The County Library discussion
Reading Challenges
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2021 Summer Reading Challenge
Oh! it occurs to me I also read some elementary graphic novels featuring animals as well. They're younger grade graphic novels by Victoria Jamieson (who I knew because of Roller Girl).... these ones feature school pets who get into trouble after the kids go home! there's an inventive hamster named GW (named after George Washington), a chill guinea pig named Sunflower, and an awkward bunny named Barry. You can find them in The Great Pet Escape and The Great Art Caper! (the Great Art Caper is definitely the cuter of the two though. GW is not quite as compelling a character in the Great Pet Escape....though there is a food fight!)
My girls loved Dungeon Critters, but I haven't read it yet.Dragon Pearl sounds cool.
Updating my list.....
1 The House that Wasn't There (kittens and feline teleportation)
2 Murder Buys a T Shirt (a parrot who wants coffee and is possibly possessed by the ghost of the MC's uncle)
3 Moo (a cow, a pig, a cat, and Edna the snake)
4 The Whipping Boy (a bear named Buttercup)
5 Framed in Lace (a spoiled cat named Sophie)
6 Changeling (a mother and daughter who turn into bears)
7 Hide and Seek (mostly skunks, but kittens and strange animals as well)
8 A Stitch in Time (Sophie the cat again)
9 The Once and Future Witches (familiars in the shape of an owl, a falcon, and a crow...also snakes)
10 A Grave Matter (a cat named Earl Grey)
11 A Study in Death (Earl Grey again)
12 Night Owl! (owls, but also a kowl- kitten owl)
13 The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits (rabbits, obviously, but also a bee and a variety of other critters)
14 Peter and Ernesto (sloths)
15 Rectangle Time (cat)
16 The Ghost of Marlow House (Sadie the dog)
17 A Pressing Engagement (Earl Grey again...)
18 The Vicious Vet (cats Hodge and Boswell)
19 Mr Popper's Penguins (self explanatory lol)
20 The Dodgeball Chronicles (a tarantula named Hannibal)
My Running List Updated 1. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (Main character interacts with various birds and horses.)
2.The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (All characters in this book are anthropomorphic animals)
3. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1st person life of horse)
I've finished four books so far. In Elatsoe the main character has a pet ghost dog. There are some other ghost animals, too, but I don't want to spoil the plot.
Nala's World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe is about a man and his rescue cat who are biking around the world. He has a Youtube channel to fund their adventures and charitable giving.
The Incredible Journey is the basis for the movie Homeward Bound. There's more hardship and wild animal violence in the book. Still good, though. Made me want to rewatch the movie.
Dark Witch is a paranormal romance. A horse, a dog, and a hawk are in the story.
I'm still working on my reread of Beasts of New York, about a squirrel, a quest, and a war.
I finished "Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism", which prominently featured a pug named Petula.
Fablehaven is complete. We're about halfway through #2.Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs is a picture book. My little one didn't understand most of the puns.
The Wolf in Underpants Freezes His Buns Off is really cute.
Feeding the Dragon The dragon is metaphorical. I loved this one.
My second book for the challenge--"Pea, Bee, and Jay: Wannabees." So fun!
My kids enjoyed Pea, Bee, and Jay.Updating my list.....
1 The House that Wasn't There (kittens and feline teleportation)
2 Murder Buys a T Shirt (a parrot who wants coffee and is possibly possessed by the ghost of the MC's uncle)
3 Moo (a cow, a pig, a cat, and Edna the snake)
4 The Whipping Boy (a bear named Buttercup)
5 Framed in Lace (a spoiled cat named Sophie)
6 Changeling (a mother and daughter who turn into bears)
7 Hide and Seek (mostly skunks, but kittens and strange animals as well)
8 A Stitch in Time (Sophie the cat again)
9 The Once and Future Witches (familiars in the shape of an owl, a falcon, and a crow...also snakes)
10 A Grave Matter (a cat named Earl Grey)
11 A Study in Death (Earl Grey again)
12 Night Owl! (owls, but also a kowl- kitten owl)
13 The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits (rabbits, obviously, but also a bee and a variety of other critters)
14 Peter and Ernesto (sloths)
15 Rectangle Time (cat)
16 The Ghost of Marlow House (Sadie the dog)
17 A Pressing Engagement (Earl Grey again...)
18 The Vicious Vet (cats Hodge and Boswell)
19 Mr Popper's Penguins (self explanatory lol)
20 The Dodgeball Chronicles (a tarantula named Hannibal)
21 The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (Sadie again)
22 The Ghost Who Wasn't (Sadie)
23 Little Women (various unnamed kitties and birds, maybe not a large plot point, but important to Beth)
24 The Ghost of Halloween past (Sadie and new kitty Max)
25 The Ghost Who Came for Christmas (Sadie and Max)
26 The Ghost Who Wanted Revenge (Sadie and Max)
27 Flora & Ulysses (super hero squirrel)
28 The Ghost of Valentine Past (Sadie and Max)
29 The Ghost from the Sea (Sadie and Max)
30 Cutwork (Sophie the slightly less, but still overweight, cat)
Well, Britt, it't obvious that, once the challenge is done, I'll need to take your list and add most of them to my "To Read Soonest" list. So far, Ive read only one on your list, Little Women!
