Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
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An AtY picture book challenge?
I think I've seen Picture book challenges on both Zaz and Jodys infinity lists and I've copied them onto mine. I'm definitely doing a picture book challenge this year with my girls, I had listed an A-Z challenge ( I think Zaz) and then also one with prompts ( maybe from Jody). I love the idea. Never thought to do it with the ATY prompts though.
I bet you could even do narrative non-fiction. Maybe use one of those Day in the Life of a Truck books.
I think Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah could work as a narrative non-fiction!
I love this idea and would consider doing it with my 2 grandsons this summer! For narrative non-fiction, there is a wonderful First Discovery series, with transparent overlays, published by Moonlight Publishing. I'm not sure how narrative it is but I think it's close enough. My oldest grandson used to LOVE the Desert book.
I did children books challenges but not picture books only (I have some picture books in my 2016 A-Z and in the AtYRC usually). For picture books, I depend heavily on the library so I'm not sure it would work for AtY as they don't have recent releases and as they only have translations or French picture books (many releases there), the choices are limited and the hunt for specific topics is complicated.Anyway, I'd be very interested in the results and could give ideas for some of the prompts.
The Spider and the Fly seems another nice idea for gothic.
I think in recent releases, there are narrative non fictions to explain social problems or events like wars, etc (Malala's Magic Pencil is autobiography for exemple but also talk about being a girl in her country/culture).
I did a graphic novel AtYRC last year, because l noticed that many of the graphic novels I was reading could easily fit in some of the categories of the challenge. And it was easy at the beginning, but after a while, some of the categories became really difficult to fulfill.But either easy or difficult, it was a wonderful experience, so go ahead and enjoy!
Yes! I found a fantastic picture book challenge (with prompts) for 2017, and then we moved pretty much exclusively to chapter books. 😂 So total fail!
I'm so intrigued by this I took another look at the prompts and I think most of them could definitely work with picture books.
I'm so glad it's not a completely ridiculous idea as I'm now really excited about it. I'm going to add a new picture book message in my 2018 plan thread, but in case anyone else does start a picture book challenge, here are a few resources I've found useful so far.
For
5. A book about or inspired by real events
16. A narrative nonfiction
http://www.allthewonders.com/books/be...
For
6. A book originally written in a language other than English
12. A book set in Africa or South America
31. A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to
https://quartzy.qz.com/951290/picture...
I thought i'd struggle to find anything for "a book nominated for the Edgar Award or by a Grand master author" but it turns out Mary Higgins Clark has written a picture book called Ghost Ship: A Cape Cod Story. I'm not sure if other authors on the list have also published children's books, I'm going to keep looking.
This list looks like it might also have some good ideas: https://www.theguardian.com/childrens...
Love the idea. I will try it. I once taught U.S. History only using picture books. It was terrific.
Tracy wrote: "I'm so intrigued by this I took another list and the prompts and I think most of them could definitely work with picture books."My list is up on lists. I think I covered most of the categories with children's picture books. A few changes necessary like Caldecott winners instead of Edgar, but it looks good.
It is under 2018 lists titled Ann's topical picture book list
Thanks to you for the idea for gothic and The Spider and the Fly. I still can't find book with text only cover. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
On my shelf, I've One which could work:
She wrote other picture books with only a title.
I read
which could work ... I'd personally consider that it fits, although it I guess it doesn't have any pictures ... 🤔
I love your list Ann. I’m definitely going to try this with my little one and I’m sure we’ll read some of the books on your list. For a book with a text only cover, I saw this which I think might work.
I’ve just started a thread with my picture book plan as it stands so far. It’s here if anyone would like to see it.
I think you're doing the links wrong as I can't click on them :p<*a href="url"*>here<*/a> (without the stars)
Thanks Zaz, I checked and that’s definitely what I typed so I have no idea why it’s not working! I’ve just added the URL instead of a HTML link.Update: I was typing on my phone and it seems like it uses some fancy quotation marks instead of the normal ones, so I changed those and hopefully the link is working again.
Bryony wrote: "Thanks Zaz, I checked and that’s definitely what I typed so I have no idea why it’s not working! I’ve just added the URL instead of a HTML link." Thanks for the suggestions, I put them on my list.
The 2018 List: Z's Challenge1. A book with the letters A, T & Y in the title
Fortunately, the Milk
2. A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read list
Winter Pony
3. A book from the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards
Wishtree
4. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #1 Earth (in title, cover, content, setting, author...)
