105 Ways to Give a Book

Seventh Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge

48 Hour Book ChallengeHere we go with the official announcement of the Seventh Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge — that weekend readathon of legend. Sign up in the comments today, and talk it up. It’s go time!
  1. The weekend is June 8–10, 2012. Read and blog for any 48-hour period within the Friday-to-Monday-morning window. Start no sooner than 7:00 a.m. on Friday the eighth and end no later than 7:00 a.m. Monday the eleventh. So, go from 7:00 p.m. Friday to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday... or maybe 7:00 a.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Monday works better for you. But once begun, the 48 hours do need to be in a row. That said, during that 48-hour period you may still have gaps of time in which you can’t read, and that’s fine.
  2. The books should be middle-grade, young adult, or adult books. If you are generally a picture book blogger, consider this a good time to get caught up on all those wonderful books you’ve been hearing about. Graphic novels can be included in the reading. One audiobook can also be included in your time and book total — helpful if you have somewhere to drive to or need to prepare dinner, etc.
  3. New this year, three winners will be chosen at random from each of three levels of reading commitment - 12 to 23 hours, 24 to 35 hours, and 36 to 48 hours. Since each level will progressively have less participants, the more you read the better your chances. Also it makes it necessary to track your time carefully. Top readers will still win individual prizes. International winners may be given gift cards instead of books due to mailing costs, unless a U.S. address is provided.
  4. It’s your call as to how much you want to put into it. If you want to skip sleep and showers to do this — and some people do — go for it. If you want to be a bit more laid back, fine. But you have to put something into it or it’s not a challenge. Twelve hours is the benchmark for winning prizes.
  5. The length of the reviews or notes written in your blog are not an issue. You can write a sentence, a paragraph, or a full-length review. Up to you. The time spent reviewing counts in your total time.
  6. You can include some amount of time reading other participant’s blogs, commenting on participating blogs and Facebook pages, and Twittering about your progress (remember the #48hbc tag!). For every five hours, you can add one hour of networking. This time counts in your total time.
  7. On your blog, state when you are starting the challenge with a specific entry on that day and leave the link to that post at the Starting Line post at MotherReader on June 8th. And please link to the contest on your post.
  8. When you finish, write a final summary that clearly indicates hours — including partial hours — you spent reading/reviewing/networking, the number of books read, and any other comments you want to make on the experience. It needs to be posted no later than noon EST on Monday, June 11th. Also, check in at the Finish Line post on MotherReader that will be posted Sunday and please link to that post from your final summary post.
New this year, we'll be making ourselves a real readathon with a dedicated beneficiary. For the last few years we've been able to connect the 48HBC to charitable causes, while not officially being a fundraiser readathon. I would like to do so now with a pledge to Book People Unite and collect money for Reading is Fundamental. All participants should sponsor themselves with a pledge for the number of hours spent in the 48HBC and donate that amount directly through Reading is Fundamental This donation is on your honor and at your financial comfort level. You many also look for additional sponsors in your online and "real" life, which if nothing else, promotes the ideas of us book people, you know, uniting. While there are many great libraries and literary causes that need help in these difficult times, I think the timing of the Book People Unite is perfect for us to join forces for the greater good.

I’m always looking for donations for winners’ prize packages and other “door prizes” to be awarded to participants selected at random. Past prizes have included original sketches from Mo Willems and Matthew Holm, signed and sketched books from Adam Rex, loads of signed books, t-shirts from Threadless, artistic blank journals, jewelry, gift cards, notecards, and more. Good stuff. If you’d like to contribute to the prizes this year, shoot me an email at MotherReader AT gmail DOT com.

Sign up now in the comments and block of the dates on your calendar. Questions can also go in the comments, and I will respond in the comments and add to FAQ if needed. Which means, you might check there first. Talk this up, people! Let's have some fun!

50 comments:

Tammy said...

Sign me up!
Tammy @ Mug of Moxie
tmdahle@centurytel.net

Kelly Jensen said...

I am so in. I had a blast doing this last year and am excited to join again.

Anonymous said...

Count me in as well!

Victoria said...

I'm in, and really looking forward to it!

Leila said...

IN!

Abby said...

Huzzah!!!!!!! I am in, of course! I look forward to this all year. :)

Lisa Schoof said...

This sounds like a blast. I may have a slumber party of readers!!!

Jana said...

I'm in. I loved participating last year.

Jana @Thinking Out Loud

Susan said...

Yay! I kept checking for the details, and now here they are. Another busy weekend for me, just means more determination in order to participate.

Jen Robinson said...

I am in! Not sure how much reading time Baby Bookworm will permit, but I am going to give it my best effort.

Brenna said...

This is PERFECT timing for me, and I figure what a perfect way to celebrate the weekend before graduation ;) And I like that it's a bit longer than 24 hour ones.

Looking forward to it!
http://everafteresther.blogspot.ca

Sondy said...