Deborah wrote: "Wow Brit! you are on top of this!"Alllllll the audio books, lol.
I pretty much live with headphones in lately.
Debbie wrote: "Well, Britt, it't obvious that, once the challenge is done, I'll need to take your list and add most of them to my "To Read Soonest" list. So far, Ive read only one on your list, Little Women!"There's a lot of good stuff there. :) Especially if you like mysteries.
My list of completed books. There may or may not be more, but it's unlikely. 1 A Curious Collection of Peculiar Creatures: An Illustrated Encyclopedia by Sami Bayly
2 Hummingbirds by Kristin Petrie
3 Living Fossils: Survivors from Earth's Distant Past by Rebecca E. Hirsch
4 Real Dragons by Jennifer Szymanski
5 Narwhal by Katie Marsico
6 Cougars by Arnold Ringstad
7 Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks by Kenneth Mallory
8 Goodnight Mermaid by Karla Oceanak
Finished book Four!My Running List Updated
1. The Goose Girlby Shannon Hale (Main character interacts with various birds and horses.)
2.The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (All characters in this book are anthropomorphic animals)
3. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1st person life of horse)
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Anthropomorphic Animals)
Mod
I hope everyone has a happy 24th of July.
So far I have read1.Blue Heron by Avi
2. The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
3. How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
4. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
5. There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart
To my 3 yr old great-granddaughter I read
6. Butt Out!
7. Who Says That, Cat the Cat?
Updating my list, which is getting unwieldy, lol.31 The Ghost and the Mystery Writer (Sadie and Max)
32 The Ghost and the Muse (Sadie and Max)
33 Murder Wears White (Cats- Whiskey and Soda, and a trio of Westies)
34 The Ghost Who Stayed Home (Sadie and Max)
35 Before I Called You Mine (Dogs Skye and Brach)
36 The Ghost and the Leprechaun (Sadie and Max)
Carolyn wrote: "A picture book I bought for my nephew and then read to him is my 5th book: Bears Don’t Read!."That looks really cute! I'm going to have to put it on hold for my kids.
My son and I finished Fablehaven #2 and are well into #3. We also read [Is this my cat?]
Without trying, I finished this challenge.1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (contains quite a bit of info about animals found along the Appalachian trail)
2. Band of Sisters by Lauren Willing (procuring and caring for animals plays an important role in the work of the Smith College women in France during World War I)
3. Shiner by Amy Jo Burns (snakes feature prominently in this one)
4. To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer (one of the protagonists is fairly obsessed with animals)
5. Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella (the lead character's rambunctious and friendly dog plays an important role in this book)
Mary wrote: "Without trying, I finished this challenge.1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (contains quite a bit of info about animals found along the Appalachian trail)
2. Band of Sisters by Lauren Willing ..."
I read a Bill Bryson recently that was fascinating.... I'm going to have to read more of his books.
Update:37 The Ghost Who Lied (Sadie and Max)
38 The Ghost and the Bride (Sadie and Max, possibly some Honey the pitbull and Bella the calico cat too...)
39 The Hobbit (a bear who's also a man, Smaug the dragon, etc)
40 The Ghost and the Doppelganger (Sadie and Max, Honey and Bella)
41 The Ghost of Second Chances (Sadie and Max, Honey and Bella)
42 Slug Days (okay, metaphorical bugs more than actual animals lol)
43 The Ghost Who Dream Hopped (still the same crew)
44 The Ghost of Christmas Secrets (same crew, Bella is quite the hero in this one)
45 The Ghost Who Says I Do (same crew)
46 The Tourist Attraction (Ulysses the Moose, Jake the Border Collie)
Mod
..."
Go Mary!
Mod
37 The Ghost Who Lied (Sadie and Max)
38 The Ghost and the Bride (Sadie and Max, possibly some Honey the pitbull and Bella the calico cat too...)
39 The Hobbit (a bear who's also a man, Sma..."
Britt that is so many!
Elizabeth wrote: "Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Update:...
Britt that is so many!"
I basically live with my earbuds in and an audiobook on.... :D
Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Mary wrote: "Without trying, I finished this challenge.1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (contains quite a bit of info about animals found along the Appalachian trail)
2. Band of Sisters by La..."
Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Mary wrote: "Without trying, I finished this challenge.
1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (contains quite a bit of info about animals found along the Appalachian trail)
2. Band of Sisters by La..."
I have read a couple books by him and really enjoy his writing voice. He is always good for a laugh.
Mod
...
Britt that is so many!"
I basically live with my earbuds in and an audiobook on.... :D"
That's awesome. I should try that. Maybe I'd be better at doing tasks, if I was listening to a story while I did it.
Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Update:...
Britt that is so many!"
