Wow. I can’t say much more than that. As of right now, we have read 67,704 pages between all three participating forums! At this rate, we will have no problem smashing up the records for every past year.

If you haven’t joined the Read-a-Thon yet, there is still a little time to sign up and get going! Just visit the sign up page for more information. (And why wouldn’t you sign up? We have prizes!)

Also, we have t-shirts for this year! We’re thrilled to be able to keep the same pricing as last year. These great shirt designs are available now for only $13.99, and that includes shipping in the US! Personally, I’m eyeing the green one. :-D

Happy reading!

Today is the beginning of Read-a-Thon 2011! If you signed up to participate, you can start posting the books you’ve read in this thread now. Of course, if you’re participating on Holy Worlds, you can go over there and post your page counts, too.

Wait. What? You haven’t signed up? Well then, go read the rules, and then sign up.

C’mon! We have prizes!

All right, pay attention!

We’ve been absolutely showered with prizes. I’ve lost count of how many books we’ve got coming. Some of them are sets and signed copies. It’s unbelievable!

Anyway. Given the showers of blessing on our efforts, we need to shove this program over the edge and multiply it. Simply put, we need more participants! And there’s only one way we’re going to get more participants… promotion!

We need you! We’ve got to get the word out about this program. So start talking, anywhere and everywhere!

Every little bit counts. Our greatest weapon is social media, so even the smallest status message can help. Post on Facebook, Buzz, Twitter (use #readathon5 as a hashtag), whatever you’ve got. If you have a Facebook page for your business, please consider posting from there, too!

In addition to chattering it up, blog posts would be extremely helpful. Those of you with blogs, please consider posting on our behalf! Below I’ve pasted a sample post with all the pertinent information. Feel free to plagiarize it.

And remember, we have a lovely assortment of graphics, designed for us by the talented Vilisse from Holy Worlds, for your use! If you have a website, please consider posting one of these images in your sidebar. http://incredibooks.com/read-a-thon/promote-the-read-a-thon/

Thanks, everyone! Let’s get the word out!

Here’s a sample post you can feel free to copy if you like:

This summer, grab a book or twenty and sign up for this year’s coolest reading program!

The Read-a-Thon is back for its 5th year, and it’s bigger than ever! Join the unified forces of Incredibooks and Holy Worlds for a race to read the most pages between June 13th and August 13th. There’s a delightful stash of prizes – including books from Donita K. Paul, Bryan Davis, Jill Williamson, Answers in Genesis, and more! Sign up on any of the participating forums before June 30th to win! All ages welcome.

Please visit http://incredibooks.com/read-a-thon/rules/ to read the complete rules. Check this page to find the sign-up lists: http://incredibooks.com/read-a-thon/sign-up/

Interested? Please help us spread the word! http://incredibooks.com/read-a-thon/promote-the-read-a-thon/

See you there!

Hello all!

We have something very exciting to announce to you all.

In the wake of my announcement that Incredibooks would be shortening the Read-a-Thon to just July this year, RoadtoGrinnell (a former participant) proposed a summer reading program to the forum team over at Holy Worlds. Her plan was to host an event based off of the Summer Read-a-Thon we’d been doing here at Incredibooks. When we heard about it, we gave the Holy Worlds teams our blessing, but it didn’t take long for the teams from both forums to wonder why we didn’t just join forces. Which we promptly did.

So this year, Incredibooks and Holy Worlds have teamed up to present a tri-forum Summer Read-a-Thon for 2011! The knowledge and resources of Incredibooks, combined with the energy and staff of Holy Worlds, and the creativity and dedication provided by both sites work together to come up with something I promise will be truly remarkable.

What is a Read-a-Thon? The goal is to read as many books during the summer as you can, and race with your friends and other users to accomplish that goal. We’ve also got some prizes in the works that we’ll have more on later.

Now, I know I said earlier that we were shortening the Read-a-Thon to span only the month of July. That’s all changed. You can sign up starting June 1st, and the Read-a-Thon starts June 13th. Late signups will be accepted through June 30th. The contest ends on August 13th.

The rules are hosted here on Incredibooks. Please check them out for more details! Sign-up and Reporting threads will be started on all three participating forums, as well as general chatter. Sign-ups are required to be eligible for prizes.

Happy reading!

Hey everybody!

We’ve been working on getting some Read-a-Thon shirts for you, and we can do them if we get enough orders to cover our minimum purchase.

So, would you buy a shirt like the ones below (available in navy blue or chocolate brown) for $13.99, which includes US shipping?

Here’s a mock-up of what they’ll look like:

Here’s a closer look at the design:

If enough people say yes, we’ll make them and take orders.

Today is the last day that you can register to join the Incredibooks Summer Read-a-Thon. Don’t miss the fun. Visit the sign up page and get in on the action.

If you’re already in the Read-a-Thon, thanks for joining. See you in the Read-a-Thon thread!

Are you ready for the Incredibooks Summer Read-a-Thon to begin? Do you have a huge list of books all waiting to be read? The Read-a-Thon begins tomorrow so hold onto that list for just a little while longer.

