• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Snack
      • Lunch
      • Appetizer
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Ingredient
      • Apple
      • Beef
      • Blueberry
      • Chicken
      • Chocolate
      • Cranberry
      • Peach
      • Pumpkin
      • Squash
      • Strawberry
      • Tomato
      • Vegetables
      • Zucchini
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Baking
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • No Bake
      • One Dish
      • Slow Cooker
    • Type
      • Breads and Rolls
      • Cakes and Muffins
      • Condiments
      • Cookies and Bars
      • Drinks
      • Food for Kids
      • Gluten-Free
      • Main Dish
      • Pies and Crisps
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies
      • Soup
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Kids Crafts
    • Printables
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing
  • Family Life
    • Giveaways
    • Lifestyle
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Pet Care
    • Special Needs
    • Time Management
    • Travel
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas

Encourage Your Children to Expand Their Horizons by #ReadingWithoutWalls

October 3, 2016 by Dawn

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail

Reading Without Walls

5 Minutes for Books‘ reviewer Dawn loves to share the joy of reading with children and grown-ups alike, and she and her children are excited to tackle the Reading Without Walls Challenge this fall!

Reading challenges abound in the world of social media, and most are geared toward adults. I’ve taken on a few over the years, and I’ve even made some BINGO style cards for my kids to keep them reading in the summertime. I prefer reading challenges that push me out of my “comfort zone” and get me to read books that I may not have otherwise picked on my own. From what I’ve observed from my own children’s reading habits, this benefit of a challenge can apply to younger readers, as well, who may get stuck choosing similar types of books. Enter the Reading Without Walls Challenge, from the incredible author and illustrator, Gene Luen Yang, who is the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

As the National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yang is given the mighty task of “rais[ing] national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.” In that spirit, Yang is introducing this challenge to encourage young readers to explore diversity in character, format, and genre in their book selections.

Reading Without Walls Challenge Guidelines

This program is currently being piloted in 25 schools across the United States, and teachers and librarians are encouraged to join the challenge by visiting the website and following the instructions to sign up. But it doesn’t have to be limited to school groups, for anyone can download and print the flyer and the certificate to participate individually, as my kids and I are planning to do!

When I first read the three parts of the challenge, my mind immediately started coming up with book titles I could suggest to my own daughter and son, who are ten and eight years old, respectively. In a nutshell, they are white, suburban kids who are not being raised with any specific religion, who live with a father and mother. I know that my son leans toward nonfiction more than my daughter, but my daughter has read several books in verse while he has previously shied away from these, preferring simple graphic novels. The options are endless, and I’ll be putting several of these titles on our next library wish list.

A book about a character who doesn’t look or live like you

Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai focuses on 11-year-old Fadi who is struggling with obstacles faced by many immigrants and presents the story in a deep and serious tone that also emphasizes the universality of being a child on the verge of adolescence.

Better Nate Than Never and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle features a spirited protagonist in Nate, who, at thirteen, is unsure of his own sexuality but is already bullied for others’ perceptions of him as gay.

My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula J. Freedman centers on Tara Feinstein, who is half Jewish and half Indian, as she questions how her self-identity balances these two backgrounds.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park dramatizes the real-life story of Salva, one of Sudan’s “lost boys” whose tale of survival remains one of the most moving I’ve ever read. I read this aloud with my oldest son when he was ten years old, and I was happily reminded of my desire to revisit it with my younger children when planning for this challenge.

A book about a topic you don’t know much about

Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival by Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis may be appropriate for my 5th grade daughter who has a limited understanding of the atrocities involved in the Holocaust but has questions about this time in history.

What Do You Believe? by DK Publishing presents information on the world’s most prevalent faiths and religious practices in a visually appealing way that encourages young readers to browse and take in as much as they desire rather than necessarily read cover to cover.

Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby and illustrated by Christian Robinson brings the incredible Josephine Baker to life on the page, chronicling her entire life, including the challenges she faced posed by segregation, race-based mistreatment, and poverty.

Gettysburg: The Graphic History of America’s Most Famous Battle and the Turning Point of the Civil War by Wayne Vansant will likely appeal to my daughter who knows her class will be visiting the Gettysburg battlefields in the spring.

A book in a format that you don’t normally read for fun

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is an acclaimed and beloved middle grade novel that I think will make a great read-aloud for my son who is still a little reluctant to read longer chapter books on his own.

Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg is a novel in verse that I predict will be enjoyed by my daughter who is already a huge fan of Kwame Alexander’s books in verse.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lại would fit in all three of these categories for my own children, and is another novel in verse that has received several awards including the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

Home at Last by Vera B. Williams and illustrated by Chris Raschka is a picture book with a heartwarming theme of family love that will remind my children what they loved so much about picture books– beautiful illustrations and compact storytelling.

Do you think your children are up to the challenge? Do you have other book recommendations that fit the bill for any of the three parts of the challenge? Please feel free to share them in the comments for our community of readers.

 

 

ShareTweetPinPocketMail
Around the Blogosphere – Add YOUR Giveaway Link #Giveaways
10 Fire Safety Tips To Protect Your Family and Belongings

About Dawn

When she's not reviewing books, 5 Minutes for Books contributor Dawn (and her online alter ego, morninglight mama) can be found blogging at my thoughts exactly and contributing to The DC Moms.

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Bringing Moms Together

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.

Meet Us…

Work With Us…

Subscribe via Email

to be first to read new posts

Trending Now

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Instant Pot Apple Crisp that is Ready in Minutes!

Instant Pot Apple Crisp that is Ready in Minutes!

browse around

  • Posts by Susan
  • Posts by Janice
  • Favorite Recipes
  • Favorite Crafts
  • Giveaways
  • All Posts

Footer

Recipes

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

25 Awesome Rainbow and Green St. Patrick’s Day Treats

25 Awesome Rainbow and Green St. Patrick’s Day Treats

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Crafts/DIY

Easter Egg Painting – How to Paint Easter Eggs with Acrylic Paint

Easter Egg Painting – How to Paint Easter Eggs with Acrylic Paint

DIY Flower Press – How To Press Flowers

DIY Flower Press – How To Press Flowers

Valentine’s Day Crafts For Kids – Super Cute and Easy Valentine Craft Ideas

Valentine’s Day Crafts For Kids – Super Cute and Easy Valentine Craft Ideas

Giveaways

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 5 Minutes for MomTheme by Melissa Rose Design and Once Coupled