Oh, I'm so pleased it's not my Mom's birthday weekend this year! :) And besides, I believe I have that Saturday off... It is the week before my son graduates from high school, but I can't let that stop me, now can I? I am thinking about focusing on reviewing this year -- maybe giving myself an ultimatum that whatever I don't finish reviewing by that weekend goes BACK to the library. Though reading is more fun, but I don't want to get further behind. Anyway, it's a lovely dilemma!

Unknown said...

I'm in! Hope to scrounge up some teen participants too!

Carol H Rasco said...

As I mentioned on your Facebook post when the Challenge was announced I am honored and choked up to learn of your support of RIF and Book People Unite through the Challenge. I can assure each participant in the Challenge who signs up a spiffy new RIF bookmark and will get with you on some new RIF logo Book People Unite prizes in addition to three Multicultural Book Collections for the winners in each of the three Challenge categories (or however you wish to use) to be donated to a school or non-profit of the recipients choice; the collection for this year titled "Celebrations" in honor of RIF's 45th Anniversary is made up of 45 books and activities for each to be used by Teachers, Parents, and Community members...all to be viewed at http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/booklists/multicultural-books.htm/. I'll recruit some RIF cheerleaders, some of those Book People, you know! Thanks again for the support!

Ms. Yingling said...

Any excuse to read without being bothered and NOT cook or do laundry. That's the real reason I like the challenge. Always a frenetic good time!

Bibliovore said...

Yay! It is upon us again!

Question: I'd like to write the reviews during the 48HBC, but schedule them to be posted later, since my blog tends to get pushed to the back burner during Summer Reading Program. Can I still count that writing in my time? I'll be posting sum-up/capsule review posts during the 48HBC itself.

Paige Y. said...

I'm in -- I think my wonderful husband is going to treat me to a hotel stay so I can read and relax all weekend. I can't wait!

Library Gal @Lost in the Library said...

Yay! I look forward to this every year....

Misti said...

I'm in!

Misti @ Kid Lit Geek

MotherReader said...

Bibliovore, I forgot to answer this before - but yes, you can write mini-reviews to post and also count the reviews that you write for future posting as part of your time.

Abby said...

Abby the Librarian mentioned this on her site--what a great challenge. I'm new to this, so, do most people go all out and sacrifice sleep and showers? I don't know if have that much dedication, but I do love to read and I have a list a mile long that I've been meaning to get through. Please sign me up!

Mikaiya said...

I'm in again this year- it was a wonderful experience last year, and this year I should have a LOT more time to dedicate to the challenge!

jone said...

I am in this year! No play practice on Saturday. I am thrilled.!!

Anonymous said...

I'm in!!

Liz said...

I plan to participate!!!

Abby (thelupinelibrarian) said...

Quick question: is it limited to fiction, or is non-fiction ok, too?

Miss Christine said...

I'm in! Now to pick the books . . .

Miss Christine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katya said...

Woo Hoo! I'm in!

Jennifer said...

I'm excited to participate. Putting together a collection of books on my Kindle today.

Jennifer said...

Developing my Kindle collection today.

Melissa Wiley said...

I'm in, with the usual hedging...I'm in as far as my youngun-tending will allow!

Love this event, Pam.

Beth said...

I'm in, and I'm signing up for my two boys as well. We love this weekend.

Unknown said...

My first year of the Challenge - I am so in!

LibraryStudent said...

I've been waiting for this all year! Did my food/drink/caffeine shopping today and blogged about it. I'm in!

Bookologist said...

However, I am not doing it under LibraryStudent. I am doing it under Bookologist. Hopefully I can get that link right on here.

Sarah Stevenson said...

OK, usually it's Tanita representing for the both of us, but I've decided to be IN this year! YAY!

Paulina said...

My daughter and I are joining in again this year!

Liviania said...

I'd like to sign up!

inbedwithbooks AT yahoo DOT com
http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com

Emily C. said...

I'm in! I did it last year and it was a lot of fun!

Roberta said...

It was so much fun last year, I have to try it again. Let the gathering of books begin...

Unknown said...

I'm in! I could use a nice reading weekend again. I have to write a 2-page essay as well, but I should find some time to read.

Whitney said...

I have recently gotten lazy in my reading, a read-a-thon is just what I need. I'm in!

Charlotte said...

I just posted my prep post! So exciting.

Stella said...

Absolutely! This is a great tradition and I'm ready!

Lady-Schrapnell said...

Late but not too late! I've been planning on this since it was announced, but now got LJ sorted out. Ish. Almost ready to start.

Beck said...

Glad I found this, starting at 5PM tonight

Stiletto Storytime said...

So glad I found this...Sign me up! I was planning to read most the weekend anyway...my time will start as soon as I can eat some dinner, get my post up and grab a book! Thanks!

Courtney
Stiletto Storytime

Liza (WhoRuBlog) said...

I'll participate! Liza Wiemer of WhoRuBlog

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I'm in, but I'm going to start in the morning. I probably will not get the full 48 hours in, but I'm always up for a read/blog-a-thon! Thanks for hosting. I'll post my starting line post in the morning. =O)