Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: July 2018 Link-Up

I took this month off from book reviews, but here is the link-up post for your "old school" book reviews from July. Leave your links in comments!

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: June 2018 Link-Up

This is the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for June! Please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month in the comments. (Even if you haven't signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

I reviewed one "old school" book this month:

• By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman (1963)

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: May 2018 Link-Up

This is the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for May! Please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month in the comments. (Even if you haven't signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

Here are my "old school" reviews for the month:

• Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson Rankin (1904)
• The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West (1953)
• The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope (1974)

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: April 2018 Link-Up

This is the official Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for April! In comments, please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month. (Even if you're not officially signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

Here are my "old school" reviews for the month:

• Story of the Presidents of the United States of America by Maud and Miska Petersham (1953)
• Ellen Grae by Vera and Bill Cleaver (1967)
• I Know You, Al by Constance C. Greene (1975)
• Zucchini by Barbara Dana (1982)

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: March 2018 Link-Up

This is the official Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for March! In comments, please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month. (Even if you're not officially signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

Here are my "old school" reviews for the month:

• Happy Little Family by Rebecca Caudill (1947)
• The Wonderful Farm by Marcel Ayme, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (1951)
• A Girl Called Al by Constance C. Greene (1969)
• Good Charlotte by Carol Beach York (1969)
• The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill (1972)
• The Cartoonist by Betsy Byars (1978)
• Does Anybody Care About Lou Emma Miller? by Alberta Wilson Constant (1979) 

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: February 2018 Link-Up

This is the official Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for February! In comments, please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month. (Even if you're not officially signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

Here are the "old school' books I reviewed this month:

• The Password to Larkspur Lane by Carolyn Keene (1933)
• Clementine by Betsy Byars (1962)
• Life Story by Virginia Lee Burton (1962)
• The 18th Emergency by Betsy Byars (1973)
• Meaning Well by Sheila R. Cole (1975)
• The Glory Girl by Betsy Byars (1983)
• Thatcher Payne-in-the Neck by Betty Bates (1985)
• A Fine White Dust by Cynthia Rylant (1986)

What did you read? What will you read in the month ahead?

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: January 2018 Link-Up

This is the official Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for January! In comments, please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month. (Even if you're not officially signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

I am planning to read 52 old school books this year. I used to review one a week, and fell out of that habit last year, so I want to try to get back into it. This month, I reviewed these three titles:

• Amahl and the Night Visitors adapted by Frances Frost, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin (1952)
• The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (1973)
• The Box of Delights by John Masefield (1935)

What did you read? How are you doing with the challenge so far? 

December Link-Up: Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge (Winter Stories)

I reviewed 3 books for the challenge this month:

• Prairie School by Lois Lenski (1951)
• The Tough Winter by Robert Lawson (1954)
• Far Out the Long Canal by Meindert DeJong (1964)

Which winter stories did you read this month? Share in comments!

The Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge is happening again in 2018 with some changes (no more monthly themes!) Learn more here!

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge 2018

I am once again hosting the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge in 2018!

Here is how to participate this year:

1. Set a goal for the number of "old school" children's books you want to read in 2018.
2. Comment to this post with your goal number and a link to wherever you will post about the books you read (your blog, a Goodreads shelf, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
3. Check in at the end of each month with a list of what you've read and links to any reviews you have posted.

Guidelines: 

• A book is considered "old school" if it was published in the decade of your birth or before. 
• There are no monthly themes this year - read whatever you like! 
• You can join the challenge at any time during the year. 
• When you post on social media, tag your posts with #OldSchoolKidlit2018. 
• Help promote the challenge by sharing it with your friends!  

Monthly Link-ups:

• January

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, December 2017 (Winter Stories)

In this, the last month of the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, we're focusing on Winter Stories.

To participate, read a book or books connected to this month's theme with a publication date in the decade of your birth or before. Post about it on your blog, or wherever you typically review books. At the end of the month, I will publish a link-up post for you to share your reviews from the month.

Feel free to share what you're planning to read here in the comments and/or on social media using #oldschoolkidlit2017. Happy reading!

November Link-Up: Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge (Year/Decade of Your Birth)

I've been a bit busy adjusting to our new addition, so I read just one book published in my birth year during this month:

The Haunting by Margaret Mahy (1982)

What about you? Share your links in comments!

