Introducing the Newbery Reading Challenge 2015!

Now for the 2015 Newbery Reading challenge.  I got into this one late last year, but I enjoyed it so much I have to be back.  I will again try for the first level.To sign up for this one, go to Smiling Shelves at this link.  Details below from the blog:

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!

Here is what I am reading for this one:

1. Cinderella--Marcia Brown (1 point)
2. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963--Christopher Paul Curtis (2 points)
3. The One and Only Ivan--Katherine Applegate (3 points)
4. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears--Verna Aarena (1 point)
5. The Three Pigs--David Wiesner (1 point)
6. The Cricket in Times Square--George Selden (2 points)
7. Strawberry Girl--Lois Lenski (3 points)
8. Kira-Kira--Cynthia Kadohata (3 points)
9. The Crossover--Kwame Alexander (3 points)
10. The Thief--Megan Whalen Turner (2 points)
11. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler--E.L. Konisburg (3 points)
12. The Wednesday Wars--Gary D. Schmidt (2 points)
13. The Witch of Blackbird Pond--Elizabeth George Speare (3 points)
14. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat--Simms Taback (1 point)
15. The House in the Night--Susan Marie Swanson (1 point)
16. Bridge to Terabithia--Katherine Paterson (3 points)
17. A Long Way From Chicago--Richard Peck (2 points)
18. A Year Down Yonder--Richard Peck (3 Points)
19. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle--Avi (2 points)

Challenge completed on November 2. Total points: 41