Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge – complete!

Yes, completed since the end of last term! It’s taken me this long to blog about it! I get that far behind on some things. I could be six months pregnant and you just wouldn’t know because I’ve neglected to mention it. I have a list of the next thirty books we’ve read since these ones. I’ll probably post them by November. 

Anyway, here’s the list of books Keira read (or partly read, or I read to her) for the challenge: 

Where is the Green Sheep?  by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

Hattie and the Fox  by Mem Fox and Patricia Mullins

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt  by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

Squeak Street by Emily Rodda

Too Many Pears by Jackie French

Is Your Grandmother a Goanna?  by Pamela Allen

Surprise!  by Karen Andrews and Kim Fleming

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge  by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

The Magic Hat  by Mem Fox and Tricia Tusa

Lucy’s Cat and the Rainbow Birds  Anthony Hill and Jane Tanner

Cat’s Whiskers by Janet McLean and Andrew McLean

This Is Actually My Party  by Lauren Child

Mr Archimedes’ Bath by Pamela Allen

Wombat Divine by Mem Fox and Kerry Argent

Horrible Harriet by Leigh Hobbs

I’m Really Ever So Not Well!  by Lauren Child

Rain Dance by Cathy Applegate and Dee Huxley

Willy the Wimp by Anthony Browne

Willy and Hugh  by Anthony Browne

First Friend by Christobel Mattingley

Wanda’s First Day by Mark Sperring

Mimi and Moochie Go Shopping by Margaret Chamberlain

We Like Kindergarten by Clara Cassidy and Eloise Wilkin

Mutt Dog!  by Stephen Michael King

My Cat Maisie by Pamela Allen

The Trouble with Dogs by Bob Graham

More Pants by Giles Andreae

Clarice Bean That’s Me by Lauren Child

Look After Your Planet by Lauren Child

 

As it’s been a while since we’ve read some of these, it’s quite interesting to see which have lasted best in my memory. Many are in our regular rotation; many we were reading for the first time. I have always been a fan of Squeak Street. We Like Kindergarten was a childhood favourite because the main character’s name is Karen, and even looks a little (I think) like me when I was young.

Perhaps what struck me most was Riley’s reaction to Willy the Wimp. It is a story that explores the growing physicality of a male chimp, and how that strength may be used in life. Riley found that journey very interesting. As he studied the pages, he kept noting the differences in Willy’s appearance, and then once we’d finish he’d often go back and look at them again. I would ask him what he was thinking, and most times he couldn’t really articulate an answer. Not that it matters. He is young, after all. I’m just glad he liked it.

*I do hope I’ve put in full author and illustrator credits in the above list. If I’ve left anyone off, do say.