Read a Book a Day Over the Winter Break

Can it be done? Can I do it? A book a day plus everything else I need to do over the winter break? I've decided to take the challenge. I confess I'm not 100% sure how the challenge works, but I'm on it like an ornament on a tree. According to #bookaday on twitter the leader of the gang is The Book Whisperer -Donalyn Miller. The tweet popped up and grabbed my reading attention, so I started gathering my holiday reading list.

I thought I would begin with Scumble by Ingrid Law, the sequel to Savvy, but I haven't made it to Barnes and Noble yet. I do have a gift card (courtesy of a wonderful student) begging to be spent. In the meantime I've been dying to start I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison. I'm quite the Regency/Austenite fan. I'm looking forward to going back in time.

It occurs to me that I should be able to read a middle grade / young adult book every two to three days. So what should I read in between? Picture books of course!

Winter Break Reading List

Picture Books

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg I'm saving this beautiful book for Christmas day. I can hear the bell ringing. Can you? Do you believe?

Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs I love reading aloud Swamp Angel to my students, so I can't wait to read Issacs newest tall tale!

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According To Susy) by Barbara Kerley This book caught the attention of my muse. Perhaps I will find inspiration through the pages of this book.

The Clever Stick by John Lechner I've heard this book is not only clever, but imaginative in a William Steig kind of way.

Too Many Frogs by Sandy Asher This book has been on my list since the summer. I had the opportunity to spend time with Sandy in Chautauqua at the Highlight's Foundation Children's Writer's Workshop. I've heard it's a "croaking" good book.

Which Shoes Would YOU Choose? by Betsy R. Rosenthal This title appeals to my happy girl feet.

Davy Crockett Gets Hitched by Bobbi Miller This book is on Nancy Polette's "Best of 2009-2010" list. Since I teach 4th grade Texas history, I am always looking for picture books to accompany my curriculum.

Middle Grade / Young Adult Books

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison I love to read and write in the Regency period (Jane Austen's time and place). I'm currently working on a Regency YA. There isn't much out there to read, so I hope this book will give me inspiration and hope for my favorite genre.

Scumble by Ingrid Law That Barnes and Noble gift card is burning a hole in my pocket. I loved Savvy. I can't wait to read Scumble and share it with my fourth graders next year.

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulson Have I mentioned that I'm a Paulson fan? I love how he breaks all the rules -brilliantly!

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman I am drawn to anything set in England in the past. Another medieval young adult novel by Cushman -isn't it grand?

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein So many books, so little time. This book has been on my shelf ever since I finished Klein's Ophelia -which I loved. Klein knows how to give a dose of Shakespeare with a twist.

As I write this I am sitting here looking at my pile of books. The pile is much bigger than this list. I think I'll stop before I overwhelm myself. I still have cleaning and shopping and wrapping and baking and writing to do. Not to mention creating and crafting and blogging and posting and twittering... Happy Winter Break! May books keep you company.