Sic transit gloria mundi... The 48 Hour Book Challenge

Hands down, the best part of my year was always the 48 Hour Book Challenge, which is not being held this year. MotherReader, Pam Coughlin, started it in 2006. She thought ten years was enough, and I understand completely. It's a lot of work. Numbers have dropped. Life happens. 

Still, I miss it, and I asked Pam if she would be okay with me trying to revive it next year. 

I read books all year long, but the 48 Hour Book Challenge was my Boston Marathon of reading. I spent months getting books stockpiled (many participants read their BEA haul), cleared the calendar, and made sure Younger Members of Staff were prepared. I slept little. Personal hygiene suffered. I read A LOT.

But the best part was the time we were "allowed" to do social media. We could visit and comment on other's blogs, and later Tweet and Instagram. We were all a little punchy from lack of sleep, but it was an awesome feeling of community. I "met" a lot of new people and read a ton of new reviews.

So my plan is this: I'd like to see if there is enough interest to restart the 48 Hour Book Challenge, and refocus it with a middle grade/young adult/picture book crowd? 

Why? I always feel that there are more middle grade bloggers out there, and I am not finding them. We're a special group, and even though we have things like Marvelous Middle Grade Monday hosted by MG author Shannon Messenger and the kid centered It's Monday, What Are You Reading hosted by Unleashing Readers, I feel like we really need a Giant, online Kidlit party once a year!

If I can get 30 comments showing interest on this post, I'll put together a Google doc to get a feel for what people really want. There are never perfect dates, but it would still be after BEA, and probably toward the middle of June so people are out of school put not having to suffer through too many graduation parties. The way I envision it, it's little work for the participants except for adding your name to a Mr. Linky and READING. I would take care of details like prizes and general set up, but it would help if others would assist in spreading the word so more people participated. Perhaps we can get sponsorship or at least the interest of other Kidlit groups. (Cybils members' participation is always HUGE.)

So? You in? Thoughts? Opine, and let's get this party started!