Book Week Scavenger Hunt

         Children’s Book Week was in May and I missed it at the time, partly because I’ve basically been boycotting them since the Rush Limbaugh fiasco in 2014.  But I believe in redemption and now that I look back at recent years it seems like Every Child A Reader, which runs Children’s Book Week, is doing more good than harm, so I’ve decided to play along with one of this year’s featured activities.  In keeping with the theme of this blog, however, wherever possible my selections come specifically from the realm of children’s fantasy, or (for a second choice) children’s non-fantasy or adult fantasy.

* Shooting Star - Stardust by Neil Gaiman, of course (see a little more here)

* Bright Idea - “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” (see a little more here)

* Character I Look Up To - A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

* Real-Life Person Who Made Positive Change - Desmond and the Very Mean Word by Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams (see more here)

* Bonfire - Uh oh… I can think of plenty of books with campfires or cooking fires (how about Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky) and plenty of books with  buildings on fire (how about Treasure of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston or Going Postal by Terry Pratchett) but I actually can’t think of any proper bonfires right now!

* Idea that Comes to Life - Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (see a little more here, plus some wordless picture books with the same theme here)

* Team Who Works Together - Lots, as that’s one of the best themes!  But I’m going to go with The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry (and also Kate and Sam to the Rescue by Anne E.G. Nydam)

* Book that Inspires Me - The Golden Key by George MacDonald (see more here)

* Invention - Frank’n’Stan by M.P. Robertson (see more here)

* Light Triumphs Over Darkness - Pretty much every one of my favorite books!  But to pick one that makes a real theme of light and dark, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

* Sun - fable of “The Sun and the North Wind” by Aesop (see more here)

* Book Sparks Change - Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare (or perhaps The Extraordinary Book of Doors by Anne E.G. Nydam)

        Have you ever read any of these?  Which are your favorites?  Which books would you pick for these categories?  And how about discussing your choices with a child reader in your life!

[Image from Every Child a Reader]