Celebrating 30 years of the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award

For several years I have entertained the idea of going back and reading all the books which have been nominated for the Maud Hart Lovelace Award. The contest began in 1980. I have read all the books from 2003 thru 2010. That means I have 22 years' worth of back log. Hmmm...I'm not sure how many books that is, but I know it is in the hundreds. There were 18 nominees per year when I started reading them all in 2003 and that number was upped to 20 per year when they expanded the shared division. Maybe I should dial it down to just reading all the winners first. 1980-1996, there was just one division so that makes 17 winners. Then they went to Division I Grades 3-6 and Division II Grades 6-8, with one winner from each division. 1997-2002 there are 11 winners because Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park won both divisions in 1998. 28 books. I might be able to do that. Perusing the list, I see 7 more titles I have already read. 21 books. I will give that a shot! Check back and see how I am doing! Better yet, join me in reading them and let me know how you are doing! The lists are on the website: http://www.maudhartlovelace.org/

P.S.

If I ever get all the MHL nominees read, my other lofty goal is to read all the Newbery books..honor and medal. Some of those probably aren't even in print anymore!

The problem is there are always new books coming out, nominated for awards or not, that I want to read too!