The Bibliopolis 40-Book Challenge

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If you’re a parent of a child who is 4th grade and up, you know about the 40-Book Challenge already. This is not just for kids at Gracepoint Berkeley church, but throughout our Gracepoint ministries.

Here’s how it works: The challenge is to read 40 books (or more) throughout the 2015-2016 school year. No problem, you say! Well…not only do I want to encourage reading often, it’s important to read widely too. That means getting out of our reading comfort zones. We’ve all got our favorite genre of books, and that’s totally fine! But there’s not only one kind of text out there in the world, so we want to exercise all of our reading muscles. The 40 is kind of arbitrary; it’s not a magic number. It’s because it comes out to roughly one book a week during a school year. The main point is to see reading as a continuous thing, not just something we do in spurts. The goal is to establish reading habits, which can develop our reading lives.

The Genres:

  • Non-fiction (includes (auto)biographies, apologetics): 8
  • Realistic Fiction: 6
  • Classics (defined broadly): 5
  • Historical Fiction: 3
  • Fantasy/Sci-Fi: 3
  • Action/Adventure/Mystery: 2
  • Poetry (includes novels in verse): 2
  • Graphic Novel: 1
  • Choice (whatever genre you choose): 10

Wait a minute! Didn’t you say that choice is the most important thing in terms of fostering a love of reading? Why yes, I did. But you’ll notice that the largest genre “requirement” is actually the genre of their own choosing. AND they can choose whatever books they want to within the other genres.

For each child, the goal is to challenge yourself and to read more than last school year. So it’s not so much about the 40 books, but the personal growth. So if one kid “only” reads 29 books, but has come to like reading more than last year when she only read 3 books, that is a  HUGE WIN! Another kid might already love reading, so for them, I’m going to push them beyond 40 books. And it’s entirely doable. I challenge all of them to beat my record of 160 books last school year. I don’t think I can beat my own record, since my reading has ironically slowed down since becoming the official church librarian!

Some kids ask: “What do we get if we meet the challenge?!”

My response: “You GET to have read 40+ awesome books!” 🙂

And then I add that as an extra incentive, we will be having a Summer Reading Getaway where one of their church plant friends lives. Wait a minute! Didn’t you say that we shouldn’t “pay” our kids to read? Why yes, I did, but I also said that rewarding reading with reading is different.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to provide positive reading experiences, and to build up a community of young readers. Each group of peers has a googledoc where they log their books, pages, and mini-reviews, and the most delightful part for me is seeing them recommend books for one another, and just getting excited about reading!

Is your child participating in the reading challenge? How many books did you read last year? What were/are your reading goals for 2015?

The Bibliopolis Book Drop

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Today’s post is inspired by a suggestion from a Bibliopolis Dad at Gracepoint Berkeley church:

Dear Gracepoint Church Library:

It would be great if there were a way for the kids to drop off their books when the library is closed.

It had been a while since this dad had been to Bibliopolis, so he didn’t know about our awesome DIY book drop. I realized many of you don’t know about it either — hence, the post. These awesome kinds of book drops, as well as the ones that go through a wall, can run up to $4,000. But who needs one of those when you’ve got MacGyver a pastor with awesome tools, a laundry hamper, and some bungee cords? Behold…

pastor ed kang gracepoint berkeley book drop

Pastor Ed Kang, cutting a slot in the door, whilst wearing sreppas (slippers said in a Korean accent) no less. I’d say “like a boss” if I said things like that.

bibliopolis book drop sign

It’s important to teach vocabulary in context, so I carpe every opportunity to teach some SAT words. (“Gargantuan” and “tome” are good words.)

(Cute) laundry hamper from Target® and two bungee cords. It’s working so far.

This is where patrons return books when the library is open. Again, IKEA is not an official sponsor of Bibliopolis. But the DRÖNA box is no longer available in that (cute) color. Just sayin’. (Shout out to Gracepoint Irvine church and Peter the Anteater on the left. Zot!)

I don’t know who loves the book drop more: the kids or me! Now they can return their books whenever they’re at HB, and they don’t feel stressed about having to carry their books with them all the time just in case they happen to cross paths with me. I have the piece that was cut out of the door, and we like to tell the story of how the book drop came to be (the boys especially find it awesome). It’s already part of Bibliopolis lore. From all of us at Bibliopolis – thanks, Uncle Pastor Ed!

 

Bibliopolis Adult Extension

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A frequently asked question these days as I walk around Gracepoint Berkeley church is, “Can adults check out books at Bibliopolis?” Another permutation is, “Can adults hang out in there and chill?” My answer to both is usually a version of, “Whatchutalkinboutwillis?” And while I can’t have open hours for adults to come in for story hour or silent reading with the kids, I have heard your cries and introduce Bibliopolis Adult Extension [insert crowd’s applause].

It resides in the “real” church library in Building A. For now, it’s super low-key, but my Biliophiluses and I will be working to make it an inviting space to encourage all of you adults to read! While I won’t be there to book talk a title, or help you find a book, the good news is that it is open all the time. Or any time the church building is open. There are some good fiction and non-fiction books on the bookcases along the wall on the right side when you first enter the library from the hallway. There are books for adults, as well as some of the young adult and children’s literature that have been mentioned on this blog. For example, there are a couple copies of Between Shades of Gray, one of Drive, Wonder, Charlotte’s Web, and even Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (the same version that Mrs. McNulty read to my class!).

bibliopolis adult extension

Those empty shelves will be filled eventually. You are free to donate *GOOD* books. Drop off donations at Bibliopolis proper.

This is an informal lending library. But the expectation is that you bring the books back. There is no time limit, but if it’s been a long time, and someone else wants that book, I reserve the right to contact you and request you bring it back. I think that’s only fair.

You do not need a library card to check out any of these books. You only need a first and last name. And an email address so that you can receive a friendly email notice from Gracepoint Church Library if you are uber* delinquent. All you have to do is fill out the form on a blue clipboard on one of the shelves. (In the picture above, it is on the second shelf from the top.)

bibliopolis book check out

This is an honor system library. Some say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. Imagine all the people. Bringing back their books. Whoa oh-oh-ohhhh. (You have to re-read that singing it to the correct tune!)

That’s right. This is an honor system type of deal. In theory, you *could* take a book without filling out the form. But that’s on you and your conscience! Actually, the only books that are “new” are on the left bookcase. The rest have been there all this time, but maybe this post will encourage people to peruse the shelves, and pick up some of the classics.

Remember, all the “good stuff” we know about reading doesn’t only apply to kids but to “big kids” too! Reading…

  • exercises our brains
  • improves our concentration
  • teaches us about human nature, and about the world around us
  • helps us develop empathy
  • improves our vocabulary and comprehension skills
  • makes us better students (of the Bible!)

It’s only as we read widely and often that we get better at it. My aim is to provide you with books that lead to positive reading experiences, which will hopefully lead to a genuine love of reading, no matter what kind of negative experiences your personal reading history is sprinkled with!

To borrow the words of Rainer Maria Rilke, a little out of context: “You are not too old, and it is not too late!”

Becoming stronger readers overall will help us in the endeavor of prioritizing sitting before God’s word in order to hear from him, of learning to think as we dig into the Bible, and striving to become people of the Word!

Will you be using the Bibliopolis Adult Extension? What books would you like to see there? Do you think this is going to work? Do you know what song I was referencing in the caption above? Share your responses to the not-so-grand opening of Bibliopolis Adult Extension below!

 

 

 

*über is a prefix derived from German (meaning “over”) that is also used as an adjective to mean “over or beyond.”  It’s not one of those made up words created by companies. Your mini-etymology lesson for today!