Treasure Island( Jr. Readers Edition)
5. A book about or inspired by real events
Misty of Chincoteague
6. A book originally written in a language other than English
Pippi Longstocking
7. A gothic novel
Bunnicula
8. An "own voices" book*
Salsa Stories
9. A book with a body part in the title (heart, bones, teeth, skin, blood, etc)
Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder
10. An author's debut book (their first book to be published)
Henry Huggins
11. A literary fiction
Black Beauty
12. A book set in Africa or South America
Anna Hibiscus
13. A book with a plot centered around a secret (forbidden love, spies, secret societies, etc)
The Secret Garden
14. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #2 Fire
My Father's Dragon
15. A book with an unique format/writing structure
A Woodland Wedding
16. A narrative nonfiction
Hachiko Waits
17. A book you expect to make you laugh
Dory Fantasmagory
18. A book with a location in the title
Island of the Blue Dolphins
19. A book nominated for the Edgar Award or by a Grand master author (books & authors)...Used Newbery Award
Because of Winn-Dixie
20. A book rated 5 stars by at least one of your friends ( MOM )
A Little Princess
21. A book written in first person perspective
The One and Only Ivan
22. A book you have high expectations or hope for ( she's got her eye on this one, lol)
Ella Enchanted
23. A medical or legal thriller
Harriet the Spy ( she's a detective....sort of)
24. A book with a map
Redwall
25. A book with an antagonist/villain point of view
The Bad Beginning
26. A book with a text only cover (OMG...This was so HARD!!)
Zorgamazoo
27. A book about surviving a hardship (war, famine, major disasters, serious illness, etc)
Ninth Ward
28. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #3 Water
Dolphin Tale 2: The Junior Novel
29. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or title (lead pipe, revolver, rope, candlestick, dagger, wrench)
Coraline
30. A short book
Ramona the Pest
31. A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to (ok, so its not a country but she REALLY wants to go to Florida to see PePa and MeMa....it's all I hear about)
The Tiger Rising
32. An alternate history book??
Dinosaurs Before Dark
33. A book connected (title, cover, content) to a word "born" in the same year as you ( The word is "Gamification"....meaning playing games)
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
34. A suggestion from the AtY 2018 polls, that didn't win but was polarizing or a close-call ( A book picked off your TBR by MOM)
The Trumpet of the Swan
35. A book featuring a murder- WILD CARD
A Boy Called Bat
36. A book published in the last 3 years (2016, 2017, 2018) by an author you haven't read before
The Voyage to Magical North
37. A Women's Prize for Fiction winner or nominee....used Newbery winner
The Cricket in Times Square
38. A science book or a science fiction book
Wild Born
39. A book with a form of punctuation in the title
Mr. Popper's Penguins
40. A book from Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime list
Little House on the Prairie
41. A book by an author with the same first and last initials
How to Train Your Dragon
42. A book that takes place on, in, or underwater
The Tail of Emily Windsnap
43. A book with a title that is a whole sentence
Wayside School Is Falling Down
44. A ghost story
The Eyes of the Amaryllis
45. A book that intimidates/ scares you
Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story
46. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #4 Air
Beast Keeper
47. A book where the main character (or author) is of a different ethnic origin, religion, or sexual identity than your own
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
48. A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins ( greed)
Annie
49. A book from one of the Goodreads Best Books of the Month lists (Used GR choice awards)
Clementine, Friend of the Week
50. A book with a warm atmosphere (centered on family, friendship, love or summer)
Summer Pony
51. An award-winning short story or short story collection ( another Newbery)
The Tale of Despereaux
52. A book published in 2018
Maggie & Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort
Niceeeee! For the wild card, if I remember well, the Unfortunate Events series has a good amount of murders, but I can't tell in which books. I read The Westing Game which could work for the prompt and, of course The Graveyard Book, but I think almost everyone had read it here.
Zaz wrote: "Niceeeee! For the wild card, if I remember well, the Unfortunate Events series has a good amount of murders, but I can't tell in which books. I read The Westing Game which could work for..."I actually thought of The Graveyard Book for her, I think she would really like it, I told her about it ( I literally just finished reading it) but something around the end made me think it would scare her a little too much ( even though she's pretty tolerant of being scared). I could just skim over those parts though...
