2011 Favorite Reads

Thank you so much, reader friends, for coming over and reading, and commenting and sharing! 

I hoped to improve and grow this blog over this last year. It's still small potatoes, and has plenty of room for improvement, but I'd like to celebrate with a positive spin: 

• followers increased by 800% in the last 12 months,
• pageviews per month increased by 800-1000%,
• I successfully posted regularly, averaging 2-3 posts/week, 
• I learned basic how-tos and etiquette, and
• I think I am finding my voice! 

And who do I have to thank? YOU! I'm having so much fun, and I hope you keep reading. Tell me what you'd like more of, and what you don't care about so much. I'd love to hear.

As prompted by a reflection post on my personal/family blog, here is a list of my favorite reads this year:

Grown-up books: The Help. I read most of the first of The Hunger Games until I lost it on a plane, but I like it so far. 

YA: Jade; Forbidden Sea. It's the only YA I read, but I hope to read more of this huge category next year.

Early reader chapter book: the first of Ivy + Bean. We'll talk more about this soon--a good Level 1-3 chapter book is hard to find, but I think this series is great!

Picture books/Board books: I have over 80 and [as you know] I love them, but off the top of my head:  

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1);  

Click, Clack, Moo;  

Päivä Muumilaaksossa (5);  

Pat the Bunny; 

Gossie,  

The Thingamabob (3);  

Press Here (4);  

Seven Hungry Babies (2);  

My Personal Penguin;  

Goodnight Moon;  

Pikkuveikko; 

Christmas in Noisy Village.

What have your favorite reads been this year? What's on your list for next year?

Happy 2012!