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, November 2017 (Year/Decade of Your Birth)

This is my birthday month, so the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge is focusing on books published in the year (or decade) of your birth.

To participate, read a book (or books) published during the year or decade in which you were born. Post about it on your blog, or wherever you typically review books. At the end of the month, I will publish a link-up post for you to share your reviews from the month.

Feel free to share what you're planning to read here in the comments and/or on social media using #oldschoolkidlit2017. Happy reading!

October Link-Up: Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge (Mystery Stories)

This month, I read four mysteries for this challenge:

• Jamie and the Mystery Quilt by Vicki Berger Erwin (1987)
• The Tower Treasure (1927) and The Tower Treasure (1959) by Franklin W. Dixon
• The Crow and the Castle by Keith Robertson (1957)
• The Minnow Leads to Treasure by Philippa Pearce (1955)

Which mysteries did you enjoy this month? Share your links in comments, and have a happy Halloween!

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, October 2017 (Mysteries)

This month, the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge is focusing on Mysteries.

To participate, read a book or books connected to this month's theme with a publication date in the decade of your birth or before. Post about it on your blog, or wherever you typically review books. At the end of the month, I will publish a link-up post for you to share your reviews from the month.

Feel free to share what you're planning to read here in the comments and/or on social media using #oldschoolkidlit2017. Happy reading!

September Link-Up: Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge (School Stories)

I read several books for the challenge this month:

• Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charley? by Rebecca Caudill (1966)
• Here Comes the Bus! by Carolyn Haywood (1963)
• Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary (1953)
• The MacDonald Hall series by Gordon Korman (The last two books don't really count since they were published in the '90s but I decided to review the whole series anyway.)

What about you? Which school stories did you read? Share your links in comments!

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, September 2017 (School Stories)

This month, as the new school year gets underway, the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge is focusing on School Stories. 

To participate, read a book or books connected to this month's theme with a publication date in the decade of your birth or before. Post about it on your blog, or wherever you typically review books. At the end of the month, I will publish a link-up post for you to share your reviews from the month.

Feel free to share what you're planning to read here in the comments and/or on social media using #oldschoolkidlit2017. Happy reading!

August Link-Up: Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge (Nonfiction)

As summer winds down, please share any old school nonfiction you read in August.

I read and reviewed quite a few books:

• A Book of Americans by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet, illustrated by Charles Child (1933)
• A Picturesque Tale of Progress: Beginnings I by Olive Beaupre Miller
• Juvenile Story Writing (1922) and Writing for Young People (1950) by Mabel Robinson
• And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? (1973), Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? (1974), Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? (1975), What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? (1976), Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? (1976), Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? (1977), Where Do You Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus? (1980), and Shh! We're Writing the Constitution (1987), all by Jean Fritz (and all reviewed in one post here.)

I also read A Picturesque Tale of Progress: Beginnings II by Olive Beaupre Miller and Gates of Excellence: On Reading and Writing Books for Children by Katherine Paterson, but ran out of time to review them this month. 

What about you? Share your links in comments! 

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, August 2017 (Nonfiction)

Today marks the start of month 8 of the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge!

This month we're focusing on Nonfiction.

To participate, read a book or books connected to this month's theme with a publication date in the decade of your birth or before. Post about it on your blog, or wherever you typically review books. At the end of the month, I will publish a link-up post for you to share your reviews from the month.

Feel free to share what you're planning to read here in the comments and/or on social media using #oldschoolkidlit2017. Happy reading!

July Link-Up: Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge 2017 (Family Stories)

July went zipping by! Did you read any Family Stories for the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge? If so, share your links in comments! 

I ended up reading five titles: 

• The Spettecake Holiday by Edith Unnerstad (1958)
• D.J.'s Worst Enemy by Robert Burch (1965)
• Those Miller Girls! by Alberta Wilson Constant (1965)
• The Magic Summer by Noel Streatfeild (1966)
• Beans on the Roof by Betsy Byars (1988)

Check back on Tuesday for details on the challenge's focus for August! 

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge, July 2017 (Family Stories)

Month 7 of the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge begins today!

This month our focus is on Family Stories.

To participate, read a book or books connected to this month's theme with a publication date in the decade of your birth or before. Post about it on your blog, or wherever you typically review books. At the end of the month, I will publish a link-up post for you to share your reviews from the month.

Feel free to share what you're planning to read here in the comments and/or on social media using #oldschoolkidlit2017. Happy reading!