If you’re just seeing this now, don’t panic. There is still plenty of time for you to join in the fun. Simply visit the Read-a-Thon sign up page and follow the instructions there before June 7.

And if you’re already signed up, why not stop by the Read-a-Thon 2010 Enthusiasm, Questions, and Comments thread on the forum and say hello?

Less than one day away. Get ready. It’s coming.

Today I’ve decided to take a little trip down memory lane and introduce to you a few extra special books I’ve enjoyed. Books that may not be the most down to earth, up to date, or realistic, but books that still make me smile.

Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking (Puffin Modern Classics) (Paperback)
by Astrid Lindgren
ISBN: 0142402494

Price: USD 5.99
98 used & new available from USD 1.97

A very funny story about the strongest girl in the world and her rather scatterbrained, upside-down way of looking at things.

No Flying in the House

No Flying in the House (Harper Trophy Books) (Paperback)
by Betty Brock
ISBN: 0064401308

Price: USD 5.99
126 used & new available from USD 0.10

The delightful story of Annabel, a young girl who discovers that she is related to fairies.

Rascal

Rascal (Paperback)
by Sterling North
ISBN: 0140344454

Price: USD 5.99
273 used & new available from USD 0.10

A truly enjoyable tale about a boy and his pet raccoon.

Rabbit Hill

Rabbit Hill (Newbery Library, Puffin) (Paperback)
by Robert Lawson
ISBN: 014031010X

Price: USD 5.99
243 used & new available from USD 0.10

The tale of the shenanigans that the animals living on the hill get into when New Folks move into the big house.

Part of our Read-a-Thon 2010 highlight posts.

When most people think of C. S. Lewis, his Narnia series is usually what comes to mind first. Or perhaps The Screwtape Letters. But today I want to draw attention to what are definitely my favorite Lewis books: his science fiction trilogy.

These are written for advanced readers, as the style of writing is so deep and thought-provoking, and Lewis does not attempt to smooth over the badguys. Evil is portrayed as what it is. But I still recommend these very, very highly. Every time I read them I find something new.

And just because they’re thought-provoking, don’t think they’re boring! Every book has plenty of action and suspense written in the older style. They stretch the imagination while exciting interest. And, best of all, on multiple occasions they have inspired me anew and afresh to marvel over how amazing our God is.

Here they are, listed in order.

Out of the Silent Planet

Out of the Silent Planet (Space Trilogy, Book One) (Paperback)
by C.S. Lewis
ISBN: 0743234901

Price: USD 8.87
162 used & new available from USD 2.43

Arthur Ransom is kidnapped by a pair of scientists and taken on a spaceship to Malacandra, where the scientists intend to turn him over to the ruler for a human sacrifice. But little do the scientists know that their betrayal was not what the ruler wanted, and their actions have set about world-changing events.

Perelandra

Perelandra (Space Trilogy, Book 2) (Paperback)
by C.S. Lewis
ISBN: 074323491X

Price: USD 8.98
124 used & new available from USD 4.00

Ransom, now a friend of the rulers of the planets, is sent to Perelandra (Venus) to help try to prevent it from going the way of Earth at Eden.

That Hideous Strength

That Hideous Strength (Space Trilogy, Book 3) (Paperback)
by C.S. Lewis
ISBN: 0743234928

Price: USD 9.75
116 used & new available from USD 3.85

The events in books one and two have brought about massive celestial repercussions, and the dark beings on Earth battle the rulers of the planets in an attempt to take over Earth once and for all.

As a side note: These books seem to be written from the standpoint of theistic evolution, and do involve other races of beings on other planets.

Part of our Read-a-Thon 2010 highlight posts.

Remember, reading aloud to younger siblings or children will boost your Read-a-Thon page count for the summer. We already mentioned a few recommended longer children’s books, but today we’re highlighting some short ones—ones you can easily read aloud several in an afternoon.

Blueberries for Sal

Blueberries for Sal (Paperback)
by Robert McCloskey
ISBN: 014050169X

Price: $0.01
140 used & new available from USD 0.10

The story of when Little Sal and her mother go blueberry-picking on Blueberry Hill the same day as Little Bear and Little Bear’s Mother. A most amusing mix-up occurs.

Frog and Toad Together

Frog and Toad Together (I Can Read Book 2) (Paperback)
by Arnold Lobel
ISBN: 0064440214

Price: USD 3.99
437 used & new available from USD 0.10

Arnold Lobel’s many Frog and Toad stories are great fun to read aloud. Each book has five different adventures of these amphibian friends.

Norman the Doorman

Norman the Doorman (Picture Puffin Books) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Don Freeman
ISBN: 0140502882

Price: USD 6.99
86 used & new available from USD 0.10

Norman is the little mouse who lives as the doorman in the basement of a great art museum. Can he work up the courage to submit his own tiny sculpture into the museum’s contest?

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are (Paperback)
by Maurice Sendak
ISBN: 0064431789

Price: USD 8.95
352 used & new available from USD 0.19

Max’s imaginings about a journey to a place where the Wild Things are, after being sent to bed early for being much too wild.