In reality I'm sure we wouldn't be able to finish all of these, only 11 of them are books that we don't actually own at home. The problem is she's with her father half the time so I don't know if we could finish one a week. She wants to try it though. She'll probably do some of the chapter books and then finish up with K's picture books- still working on those. I did this one first because to be honest I kind of really want to do it now lol.
Edit: I found a chapter book featuring a murder which I haven't read: A Tale Dark & Grimm, so excited for this one!!
Yay! You saved me some time Tracy. I found if you do a list for one grandchild you have to do one for the other. Especially if you are offering prizes for incentives. Think I will mostly use yours. I think a few changes, by adding a few of the picture books from the other list, that are worthy reads. We Are All Wonder, Malala's Magic Pencil, The Composer is Dead for murder book, and This Day in June for #47. Thank you, great list! It will be a busy year for all of us. Good luck.
I'm toying with the idea to do a mixed challenge too (with middle grade+ picture books). I think I'll try a plan during the holidays, to see if I can find ideas and if the books are available as ebooks or at the library.Tracy > how old is your daughter? In my country, The Graveyard book is classed as YA, not children book. It seems Gaiman is confusing :)
Personally I’d say it straddles both, but is more of a children’s book than YA.
They are 6 and almost 8 but my older one is quite the Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman fan lol. She has been actively looking for “scary” books. She also seems to be really fascinated with Japanese anime :-)
For children books #8 own voices or #47 different sexual identity- Worm Loves Worm
#44 A ghost story ( one of my girls absolute favorites )- The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
#27 Surviving a hardship - Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
I'm working on my list! Some categories are difficult to fill.Just So Stories is short stories and won an award, yey :D
oooh thanks Zaz!! I'm almost done with the picture books list . I'm trying to use what we have here, there are so many. I remember just so stories from when I was little :-)
I'm going to do one, too, but more of a mixed-children's level rather than just picture books. I have lots of fabulous children's books at home that I acquired for free when our children's indie bookstore closed. Plus, my mom still has some of our oldies but goodies from the 60s & 70s! Thanks for all of the great ideas everyone! 📚📚📚
Nice to see you join us Pam :)My plan is nicely filled, but I keep moving stuff from prompt to prompt. I posted it under a new topic (link). I don't think I'll read all, but the books are mostly on my TBR, so who know. While hunting, I discovered some interesting stuff!
I'm struggling with alternate history (I think I could find something while reading, but beforehand, it's complicated), literary fiction and thriller (the genres don't exist for kids???).
Also, I'm lacking ideas for "rated 5 stars by a friend", so suggestions are welcome (popular books only) :)
I’d probably consider something like The Secret Garden close enough to literary fiction for kids, but you might have already read that. Heidi might work too. I actually have a thriller kids book! I think I read it when I was around ten, it’s called Duck for Danger. I don’t know if it’s even in print any more - I still have my copy - but they do exist! Just less brutal and murderous. 😂
Zaz wrote: "Nice to see you join us Pam :)My plan is nicely filled, but I keep moving stuff from prompt to prompt. I posted it under my normal challenge (link). I don't think I'll read all, but the books are..."For an alternate history book I chose The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors. I mean it is history and is definitely alternate.
I love all these plans and ideas. I’m almost more excited about this than my actual 2018 challenge!For an alternate history picture book, it’s very silly but I think Dinosaurs Love Underpants would work. It’s an alternative explanation of how the dinosaurs became extinct... Hint: underwear was involved.
For literary fiction, I was thinking I might just substitute a classic picture book as I can’t think of anything that really counts as literary fiction.
For a medical or legal thriller I thought maybe Don't You Feel Well, Sam? as it’s a story about trying to find out what will make a character better when they’re ill. Massively stretching the definition of thriller I know, so I might change this if I can find something better.
Also Zaz, if you’re looking for picture books for the rated five stars by a friend, I have a picture books shelf on GR with quite a few five star ratings. I think a few of my five star ratings are
Tiddler
Out and About: A First Book of Poems
Slinky Malinki
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
Macavity: The Mystery Cat
Zaz wrote: "Nice to see you join us Pam :)My plan is nicely filled, but I keep moving stuff from prompt to prompt. I posted it under my normal challenge (link). I don't think I'll read all, but the books are..."
Thank you Zaz! I have some 5 star children's books on my Children's shelf. You are welcome to browse my shelf.
Also, there is a book called Thriller by Jon Scieszka. It may not have a medical or legal aspect but I think it's close enough.
