Inspired by Elder Hales' general conference talk, in particular the story of his family sacrificing and saving for a family dream vacation, OUR family has a simplified plan...maybe it will lead to a bigger goal and bigger dream vacation!
Here's the plan for the here and now- Our family's summer reading challenge.
If we can read 100 books this summer as a whole family (though through individual reading if that makes sense) then we'll go on a special family outing at the end of the summer to a campground with mini-golf, lakes, & lots to do {PLUS a short drive to the Garnet Hill Outlet for mom}. We started "The Reading Challenge" on Memorial Day, and so far we're off to a good start. We've rated these books using 1-5 *'s, 5 being excellent.1. Little Women (abridged)***** -Grace
2. Book of a Thousand Days **** -Christina
3. Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, Vol.1***** -Thomas
4. Loud and Clear**** -mom
5, 6 & 7. The Hundred Dresses***** -mom, Grace*****, Christina*****
8. Flatland*** -dad
9. River Secrets***** -Christina
10. Junie B., First Grader- One-Man Band***** -Grace
11. Good Enough***** -Christina
12. John Adams**** -dad
13. Echoes from Auschwitz*** -mom
14. Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, Vol. 2***** -Thomas
15. Junie B., First Grader (at last!)***** - Grace
16. Heather the Violet Fairy***** - Grace
17 & 18. The Midwife's Apprentice**** - Christina, mom (my review)*****
19. Junie B. First Grader Toothless Wonder***** - Grace
20. Junie B., First Gracer: Cheater Pants**** - Grace
21. Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy***** - Grace
22. Nate the Great on the Owl Express***** - Grace
23 & 24. Zel (a twist on the Rapunzel story- some mature content)** - Christina, mom **(the more I think about this book, the less I like it)
25 & 26. The Lightning Thief***** - Christina, Thomas***** (a summer favorite)
27 & 28. The Sea of Monsters***** - Christina, Thomas*****
29. Star Wars Jedi Quest**** - Thomas
30. The President's Assassin*** - dad
31 & 32. The Titan's Curse***** - Christina, Thomas***** (the first book of the series is my favorite so far)
33 & 34. The Amaranth Enchantment***** - mom (my review), Christina*****
35. Junie B. Jones Is (Almost) a Flower Girl***** - Grace
36 & 37. The Battle of the Labyrinth***** - Christina, Thomas
38. Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peaky Spying***** - Grace
39. Junie B. Jones is not a Crook***** - Grace
40, 41 & 42. My Life in Dog Years***1/2 - mom (I think Paulson is part dog:)), Thomas *** (didn't like the dog deaths) This book is on Thomas' summer reading list, Christina***
43. The Tail of Emily Windsnap***** - Grace (she loves that it's about a mermaid)
44. Star Wars: Episode 2 Attack of the Clones*** - Thomas (left out parts of the movie & that was irritating because it made the story make less sense to me)
45. Fun with Colors, by The Clever Factory**** - Caroline! (memorized, but we'll count it:)
46. Number the Stars**** - mom (I hope all of our kids read this)
47 & 48. The Battle of Bunker Hill***** - Grace, Thomas*** (choose your adventure book. Challenge: Try to survive the battle as a Patriot)
49. & 50. The Last Olympian***** - Christina (The mythology in this series was interesting. This book was my favorite of the series because it tied everything together), Thomas***** (This is my favorite book of the series because it's like the last Harry Potter book where it gets to the action immediately...non-stop action)
WE'RE HALFWAY TO OUR GOAL!!!
51. Ruby the Red Fairy***** - Grace
52. Georgia the Guinea Pig Fairy***** - Grace
53. Sunny the Yellow Fairy***** - Grace
54 & 55. Louise the Lily Fairy***** - Christina read this to Caroline who said, "I LOVED it!, Grace*****
56. Olivia the Orchid Fairy***** - Grace. Fun, easy-reading series for Grace.
57. The Princess and the Pauper**** - Christina
58. Penny the Pony Fairy***** - Grace
59. Getting Things Done**** - dad
60. Barbie, A Special Ballerina***** - Grace
61. Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day***** - Grace
62 & 63. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie***** - mom, Christina*****
64 & 65. Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey***- mom, Christina*** (this is on Christina's summer reading list & while the author notes her extensive research, this book is considered Young Adult historical fiction & the story is told in the 1st person)
66. The Diamond Castle***** - Grace
67. Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim's Birthday***** - Grace
68. Disney's Enchanted*****- Grace
69. Eat, Pray, Love**1/2- mom (I liked the 1st 1/3 of the book the best, but skimmed through much of the last 2/3, esp. the last 1/3---the book is broken up in thirds:) Glad she found happiness).
70. Inkheart***** - Christina (LOVED this book)
71. Goldie: the Sunshine Fairy***** - Grace
72. Disney's Princess Treasury***** - Grace
73. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency**** - mom
74. I, Freddy****- Christina
75 & 76. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules***- Thomas (some of it wasn't that funny even though I think it was supposed to be) & Christina***
77. The Thief Lord**- Christina (after 2 1/2 chapters, still boring)
78. Rapunzel's Revenge*** - Christina (liked the classic better)
79. A Thousand Splendid Suns**** - mom (adult content, sad, riveting story)
80. The Giver**** - Christina
81. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great***** - Grace (It was really good because it was about Sheila and her family moving to Tarrytown and how she makes friends. I like the swim lesson part too.)
82. Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat*****- Christina
83. Miss Popularity****- Grace
84 & 85. Goosebumps: Let's Get Invisible**** - Thomas (It was pretty corny, but the ending was good), Grace***- it was scary
86. Black Beauty (abridged)*****- Grace
87. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society****- mom (once they introduced the GL&PPS I was drawn in. The stories of Guerncy through the eyes of the residents was compelling. I also enjoyed reading about the literature that "got them through" the war. Literature can have such an impact, and I loved that aspect of this book.
88. Don't Judge a girl by Her Cover***** -Christina
89. The Nancy Drew Files: Into Thin Air****- Christina
90. Classic Starts: Anne of Green Gables*****- Grace
91. Hello, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle*****- Grace (Grace laughed out loud reading this fun, classic chapter book)
92. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle*****- Grace (Mrs. Piggle Wiggle has REALLY funny cures like "whisper sticks" and "leadership pills." Mrs. Piggle Wiggle gave bullies the leadership pills so they stopped bullying kids and helped kids who were being bullied by other kids.
93. A Spy on the Home Front: A Molly Mystery (American Girl series)*****- Grace (I liked this mystery. It was a little bit scary, because Molly and her friends were trapped for a little bit by mean Mr. K, but Molly's aunt found them, so they were ok.
94. Little Britches*****- mom (checked this book out from the library on a recommendation by my sister, but now I've got to buy it. It's a great autobiographical story by Ralph Moody about his young days moving from New England to Colorado where he and his family start from scratch building a ranch and a new life. Very well told/written. I'll have to track down the other books in the series now).
95. Danger at the Zoo: A Kit Mystery (American Girl series)***** - Grace
96. Me on the Map***** - Caroline (I love this book!...Grace helped me read it)
97. Inkspell***** - Christina
98. & 99. Goosebumps: Why I'm Afraid of Bees**** - Thomas, Grace****
100. Tracks in the Snow**** - Christina (good, short adventure book)
100 Books!!! Time to CELEBRATE!
....and do some more summer reading...
101. Shannon the Ocean Fairy***** - Grace
Happy Reading,
Posts
15 comments:
I've been trying to decide what to do for reading. I think we'll steal your idea!
Great goal! It always makes it more fun when there is a prize at the end! We don't keep track of how many books but in the summer they each have to read 45min a day before the fun can begin!
Great idea! I'll steal the idea too when our kids get a little older. I noticed you read 100 dresses. I haven't read it yet, but I know Jen did an awesome enrichment in her ward based on the book. They got a few copies and most of the women in the ward read the book and then they all collected dresses and gave 100 dresses to a couple women's shelters. They did some sort of enrichment night though along with it and I remember her saying it was very inspiring. Her email is jenniferjbarnes@gmail.com if you ever want to try something like that. Love you Beck!
Ange, I read 100 Dresses for that very reason...we're doing that same service project for enrichment in Sept., so we're passing the book around during the summer. I'll email your sis to see what else they did. We have some ideas, but haven't planned details. Thanks!
what a great idea!!!
Happy reading, indeed! Great idea!
Fun challenge! I remember doing reading challenges when I was growing up.
Awesome idea. Looks like you're well on your way. If you're looking for books to read check out julieberrybooks.com. She has a reading list of her favorite books at various phases in her life. I want to go back and re-read some of the things I read when I was younger from her list.
Lori Lyn, If you haven't already, you should look into having Julie Berry come speak with your RS group. She'll be visiting our RS in July...we're so excited!!! We're passing around her book, The Amaranth Enchantment and will discuss the importance of personal enrichment- her experience, etc. If you want to come, let me know!
What a great idea! We're doing something similar with our kids (using Elder Hales' talk), but it's with saving their money instead of with reading. However, we just may steal your idea and get a camping trip out of it. Fun! Now I'm excited!
GREAT.GREAT. idea.
And nothing like good books to get a meaningful conversation going... I think, in addition to the list of books you're reading, you ought to rate them as well, for those of us watching with interest.
Smart woman you are!
And how provident of you to make an affordable trip seem like such a huge reward!
Can I go to the Garnet Hill Outlet with you if I don't read 100 books?! I've been wanting to go there. Summer reading is the best!
let's go, Ellen! I was just eyeing their country fair quilt (I think that's the name) and it reminded me of the quilt you just made. Gorgeous colors!
What a neat thing to do as a family. We just started something at our local library where for every 10 books we read to the boys, they each get to draw a prize. It's always tough to get them to sit still but this morning I laid on the couch with them and read to them, it was heavenly. Hopefully we can keep that up. Hope your fam enjoys your reading challenge and the reward!
I think that's just what I need to find the time to sit and read...
Post a Comment