Week 19 #PictYourBooks Challenge

This week I'm thinking about traveling. Well, that's not quite right. I'm actually thinking about places that are far away. You see, my daughter is in college, and she is going to be studying in a city that is a loooooong way away. She's traveling to a city that is, get this, over five thousand miles away from home! For real!

So this week's challenge has to do with places that are far away.

Challenge #19: Share a book that takes place far away.

Remember that creative answers are encouraged. If you can explain how the book takes place far away, then it's a good answer. (And, no, it does not have to be over five thousand miles away.) Happy travels, everyone!

You have one week to submit your answer. Answers can be submitted three ways. Snap a picture of any book that answers the challenge and:

• text it to (715) 903-6455
• email it to PictYourBooks@gmail.com
• respond to @HelpReaders on Twitter

Please include the week number with your picture. You may also include who the image is from, like a teacher's name, and a description of how the book answers the challenge. Writing information on a sticky note and including it in the picture works great!

To be notified of new challenges and weekly wrap up videos, sign up for email updates. Enter your email address under "Subscribe for email notifications" at the top of the page on the right side.

Week 18 #PictYourBooks Answers

Week 18 #PictYourBooks Challenge

May I introduce the newest member of my family? Everyone, meet Hazel!

My family has never had a pet before, so getting a dog is a new experience for us. She's 12 weeks old. Right now she's stretched out sleeping on the floor right by me as I type this. She loves tromping through the snow, chasing tennis balls, and chewing on stuff. She's just learned how to run up and down the stairs, but sometimes her little legs miss a step and THUMP!

So pets are on my mind today which means pets are a part of this week's #PictYourBooks challenge:

Challenge #18: Share a book where a character has a pet. 

You have one week to submit your answer. Answers can be submitted three ways. Snap a picture of any book that answers the challenge and:

• text it to (715) 903-6455
• email it to PictYourBooks@gmail.com
• respond to @HelpReaders on Twitter

Please include the week number with your picture. You may also include who the image is from, like a teacher's name, and a description of how the book answers the challenge. Writing information on a sticky note and including it in the picture works great!

To be notified of new challenges and weekly wrap up videos, sign up for email updates. Enter your email address under "Subscribe for email notifications" at the top of the page on the right side.

Week 17 #PictYourBooks Answers

Week 17 #PictYourBooks Challenge

I love all kids of books. You probably know that already. But I really like books that make me laugh. Funny books are some of my favorite books to read.

The thing about funny books, however, is that not everyone laughs at the same books. Everyone has a different sense of humor. Books that are funny to kids might not be as funny to grown-ups. Kindergartners might find a book hilarious, but older readers might not laugh at all. Even in a class of third graders, some students might laugh at a book while their classmates don't understand what's so funny.

But I trust you. If you say a book is funny, then IT IS funny! So let's hear about those funny books.

Challenge #17: Share a book that made you laugh out loud.

You have one week to submit your answer. Answers can be submitted three ways. Snap a picture of any book that answers the challenge and:

• text it to (715) 903-6455
• email it to PictYourBooks@gmail.com
• respond to @HelpReaders on Twitter

Please include the week number with your picture. You may also include who the image is from, like a teacher's name, and a description of how the book answers the challenge. Writing information on a sticky note and including it in the picture works great!

To be notified of new challenges and weekly wrap up videos, sign up for email updates. Enter your email address under "Subscribe for email notifications" at the top of the page on the right side.

Week 16 #PictYourBooks Answers

Week 16 #PictYourBooks Challenge

Last Monday the American Library Association announced the 2020 winners for a bunch of awards. Two of the most famous are the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott Medal. The Newbery is awarded to the year's best book for children, and the Caldecott is given to the children's book with the best illustrations. Another award that I really like is the Geisel Award which is given to the best book for beginning readers. Here are the 2020 winners:

2020 Newbery Medal

2020 Caldecott Medal

2020 Geisel Award

These awards have been given for many years. In addition there are honor books which are sort of like runners up for the awards. So there are a lot of award winning books out there, and most of them have a medal on the cover showing the award it has won. Which finally brings us to this week's challenge:

Challenge #16: Share an award winning book that you really liked.

Please don't share just any book with a medal on the cover. It has to be one that you really liked, and I can't wait to see all your favorite award winners.

You have one week to submit your answer. Answers can be submitted three ways. Snap a picture of any book that answers the challenge and:

• text it to (715) 903-6455
• email it to PictYourBooks@gmail.com
• respond to @HelpReaders on Twitter

Please include the week number with your picture. You may also include who the image is from, like a teacher's name, and a description of how the book answers the challenge. Writing information on a sticky note and including it in the picture works great!

To be notified of new challenges and weekly wrap up videos, sign up for email updates. Enter your email address under "Subscribe for email notifications" at the top of the page on the right side.

Week 15 #PictYourBooks Answers