For literary fiction, I think a book that has won some type of award would work. That's my take.
I've been adding to my post above with a second choice line for my younger daughters picture books. For Literary Fiction for a children's Picture book I chose The Velveteen Rabbit.
Alternate History- I put in After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again....kind of an imaginary end to that story.
Zaz, I was thinking of a five star read for you, one that both Z and I give five stars is The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman. I'm not sure if that is accessible to you. There is an audio version that Gaiman reads also. I think you would enjoy it if you haven't already read it.
Bryony wrote: "Also Zaz, if you’re looking for picture books for the rated five stars by a friend, I have a picture books shelf on GR with quite a few five star ratings. I think a few of my five star ratings ar..."
I love that you have books from the musical Cats.....its my favorite. I like to watch it when I'm feeling really low. I always thought if I had cats I would name them Mungojerry and Rumpleteaser lol. Or of course Macavity :-)
The 2018 List: K's Picture Book Challenge1. A book with the letters A, T & Y in the title
A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack
2. A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read list
Next Time You See a Pill Bug
3. A book from the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards
We're All Wonders
4. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #1 Earth (in title, cover, content, setting, author...)
A Rock Is Lively
5. A book about or inspired by real events
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
6. A book originally written in a language other than English
The Story of Babar
7. A gothic novel
The Spider and the Fly
8. An "own voices" book*
Hush! A Thai Lullaby
9. A book with a body part in the title (heart, bones, teeth, skin, blood, etc)
Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back
10. An author's debut book (their first book to be published)
Not Quite Narwhal
11. A literary fiction
The Velveteen Rabbit
12. A book set in Africa or South America
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
13. A book with a plot centered around a secret (forbidden love, spies, secret societies, etc)
Splat the Cat and the Big Secret
14. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #2 Fire
Rainbow Crow
15. A book with an unique format/writing structure
Journey
16. A narrative nonfiction
Malala's Magic Pencil
17. A book you expect to make you laugh
The Dinosaur That Pooped A Planet!
18. A book with a location in the title
Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm
19. A book nominated for the Edgar Award or by a Grand master
Ghost Ship: A Cape Cod Story
20. A book rated 5 stars by at least one of your friends ( MOM )
Eloise Wilkin Stories
21. A book written in first person perspective
My Name Is Not Isabella
22. A book you have high expectations or hope for
Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships
23. A medical or legal thriller
The Rabbit is Next( A true medical thriller for a five year old? What happens when your favorite stuffs ear falls off?? You take it to the vet )
24. A book with a map
Henry's Map
25. A book with an antagonist/villain point of view
I Am Pan!
26. A book with a text only cover (OMG...This was so HARD!!)
The Book with No Pictures
27. A book about surviving a hardship (war, famine, major disasters, serious illness, etc)
Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
28. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #3 Water
Night Of The Moonjellies
29. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or title (lead pipe, revolver, rope, candlestick, dagger, wrench)
Pirates vs. Cowboys
30. A short book
Goodnight Moon
31. A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to
Island: A Story of the Galápagos
32. An alternate history book??
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back up Again
33. A book connected (title, cover, content) to a word "born" in the same year as you ( The word is "Gamification"....meaning playing games)
Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon
34. A suggestion from the AtY 2018 polls, that didn't win but was polarizing or a close-call ( A book picked off your TBR by MOM)
Blueberry Girl
35. A book featuring a murder- WILD CARD
The Day the Crayons Quit
36. A book published in the last 3 years (2016, 2017, 2018) by an author you haven't read before
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors
37. A Women's Prize for Fiction winner or nominee....used Caldecott
Make Way for Ducklings
38. A science book or a science fiction book
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The Classic Illustrated Storybook
39. A book with a form of punctuation in the title
Oh, The Places You'll Go!
40. A book from Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime list
Where the Wild Things Are
41. A book by an author with the same first and last initials
Swimmy
42. A book that takes place on, in, or underwater
The Little Seal
43. A book with a title that is a whole sentence
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
44. A ghost story
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
45. A book that intimidates/ scares you
The Tailypo: A Ghost Story
46. 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #4 Air
When the Wind Stops
47. A book where the main character (or author) is of a different ethnic origin, religion, or sexual identity than your own
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
48. A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins ( greed)
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
49. A book from one of the Goodreads Best Books of the Month lists (Used GR choice awards)
Julia's House for Lost Creatures
50. A book with a warm atmosphere (centered on family, friendship, love or summer)
Stellaluna
51. An award-winning short story or short story collection ( another Caldecott)
Just-So Stories
52. A book published in 2018
A Campfire Tail
Thanks everyone, I'll check your recommendations :)W00t, new plans to look at :D (I separate my kid and adult TBR and the kid one is short so I can add hundred of books to it, without problem).
