40 Book Pledge

When Donalyn Miller came to Mansfield ISD last year to speak to the English teachers and librarians, it was such a treat.  She mentioned how she wrote about the 40 book challenge in which she and her students participated, and how that challenge has been interpreted over the years.  Ms. Miller remarked on the number of teachers who have created the 40 Book Challenge instead of a 40 book challenge.  Many have developed it into a program where students have to do book reports, take quizzes, etc. over all 40 books.  During her visit with us, she also mentioned a post on her website called the 40 Book Challenge Revisited. So I made it my mission to read The Book Whisperer, where the book challenge was first mentioned, and her website, where she explains the original intent of the book challenge, before introducing something similar to this on my campus.

After reading Ms. Miller's words (where she was able to convince me that I needed a bigger purse to carry my books) and "Googling" all of the 40 Book Challenge programs/worksheets, I came up with The 40 Book Pledge.  As a librarian, I do not have students assigned to me.  So I opened the pledge to all students and staff members on our campus; I guess I am running it more like a club.  In our club, we gather once a month to celebrate, book talk and share what we have read thus far.  Our goal is to read 40 books, but we plan to celebrate any and all books read.  I think we should meet more often than once a month and longer than 20 minutes, but I am going to let the group decide that.

Once the patron filled out the pledge page, I gave them a bag with . . .

• a spiral 
• a BHH Reading prompt to help with journal reflections (borrowed from Disrupting Thinking by Beers & Probst)
• a list to keep track of their books
• more information about the club
• a "40 Pledge Participant" poster
• "I love reading" stickers 
• a couple of pencils 
• a bookmark.

All the information I gave them is optional to use.  I have asked that they keep a running list of books read and a reflection journal.  How they manage this is their call.  If they choose not to keep a traditional journal, they have to tell me how they will keep track of everything.  So far most are keeping a written journal.  Some are using the notes in their phone, and one is posting to a social media account . . . I think it's Instagram.  I am planning to keep a traditional journal, and use this blog along with my social media accounts.  I'd like to model both tradition and technology.  We'll see if I can keep up with all of this.

The things the patrons love the most (so far) are the free bag all the SWAG came in and the "40 Book Pledge" participant poster.  Most of the students have taken the poster home while the staff members are hanging it on their classroom doors or the doors to their offices.  The bags were all freebies I have collected from various conferences.  I knew they'd come in handy eventually!

So far I have 30 participants, which is about 25 more than I thought I would have.  It's been fun so far.   We have only met once, but both the students and the staff members are coming to the library more frequently to talk about books.  That makes me happy.

Here is a link to all of the materials I have made or borrowed so far.  As I mentioned in a recent tweet, I'm not the biggest fan of TpT.  I believe educators should share without a price tag involved.  Feel free to make copies and use whatever you need.

Works Cited List

Beers, G. Kylene, and Robert E. Probst. Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters. Scholastic Inc., 2017.

Miller, Donalyn, and Jeff Anderson. The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. Scholastic Inc., 2011.

“The 40 Book Challenge Revisited.” Donalyn Miller, 12 Aug. 2014, https://bookwhisperer.com/2014/08/12/the-40-book-challenge-revisited/.