I basically live with my earbuds in and an audiobook on.... :D"
It certainly helps me with everything except vacuuming. I don't do earbuds, can't stand the sound directly in my ears.
Five Books down!My Running List Updated
1. The Goose Girlby Shannon Hale (Main character interacts with various birds and horses.)
2.The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (All characters in this book are anthropomorphic animals)
3. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1st person life of horse)
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Anthropomorphic Animals)
5.The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (A character magically becomes a snake)
Updating....47 Crewel Yule (No Sophie, but a whole slew of sugar gliders)
48 Murder at Wedgefield Manor (Rascal the dog)
49 Whip Hand (various horses)
50 The Yellow Bird Sings (can't say more without spoilers lol)
My Running List 1. The Goose Girlby Shannon Hale (Main character interacts with various birds and horses.)
2.The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (All characters in this book are anthropomorphic animals)
3. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1st person life of horse)
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Anthropomorphic Animals)
5.The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (A character magically becomes a snake)
6.Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques (Anthropomorphic Animals)
Here are the books I've read so far!1-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (mice/rats/cats/birds)
2-When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice (Owls and other birds)
3-The Good Sister (dog)
4-Finding Beauty in a Broken World(prairie dogs)
5-The Quarry Fox: And Other Critters of the Wild Catskills
6-The Hummingbirds' Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings
7-H is for Hawk
8-The Tourist Attraction (dog and moose)
9-The Elephant Whisperer
10-The Thirty Names of Night(birds)
11-The Finders (dogs)
12-The Great White Shark Scientist
My 5th book is Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color To Communicate. It was cute and informative. There were birds, bees, butterflies, bats, moths and flies.
1. Relentless (dog companion)2. Stella (dog POV)
3. Ralph S. Mouse (mouse POV)
4. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (mouse and rat POV)
5. Fearless Felines: 30 True Tales of Courageous Cats (all about cats)
Mod
I did a ton of reading this summer. However, when I went through the list, I could only find 6 books that were about animals or had animals as characters. And here they are:1. Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family
2. On the Trail of Bigfoot: Tracking the Enigmatic Giants of the Forest
3. Once There Were Wolves
4. Pastoral Song
5. Six Crimson Cranes
6. War Hawk
I may be able to get two more in before the end of the month. Maybe.
Found a couple more books from my recent reads that count. Bunnicula (which I remember people reading in elementary school) and Cat Problems.
My daughter loved Bunnicula when she was in grade school!
Debbie wrote: "My daughter loved Bunnicula when she was in grade school!"I liked Bunnicula in grade school, but I have to admit I enjoyed it's sequel Howliday Inn even more. Aw...memories. Maybe I should read those books for a quick trip down memory lane.
I remember other people reading "Bunnicula", "Howliday Inn", and "The Celery Stalks at Midnight" but never actually picked any of them up myself that I remember until now.
I'd forgotten about Howliday Inn. My daughter also liked it even more! Maybe I should read them one of these days.
My Running List - I managed to squeeze in one more!1. The Goose Girlby Shannon Hale (Main character interacts with various birds and horses.)
2.The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (All characters in this book are anthropomorphic animals)
3. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1st person life of horse)
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Anthropomorphic Animals)
5.The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (A character magically becomes a snake)
6.Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques (Anthropomorphic Animals)
7. All Creatures Great and Small: The Warm and Joyful Memoirs of the World's Most Beloved Animal Doctor by James Herriot (Memoir of a Yorkshire Vet...lots of animals involved)
Do we know yet what the September Challenge is? After all, September is tomorrow.
Debbie I am sure there announce it tomarrow they have to wait till summer reading challenge ends first which it ends today. and then they will announce the September reading challenge.
Debbie wrote: "Do we know yet what the September Challenge is? After all, September is tomorrow."I was wondering the same thing. I like time to choose my books. :)
Deborah wrote: "Debbie wrote: "My daughter loved Bunnicula when she was in grade school!"I liked Bunnicula in grade school, but I have to admit I enjoyed it's sequel Howliday Inn even more. Aw...mem..."
I really like Howliday Inn also.
The County Library
Books mentioned in this topic
Among the Beasts & Briars (other topics)How to Be a Pirate (other topics)
The Kill Switch (other topics)
Howliday Inn (other topics)
Fearless Felines: 30 True Tales of Courageous Cats (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jack London (other topics)Hazel Prior (other topics)
Avi (other topics)
Ryan Gebhart (other topics)
Witi Ihimaera (other topics)
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I read Maus -- which may *technically* be a bit of a stretch for this challenge, but the characters are drawn with animal heads (they're not truly anthropomorphic)
I read Dungeon Critters which is a delightful middle grade graphic novel featuring anthropomorphic friends Rose, Juniper, Prince Chirp and Goro as they try to save their kingdom from evil, but when Baron Foxworthy comes into their lives, things get a LOT more complicated! Fun art & story
I re-read Dragon Pearl which features Korean mythology in space! the main character, Min is descended from a long line of fox spirits, and her true form is a fox :) Other supernaturals in this world include Dragons and Tigers (and Goblins!)