Becky at Young Readers is hosting the Young Readers Challenge 2009.  Here are the details:

Read 12 children’s books in 2009.  ‘Children’s books’ are defined as anything written to be read (or read aloud) to children 12 and under.  Examples of children’s books are: board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books.  No list is required. If you choose to post one, you can change it as needed. But it isn’t required at all.  Audio books work.  Rereads are acceptable, but try to mix it up old and new if you can.  Overlaps with other challenges are acceptable.  You may consider yourself ‘finished’ with the challenge if/when you complete the twelfth book. (You could finish it January if you’re ambitious. But there is no requirement to read one book per month all year long.) If you want to keep going past twelve books, that’s fine. I won’t stop you!

As a teacher, my first love is children’s books, so joining this one was a “no-brainer.”

Sheri at A Novel Menagerie is hosting the Just For the Love Of It Challenge.  Click on the link for this one; it’s different, so look out!  I just couldn’t turn down my blogging buddy Sheri when she started this one.

Finally, is the TBR Reading Challenge, which has it’s own blog.  This is my chance to get through the ever-growing TBR pile that I have thanks to this blog.

I will be posting lists for these later, so look for more to come concerning all the challenges I will be involved in this year.

There are tons of ‘08 wrap-ups around the blogosphere as well as New Year’s wishes.  Both of which I’ve done; the wish just won’t post until tomorrow.  Here is what I found over at Papertigers.  I really liked the short and sweet post.

Giveaways

I found a new blog this week – Life Starring Ellie and Eve.  Great giveaways happen here, including this one for Eric Carle books.  2 winners will get all of the books listed.  Giveaway ends Jan. 10. 

Consumer Queen.com is new to me this week also.  In one of her posts, she gives you 7 ways to save and has a great giveaway to go along with it.  Here are the 7 ways to save:

Sign up for Fanatics to print $5 in Savings coupons                   Purchase the January “All You” magazine for $1.50 Savings (Magazine contains $50 in manufacturer’s coupons)Purchase the Fast Fixin’ Breakfast items and send in the Try Me Free for up to $5 in savings.Cut out the UPC’s from the products and collect 10 to earn a free product coupon. = $7.99 SavingsUse the coupon inside the box of Fast Fixin’ Breakfast items for a $1 savings.Use the Coupon in the Breakfast Burrito box for a Savings of $1.50

Use the Coupon in the Fast Classics Country Fried Steak for $2 off any 2 Fast Fixin’ Breakfast Items= $2 Savings

Here is the giveaway!  15 families will win a year’s supply of breakfast from Fast Fixin’ & Fast Classics.  This one will end on Jan. 15th with many ways to earn extra entries.

If you read my blog frequently, you know that I love Parent Reviewers.  They are wrapping up their Mega Giveaways with some great ones!  Who wouldn’t love a SNAP! digital camera?  Want to see Altar Boyz?  Readers available near the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania area or readers traveling to NYC would be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

A Peek At My Bookshelf is putting her blog through some changes for the new year, and she wants to do a You Pick It! book giveaway once a month, but she won’t unless we help her get to 50,000 by tonight.  Read the post here.

Don’t Forget

The Cybils short lists are due out tomorrow.  There are many bloggers who have been busily reading tons of books to whittle down each category.  Thank you for all your hard work; can’t wait to see the list!

Challenges

I will be participating in many challenges in the upcoming year.  I am trying to refrain from overloading myself with too many, but here is one that I may have to add to my list.  Check out The Ban on Spending Challenge!

That is all I have for today, unless you have something for me to add.  Let me know in the comments about what you’ve “wandered” on as you blog hopped this week.

Until next week…

I love challenges that let me have freedom to choose what I read.  This is one of them. 

The 2009 Themed Reading Challenge runs from Feb 1, 2009 – Jul 31, 2009.  You can read from 4-6 books w/3 levels of participation:

I have chosen the 3rd level of participation.  Here are my themes and books:

1. Books with a female main character
2. Books written by a female
3. Books with a double letter word in the title

•  
  • A Crooked Kind of Perfect
  • The Book of One Hundred Truths
  • The White Giraffe
  • May Bird Warrior Princess
  • The Space Between Before and After
  • Everything on a Waffle

Although I can change books at anytime, these books are in my TBR pile and I need to get them outta there to make room for others.  Won’t you join us in this challenge?