Author Birthday Reading Callenge: Rules

This challenge is closed to all for now and may or may not be introduced again for the year2012. 

So here's how you get points to earn the prize:


1. Follow this blog: +3 pts AND...
2. Read at least one book from the list of author birthdays for the month specified (in this case starting  Feb 2011) The more you read, the more points you get! For every book you read you will get +3 pts and +5 pts  for answering a question about the book (these will be listed below also but not all books will have a question).
3. Spread the word: blog about this challenge, tweet about it, put the banner on the sidebar of your blog, or link back to this post through facebook. Comment and give a talley on this post of your points. Please also list the link(s) to your blog, tweet, or Facebook page that cover the challenge/contest. Follow this step closelyand it will get you a good +5 pts.
5. Be sure your kid gets that special book he/she has been wanting to read.Obviously it has to be an author from one of the lists. +8 pts if you post a picture on your blog of your kiddo reading it and comment with the link to the photo! 
6. +10 points for donating a book (Spanish or English) to the book drive I'm organizing. It's ongoing  just in case you are wondering. 


If you happen to read at least one book from each list I'll enter your name into a drawing for a special prize which will be ready for you at the end of the 2011! So keep tabs on the books you read so you can send me a list of the ones you have read by December 2011. 

***contest is for USA, Canada, and Mexico only*** 

Thats it! Whoever has the most points wins! If there happens to be a tie, well then I'll have to do a raffle.


The winner will get a book or a few books from the authors listed below!!!! Once the winner is selected I will contact them to get shipping information in order to send out the prize.


Here is the official banner to add to your blog ! So spread the word on the challenge:

  Not every month will have a winner, it all depends on participation. 

• There was no winner for January. Here is the February Author Birthday List: 
•  ** Dicken's children's stories only for this contest.
• • Meg Cabot - February 1, 1967
  • Jerry Spinelli - February 1, 1941
  • Judith Viorst - February 2, 1931
  • Russell Hoban - February 4, 1925
  • David Wiesner - February 5, 1957
  • **Charles Dickens - February 7, 1812 
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder - February 7, 1867
  • Barbara Joosse - February 8, 1949
  • Donna Jo Napoli - February 8, 1948
  • Lucy Cousins - February 10, 1964
  • E.L. Konigsburg - February 10, 1930
  • Mark Teague - February 10, 1963
  • Jane Yolen - February 11, 1939
  • Judy Blume - February 12, 1938
  • David Small - February 12, 1945
  • Jacqueline Woodson - February 12, 1964
  • Janet Taylor Lisle - February 13, 1947
  • Simms Taback - February 13, 1932
  • Paul O. Zelinsky - February 14, 1953
  • Norman Birdwell - February 15, 1928
  • Jan Spivey Gilchrist - February 15, 1949
  • Walter Wick - February 23, 1953
  • Wilhelm Carl Grimm - February 24, 1786
  • Cynthia Voigt - February 25, 1942
  • Uri Shulevitz - February 27, 1935
  • Megan McDonald - February 28, 1959
  • John Tenniel - February 28, 1820
  • Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) - February 28, 1970
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Mo' Spit!

With all the holiday mayhem, fun, and delight I find myself a bit frazzled. What next, right? Which of my high aspirations can I (will I) embrace completely this year? Can all my goals be accomplished? For my sake and sanity, I hope so! It is never a fun thing to come to the close of the year and realize I left one thing undone, unfinished, or incomplete. So to the new year I say, "Mo Spit!" I'm going to make this year shine just a bit more than the last one, and that's going to take a bit more spit than usual! I'm sticking by that statement and I'm here to encourage you all to do the same! Carpe diem, c'est la vie, que sera sera...whatever your encouragement or motto may be, stick with it!

**rolling up my sleeves**

Here are some quotes I found on other blogs,etc that I'd like to start my year off with, because sheesh I'm gonna need them...

(click the link to read more)

"Attend to lightness. Shoot for moonlight."

"Write against patterns. Go against the devils. Write what you never write. Lie. Validate what you don't validate. Indulge what you don't like. Wallow in it. Write the opposite of what you always write, think, speak. Do everything against the grain!"-- Deena Metzger


I must say that likewise, along with the above quote, that one should also follow as many rules as they can. Balance, I believe, will find success far sooner than anything when it comes to the task of writing and accomplishing  publication. Just sayin', don't make yourself weary with a surplus of expectations. Find those that work for you alone. 


"A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark"--Dante Alighieri


Find that tiny spark. Go forth and be the mighty flame! Sparkle all you can! 


"A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage."--Sidney Smith


Don't let this person be you. Muster all your strength to feed Courage. You are going to need it! Let gumption be your close friend and confidant. Courage is hardly any good and won't get you very far without strength to keep it alive.  


You can easily find more words of encouragement and hope to last you the year here:


Extracto Literarium


Books I started my new year off with:

Doggone Dogs, by Karen Beaumont--part of the reason I have not been blogging as much is that we have a dog that reminds me of  Karen Beaumont's Doggone Dogs! This book reminds me of our puppy Osito. I had to laugh! What a heap of work it is to train a puppy! I hope you understand my absence. While I cannot post as much this year I wish you will remain interested in the children's book drive I am organizing, and the fantastic Author Birthday Reading Challenge. I've decided to continue both through the year 2011! Keep in mind there are prizes to be had! Keep reading! It's not over yet! And while I may be busy with a puppy, you can still look forward to two or three posts a week this year, as my goals will be focused more on writing and submitting than on my blog posts. I'll keep you posted if anything changes!

Dinosaurs Love Underpants by, Claire Freedman and Ben Cort--can you tell I have a son yet? I must say my daughter likes dinosaurs just as much as my son, all because her brother adores them! So while I can't decide the exact origins of underwear in relation to dinosaurs I have come to the conclusion that I will be sure to remember I'm wearing my undies at all times. No doubt about that!

Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power by, Milton Meltzer--this one just makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. We all need books like this one to remind us that within us all is an unknown power to rule. Rule your dreams.  Rule yourself. Leave a mark in the world for yourself or others.