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Health & Fitness

The 100 Picture Book Challenge

Tackling 100 picture books in one summer might be easier than you think!

I first encountered the 100 Picture Book Challenge as a writing student.  The goal was to read 100 recently published picture books to learn the market.  Read the books like a writer, my instructor said.  Listen for the beauty of the language.  Pay close attention to the types of stories kids want to hear. Learn from them.

This summer, I’m going to read picture books as a parent. 

My five-year-old daughter and I are taking on the 100 Picture Book Challenge.  From now until the end of summer, our goal is to read at least 100 picture books.   There are no restrictions as far as publication date. 

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We’re going to read classics like Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are.  We’re going to read more recent favorites like the Fancy Nancy books.  We’ve already gone on several adventures with the Berenstain Bears.  She’s picked out books from her bookshelf (and her brother’s) and she’s brought home books from the library, including one of her all-time favorites, Good Thing You’re Not an Octopus!  And who knows what other treasures we’ll find along the way?  

Our only rule for the 100 Book Challenge: we can read a book eight times in a row if that’s what she wants to do, but it only counts once.  We can read the same book every night for a week, but it only counts once.

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Reading 100 books in three months’ time may seem like a huge challenge, but it’s really quite manageable.  You could take a trip to the library, find a comfy spot, and knock out three or four books right there.  Parents are encouraged to read to their children at least fifteen minutes a day.  Why not read two or three books as part of the bedtime routine?

I know, I know.  It’s summer and schedules are crazy.    But it’s important to keep up a reading routine, especially for beginning readers.   Challenging yourself to read 100 books might be just the motivation you need.

Make it to 100:

  • Schedule a library date with your child.  Read a few books there and bring a few books home.
  • Attend storytime and other events at the library to create a little excitement.  My daughter can’t put down The Haunted Hamburger since David LaRochelle visited on June 8th.
  • Keep a bag of books in the car.  Have an older child read aloud to a younger child on the way to the cabin. 
  • Read while you wait for gymnastics or soccer to start or for a sibling at swimming lessons. 
  • Rotate books.  Set some books aside and save for later – your child will be very excited to read old favorites after they’ve been tucked away for a few weeks.
  • Board books count!  Many of them are just sturdier versions of picture books.
  • Read together at bedtime.  That doesn’t work for you?  How about breakfast?
  • Let your child read to you.
  • Take turns with another adult.   My kids LOVE when their dad reads them Walter the Farting Dog (with sound effects).  Grandparents in town for the weekend?  That counts!  
  • Take a break.  It’s okay to skip a day here and there.
  • Got an older child who wants in on this?  Challenge him or her to a 100 Chapter Book Summer (or, as my 9-year-old has recently taken to requesting, novels).
  • Challenge yourself!  How many books can you read this summer?

 

What if you don’t make it 100?  Who cares?  Maybe you’ll have read 50 books, or 75, or 92.  Whatever the number, the point is that you and your child are reading together, making memories of that crazy summer you tried to read 100 picture books.

Want to join me in the challenge?  Download the 100 Picture Book Challenge tracker and let me know how you do!

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