"...one's chances of survival increase with each book one reads."

"If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. 

Or better, one's chances of survival increase 

with each book one reads."

-Sherman Alexie

Between this time last year and now, SC's reading skills have really taken off.  I distinctly remember the energy she expended about this time last year to get through even one chapter of the fun Mr. Putter and Tabby series books.  We read together every day, and she would be drained after just a few pages.  Now, however, she is decoding words at a mid-4th grade level, and comprehending at a mid-3rd grade level.  (Have you heard about the DORA test?)

She cannot get enough of books, and we have had to deal with the quandary of her sneaking books past bedtime.  I cannot bring myself to in any way tell her "no books" or "you shouldn't be reading."  So, when we catch her reading past bedtime, I just take the flashlight or book light away and tell her that she needs her sleep, to have enough energy for the next day, and that the book will still be there in the morning.  It is hard for me, though, because I understand the need to finish, and how wrapped up one can become in a good piece of writing.

At the beginning of last summer, and into the fall, I had a "reading challenge," and we diligently wrote down each book she had read, tallied points, and she earned prizes.  Very quickly, however, we had to adjust how points were calculated (away from number of pages to reading level), and then again (to extend the reading level).  We ended up just tallying minutes, and finally stopped keeping track.  I am not sure if the challenge helped give her that push she needed to become a reader or not, but she is just as likely (if not more) to closet herself away in her room, in her "reading chair," as she is to ask to play video games or watch the TV.

I thought it would be interesting to put together a list/progression of the books she has read on her own over the past year.  Once we stopped keeping written track (because I just couldn't keep up!), I may not have them all or be in the correct order, but this is most of them.  I have previously written about the first ten books she read here, so I will start after that.  I am also only going to link to a few of our favorites, rather than each one, for expediency.  

This first part of the list is the one I diligently kept track of, June through November.

Title//Author

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Mo Willems Almost Richard Torrey Born to Be a Butterfly Karen Wallace Should I Share my Ice Cream? Mo Willems I'm a Caterpillar Jean Marzollo Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Bill Martin, Jr. Sid's Surprise Candace Carter Going to the Sea Park Mercer Mayer Welcome to Royal Prep Lisa Ann Marsoli Mr. Putter & Tabby Walk the Dog Cynthia Rylant Penny and her Marble Kevin Henkes Mr. Putter & Tabby Ring the Bell Cynthia Rylant Bear in Underwear Todd H. Doodler Mr. Putter & Tabby Spin the Yarn Cynthia Rylant Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss Just Lost! Mercer Mayer The New Baby Stan & Jan Berenstain Bad Kitty Gets a Bath Nick Bruel Mr. Putter & Tabby See the Stars Cynthia Rylant Mr. Putter & Tabby Run the Race Cynthia Rylant I Want my Hat Back Jon Klassen Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea Cynthia Rylant Mr. Putter & Tabby Catch the Cold Cynthia Rylant Mr. Putter & Tabby Paint the Porch Cynthia Rylant Just a Little Music Mercer Mayer Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty! Nick Bruel Missing Molly Lisa Jahn-Clough The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Bad Kitty Meets the Baby Nick Bruel Princess Posey & the First Grade Parade Stephanie Greene Play, Mozart, Play! Peter Sis My Trip to the Hospital Mercer Mayer Mr. Putter & Tabby Write the Book Cynthia Rylant Mr. Putter & Tabby Fly the Plane Cynthia Rylant Mr. Putter & Tabby Spill the Beans Cynthia Rylant Pete the Cat: Rockin' in my School Shoes Eric Litwin Mr. Putter & Tabby Make a Wish Cynthia Rylant Lily's Purple Plastic Purse Kevin Henkes Princess Posey & the Perfect Present Stephanie Greene Hamster and Cheese Colleen AF Venable Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans Princess Posey & the Next-Door Dog Stephanie Greene Princess Posey & the Monster Stew Stephanie Greene Cardboard Doug TenNapel Princess Posey & the Tiny Treasure Stephanie Greene

This part of the list is not in exact reading order, but rather alphabetical by author.  I also do not list the various picture books she has read because I cannot keep track of them all.  Our usual take from a library trip is 20-30 books, and we also go to Barnes & Noble to sit and read picture books a few times a month.

by Jorje Aguierre
Giants Beware!

by Annie Barrows
Ivy and Bean
Ivy and Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go
Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record
Ivy and Bean Take Care of the Babysitter
Ivy and Bean: Bound to Be Bad
Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance
Ivy and Bean: What’s the Big Idea?
Ivy and Bean: No News Is Good News
Ivy and Bean: Make the Rules
Ivy and Bean: Take the Case

by Nick Bruel
Bad Kitty for President
Bad Kitty School Daze
Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble

by Kazu Kibishi
Copper
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
Explorer: The Lost Islands
Amulet: The Stonekeeper
Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse

by Mary Pope Osborne
Dinosaurs before Dark
The Knight at Dawn
Mummies in the Morning

by Ashley Spires
Binky the Space Cat
Binky Under Pressure
Binky: License to Scratch
Binky to the Rescue
Binky takes Charge

by Doug TenNapel
Bad Island
Ghostopolis
Tommysaurus Rex

The list also should include all the Berenstain Bears and Little Critter books she can get her hands on, plus anything Star Wars related that the library has.  I still feel like I am forgetting some, but oh well.