I am asking my children to read at least ten of the books on their individualized list before August 18, 2008. I will take each child who reads ten of the books on his list out to eat to the restaurant of his choice, and I will also buy a book for each child who finishes the challenge. This list is for Betsy-Bee, age 9, who just finished third grade.

Bulla, Clyde Robert. The Sword in the Tree. This King Arthur story was one of my older daughters’ favorite story in the whole world when she was about Betsy-Bee’s age, and we’re studying the Middle Ages next year for history. (Adventure story category for the Summer Book Blast)

Cleary, Beverly. Emily’s Runaway Imagination. (Fiction category for the Summer Book Blast)

Clements, Andrew. Frindle. I’ve never read this one, but I know it’s a very popular book about a fifth grader who tries to invent a new word. I’ll probably read it along with Betsy-Bee. (Fiction category for the Summer Book Blast)

Cole Joanna. One Magic School Bus book that you haven’t already read.

Enright, Elizabeth. The Saturdays. Four siblings pool their allowances each month and take turns going on a Saturday adventure all by themselves.

Haywood, Carolyn. Betsy’s Busy Summer. (Fiction category for the Summer Book Blast)

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Best Friends. Poems about friends.

Kurlansky, Mark. The Story of Salt.

Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables. (Classics category for the Summer Book Blast)

Peterson, John. The Littles. The Little family, who all measure less than six inches high, have lots of adventures in the land of the Biggs. (Adventure stories category for Summer Book Blast)

Sidney, Margaret. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. (Classics category for Summer Book Blast)

Stanley, Diane. Joan of Arc. A biography of the famous saint/warrior. (Christian biographies category for Summer Book Blast)

Thomas, Mack. What Would Jesus Do? This “retelling” of the classic by Charles Sheldon isn’t really a retelling at all, but rather a new story for kids based on the premise of the the original: what would happen if a group of people, children in this story, decided to ask themselves the question “what would Jesus do” before they acted? It’s an interesting question, even if it did get trivialized back in the 1990’s. (Faith Builders category for the Summer Book Blast)

Whaley, Richie. Samuel: Prophet and Judge. Part of the BIbLearn series published by the Southern Baptist in-house press, this is an easy-to-read biography of the man we’re reading about in our family Bible reading time. (Christian Biographies category for the Summer Book Blast)

I’m also asking them to memorize and present to the family two poems. Here are Betsy-Bee’s poems:

The Creation by Cecil Frances Alexander.

Eletelephony by Laura Elizabeth Richards.