Cover to Cover Challenge discussion

Hi,

I am curious as to how Children's Books are defined in this situation. Do we mean no Cat in the Hat? What about books like Harry Potter, or The Hunger Games?

Thanks
Journeywoman

I define "children's books" as simple, easy to read, and having lots of illustrations. Hary Potter, The Hunger Games, et al, I would classify as "young adult".

Children's books to mean mean The cat in the hat and other books like that. (Dick and Jane books for example are definately "children's books) Mostly the way I think of a children's book is--if its slanted for those who either do not read themselves or are just learning to read. So, figure anything over say 4th grade level for "young adult."

What do you guys think about the Madeleine L'Engle Wrinkle in Time series? That's a classic series I've been wanting to read. Do you think those should count?

Tessa wrote: "What do you guys think about the Madeleine L'Engle Wrinkle in Time series? That's a classic series I've been wanting to read. Do you think those should count?"
Absolutely! The Wrinkle in Time series is made of books that are a couple of hundred pages. I'll be counting some Harlequins for sure. They are roughly the same reading level and length (although certainly not the same content) .

you better BELIEVE that Wrinkle in Time counts. They were not written as "children's" books, but for older teens and adults. Sigh, you are so lucky Tessa--to get to read them for the FIRST time. I think I've read the series about 6 times.

Yup, I'm agreeing with those above. Madeleine L'Engle books, Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games, and so on, all of those are young adult books that cross over into adult interest and have the number of pages required. Definitely count them.

To me a "children's book" is any book that is for beginning readers or non-readers. Usually they are chapter books with illustrations and less than 150 pages, or picture books with less than five lines per page.

I know that the Wrinkle in Time series is highly recommended and I've always wanted to read it, just never got around to it. I'm really looking forward to it now.

The first book is awesome. I think I will buy the collection for my daughter.

I define childrne's books as anything in the children's section of the library. Most libraries are now on line so it is easy to check.

How about Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events)? I ask because I'm on the first one and I'll probably be reading them in 2010.

They woudl be found in the children's department. You can also check Amazon if you are indoubt.

ow about Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events)? I ask because I'm on the first one and I'll probably be reading them in 2010.

they may be in the children's department--but I am not totally sure I'd count them as children's books. Simply because in order to read them you have to actually be ABLE to read. I think they kind of straddle the border, so I'd count them if I read them. My grandkids read them in, I believe it was 3rd grade--of course, by 3rd grade they were both reading well into high school levels.

Lemony Snicket according to Amazon is ages 9-12 which is the age at the children's library I go to as well. We have an area for very young children who can't read which is called picture books. Most of the books have the ages the book i appropriated for. 13 and up is the young adult or YA section.

If you can read Lemony Snicket & like it, count it. I couldn't finish the first one. It certainly helped me in my job though, to at least have a working knowledge of what & who Lemony Snicket is & the characters in the series.

I think Lemony Snicket counts. I read the books during early middle school, and even though I probably wouldn't enjoy them for the first time now, I think they are more towards the YA side of the scale than the children's side.

My theory is that this is a personal goal, not really a challenge or a competition, therefore it's sort of a personal decision as to what you count.

What about reading R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike books. I know that they are considered young-adult, but they are good books.

I too think it is a personal choice as to what someone includes. I am going to include all the Newberry winners I have to read, and I won't feel guilty. They should make up for my East of Eden pick. This isn't a contest and I don't think anyone is going to grab a stack of Captain Underpants at the last minute just to make their "144".

Lyn M wrote: "My theory is that this is a personal goal, not really a challenge or a competition, therefore it's sort of a personal decision as to what you count."

I agree with Lyn M - this is a personal goal, so what you count really has to do with what you feel comfortable in counting. It isn't a race. We're all at different reading levels and speeds, so read what you're wanting to read. If you feel awkward putting it on your list because it "wasn't really a long enough book", then it probably wasn't...but that length will differ for everyone. I think the only restriction was no children's books, but Young Adult (YA) were okay.

Actually Lemony Snicket is Juvenile or Middle Fiction grade 4-7 so I would not count them as children's fiction,as are RL Stine whose books are a step above chapter books though not YA.

I didn't know that RL Stine wasn't YA, our library has them in the YA section.

Would Diary of a Wimpy Kid count as a Children's Book?

I think a children's book should be any book that you would read to a child at bedtime for one evening. Just my opinion.

Hum--ya know Wendy--I think you have the right idea. Anything that takes more than 1 night to read to a kid is NOT a children's. I certainly don't count The Secret Garden as a children's book--even tho I DID read it to my daughter when she was 4. But we did it over the course of 2 weeks. And then when she was older, she read it for herself. But I've read that 1 book about 10 times, just because I DO enjoy the story.

I read chapter books to my daughter all the time but it takes us a few weeks to get through them (unless we have some marathon reading sessions).

I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to my oldest grandson when he was 5. I've never been able to pick up another of the Potter books since. We did it while he was in hospital. 11 days in ICU, then 3 weeks in the Hem/Oc ward. (Where children with cancer and/or serious blood disorders go.) He has since read all of the books for himself, but I can't bring myself to read them.

I'm going to read a couple of my Nancy Drew books like I do every year, and I am going to count them. They are close to 200 pages and don't have illustrations. I might also re-read some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I really enjoy those.

I am working on reading many of the Newberry Award winner books which are awarded to literature geared at ages 10 - 18. I plan on counting them toward my goal. Many of them are located in the YA section of the library, none are what you would call "picture" books.

I've read and plan to read a few YA books for this challenge. I think part of it is that this is a personal challenge without much in the way of guidelines, so if at the end you feel you've really read a book, then it should count. If you feel awkward about including it, then it probably isn't one you personally consider right for your challenge.

Well said, Lynn.

Myself, book by authors like Dr. Seuss, Jeff Kinney, Annie Barrows and Robert Munsch are kids novels. Pre-teen would be like Anthony Horowitz, Jeff Stone, Annie Bryant, Carolyn Keene and Ann M. Martin. Around the twelve/thirteen year mark, I'd consider R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. Novels by Stephenie Meyer, Markus Zusak, Suzanne Collins, James Patterson's Maximum Ride series are more for teens.

I was wondering about Caroline by Neil Gaiman and then I checked out this thread, thanks guys!

Catherine wrote: "I'm going to read a couple of my Nancy Drew books like I do every year, and I am going to count them. They are close to 200 pages and don't have illustrations. I might also re-read some of the La..."

I read Nancy Drew books too.. a couple each year. :) I enjoy them.

Nancy Drew's aren't really "Children's" since they were meant to be read by tweenies and teens. At least, that's MY opinion and I'm sticking to it. (I too re-read my Nancy's, Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden's etc. and I refuse to apoligize for it)

I agree, Ann. Tweenies can handle the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys hardcover books - they're more old-fashioned. The newer stuff, I'd wait until early teens like 13-14, as they have more 'romance' in them and the cases are a little more heavy.

I am going to count the Spiderwick Chronicles, as one book. There are 5 in total, about 50 pages each. I know they're kid books, but I wanted to read them for awhile, and together there is enough pages to count.

What About Alice in wonderland not the trimmed down version for young children but the full version sightly abridged?

Opinions?

We like to read big books that take us longer than one night to read.

Alice in Wonderland is not children's. Even if the story DOES feature a little girl.

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Alice in Wonderland is not children's. Even if the story DOES feature a little girl."

I definitely agree!