Jody > I've The Secret Garden for another prompt. I read Heidi in my teens after being traumatized by a cliffhanger episode of the anime (never saw the 2nd part, so I had to read the book :p). I don't remember it, so it can be a good option, as other children classics I suppose.
Sadly Duck for Danger didn't exist anymore (and nothing at my library, I suppose it wasn't translated).
Ann > already read this one as it was a GR choice award. I search something which isn't fantasy (except if I can't find something).
Bryony > the dinosaurs picture book can be an option, but no ebook/library. I keep it in mind as there are 2nd hand.
A classic good be a good option. I also think my country does literary fiction for kids (it's a problem, I struggle to read some kid books because of the high language level), but I'm in a no list land, so it's complicated to know what fits.
Pam > yey, Thriller has an ebook version. I'll list it as an option.
Tracy > no ebook/library for this Gaiman, I've to check the art, maybe I'll want to own it anyway! The Velveteen Rabbit can be a good option, I never read it.
How did I forget about Babar?! Thanks Tracy. I'll have to add that one! I love Babar! I forgot it was translated.
Hahaha I never realized it was translated either but I own a copy and I found a list. Zaz we own wolves in the walls it is so much fun!! We have it on audio too read by Gaiman, and will listen to it over the winter break as she has to do a reading assignment for school and one of the options is an audio book
Tracy wrote: "The 2018 List: Z's Challenge1. A book with the letters A, T & Y in the title
Fortunately, the Milk
2. A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read list
[book:Winter Pon..." How are you planning on keeping track and record of the kids books. I have a plant made up lnow and we have decided on 35 books each. But they want a way to keep track of them that is "really nice" like mine. What are you planning?
Ann wrote: "Tracy wrote: "The 2018 List: Z's Challenge1. A book with the letters A, T & Y in the title
Fortunately, the Milk
2. A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read list
[b..."
I added a post for them to the thread, but I also put their list together and threw it in my plans thread.
They both have their own Goodreads pages (sans real names/ages/locations) so they have a goal of how many books they want to read this year... we sort of half-ass did this already for 2017, but started late for the little one and didn't keep track of EVERYTHING they read. I'm going to keep a written journal of all of the books they read for school, since they have to read for homework everynight, and then also what we read together .
I toyed with the idea of adding them to the group so they can have a challenge shelf. Still undecided on this.
In my plan I already pulled all the books for the first month of the challenge, and made a "book stack" in the living room with all of the January books Mine and theirs) . I know we'll definitely get through all of the picture books. Z and I took a look at her chapter book challenge and she pointed out the ones she was REALLY interested in reading, so we will try and get to those. It will be hard though because they are only with me half the time.
The rest I'm reading for myself hahaha.....
I found an award winning picture book of short stories guys !!The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Also for chapter books/ mid grade, the magic tree house series is alternate history. The author does historical research and then uses those facts to create an imaginary story around them. She also has a " Fact Tracker" series which is a non fiction set of companion books that relate to the topics she writes about . An example here we just checked out of the library:
Dogs in the Dead of Night
She uses that basic facts of the monks in the Alps and how they train and use St. Bernards to save people from avalanches. The story is fictional and magical realism, but features a famous real life St. Bernard named Barry.
The fact tracker book is Dog Heroes
Tracy wrote: "Also for chapter books/ mid grade, the magic tree house series is a..."The same author, Mary Pope Osborne, who writes the Magic Tree House books, also has a Tales from The Odyssey series, which is really good! I didn't realize she also has a Merlin series. I will have to check that out, since I am a King Arthur enthusiast!
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein (other topics)She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein (other topics)
Dog Heroes (other topics)
Dogs in the Dead of Night (other topics)
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mary Pope Osborne (other topics)Jon Scieszka (other topics)
I’m really tempted to try it, even though I imagine some weeks may not be possible, for example I’m not sure if anyone writes narrative non-fiction picture books. I did think of Dracula: A Babylit(r) Counting Primer for the gothic novel prompt though, which makes think most weeks would be possible with a bit of creativity and research.
Has anyone done something like this?