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Smiling Shelves

Introducing the Newbery Reading Challenge 2015!

11/21/2014

24 Comments

 
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I created this challenge in 2014 as an encouragement for myself to read more Newbery Award winners and Newbery Honor books. It worked! So far this year, I've read eleven Newbery books, and I'm hoping to sneak a few more in before the end of the year.

I also discovered that there were people out there like me who wanted to read more Newbery books, so I've decided to host this challenge again in 2015. The rules are basically the same. Check it out below, and I hope you decide to join us!
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 Medal Winner (Gotta give the picture books some love, too.)

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 is 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

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, 2015, and December 31, 2015. 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 button below 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.
Grab the Challenge Button!
2015 Newbery Reading Challenge
  

Sign Up for the Newbery Reading Challenge 2015

24 Comments
Lois link
11/21/2014 06:22:58 am

This is a great idea! I'm definitely going to have to sign up for this. :)

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
11/22/2014 03:06:58 am

Awesome! I hope you have fun with this challenge, Lois!

Reply
Jamie link
11/23/2014 09:42:46 am

hi, I'm in again this year.

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
11/23/2014 10:09:35 am

That's great, Jamie! Welcome back!

Reply
Nicky link
12/18/2014 08:42:25 pm

I'm in! :)

http://noickyblogshere.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/reading-challenge-for-2015/

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/4/2015 06:32:27 am

Awesome! I hope you have fun, Nicky!

Reply
Melissa Brinkley link
12/26/2014 08:41:09 am

This year I only participated in one challenge -- this year it appears I have gone berserk but Iam going to give this one a go as well. It looks like fun!

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/4/2015 06:33:43 am

I'm glad you're joining in, Melissa! I hope you do have fun with it!

Reply
Jamie @ Text Addict link
12/30/2014 02:21:15 am

Hi Julie! Thanks for hosting this challenge -- I'm really excited to read some awesome Newbery books this year. :)

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/4/2015 06:34:07 am

I'm glad to find fellow Newbery lovers out there. Enjoy!

Reply
Jenny
12/30/2014 07:06:00 am

I don't book blog, but I love to read! This sounds like a great challenge!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/4/2015 06:35:13 am

A love for reading is all that's necessary. I hope you have fun with this challenge, Jenny!

Reply
Joy @ A Little Reading link
12/30/2014 09:42:28 am

I'm back for another go-round. Thanks so much for hosting again!

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/4/2015 06:35:39 am

I'm glad you enjoyed last year so much that you came back for more! Have fun!

Reply
Donnisha
1/19/2015 01:05:51 pm

I'm going for L'Engle level

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
1/20/2015 07:39:36 am

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

Reply
Susan Phillips
1/26/2015 02:58:43 pm

I just retired as a reading teacher, although I still tutor out of my home. I'm not going to write reviews, but I am challenging myself to read as many Newbery Medal and Honor books as I can this year. So far, I have read:
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, 2014 Medal Winner
Mixed feelings about this one
Three Times Lucky, 2013 Honor Book
I loved this one and really loved the reader in the audio version
When You Reach Me, 2013 Medal Winner
Definitely interesting
Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices, 1989 Medal Winner
This was a reread for me. I love these poems!
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, 1982 Honor Book
Another reread. Who doesn't love Ramona!
The Hundred Penny Box, 1976 Honor Book
An interesting book, but I can't imagine that children would love it
so much. Another reread.
Frog and Toad Together, 1973 Honor Book
Another reread. Every beginning read should read these books!
Charlotte's Web, 1953 Honor Book
I have read this book so many times. I love hearing E. B. White
read it as well. Why was this not the Medal Winner?
Millions of Cats, 1929 Honor Book
I practically have this memorized. I have read it so many times to
my own children and my students.

That's 21 points so far!

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
2/7/2015 06:57:10 am

What a great list, Susan! I agree with many of your thoughts. Hope you enjoy the rest of your Newbery reads!

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Susan Phillips
2/7/2015 01:59:28 pm

I finished reading all of the 2014 Newbery books. My two favorites were Paperboy by Vince Vawter (a reread for me) and One Came Home by Amy Timberlake. If I were still a classroom teacher, I would definitely read Paperboy to my class. And I learned about passenger pigeons in One Came Home, which was an unexpected surprise. The Year of Billy Miller reminded me of the Ramona Quimby books but not as funny. I prefer Kevin Henkes' picture books. And I thought Doll Bones was weird - a horror book for middle graders makes no sense to me!

Cindy link
3/4/2015 02:42:05 pm

I'm late at starting, but this challenge is irresistible! I've selected 12 books (see my goodreads shelf if you are a member) - I'm going for the lowest category - LEngle.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
3/8/2015 07:01:25 am

It's never too late to start! I'm glad you joined us!

Reply
Jamie link
11/2/2015 03:07:11 pm

Hi, I'm done now.
http://jannghi.blogspot.com/2014/11/introducing-newbery-reading-challenge.html
Will you be doing it again next year?

Reply
Jamie link
11/2/2015 03:12:17 pm

And I wanted to let you know I'm hosting a challenge next year. Please check it out and let me know if you are interested:
http://jannghi.blogspot.com/2015/10/literary-loners-reading-challenge-2016.html

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
11/4/2015 09:07:35 pm

Congrats on finishing, Jamie! I'm planning to host this challenge again next year, if all goes well. I'll be sure to check out your challenge. I love reading challenges!

Reply



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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.

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