are so close! Since you have read so many I’d love to hear if you have any favorites that stand out for you!

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
5/2/2019 09:19:34 pm

Jean, that is awesome!! I had the exact same thought Christine did - what books have been your favorites? That's amazing that you're so close to finishing this goal!

Jean Schaffert
1/9/2021 04:35:11 pm

I have finished. I've read every Newbury Medal and honor book fr0m 1922 through 2020

Gabriel M link
1/9/2021 02:41:59 pm

Nice ppost thanks for sharing

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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