Randomly Reading: Taking Stock of 2017 - Looking Forward to 2018

I’ve been thinking a lot about my 2017 and my 2018 reading year. In 2017,

1- I made no resolutions which means no resolutions to break;

2- I set up a Goodreads Reading Challenge of 250 books, 100 books more than in 2016;

3- I set up a few other reading challenges that I found interesting;

4- I was a Cybils second round Middle Grade Fiction judge for the 4th year in a row; and

5- I was a co-host for Multicultural Children’s Book Day for the first time;

6- I went to BookExpo with less enthusiasm than I usually have because they made it really expensive for bloggers so I missed some of the friends I always see there. Granted, it wasn’t as crowded, but there was a certain excitement missing;

7- I enjoyed going the BookFest@Bank Street once again;

8- I did participate in a Historical Fiction panel at KidLitCon in Hersey, PA in November. Much as I don’t like public speaking, I have to admit it was fun, and it’s always nice to see fellow bloggers again (especially since BookExpo isn’t so welcoming anymore), and to meet some great kid lit authors;

10- In my non-virtual life, I am still serving as a member of the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee and reading lots of books for it.

For all that, I didn’t post as much as usual on either one of my blogs, The Children’s War or Randomly Reading, because I had to spend so much time dealing with the aftermath of a fire someone started with a candle four floors above my apartment.

I really didn’t accomplished much on my Reading Challenges either. I even had to lower the number of books on my Goodreads Challenge from 250 to 200. And although I actually surpassed 250, there were a lot of picture books.

So what’s in store for 2018? Pretty much the same as 2017, except no reading challenges other than Goodreads

1- I made no resolutions which means no resolutions to break;

2- I set up a Goodreads Reading Challenge of 250 books;

3- I am a Cybils second round Middle Grade Fiction judge for the 5th year in a row; and

4- I am a co-host for Multicultural Children’s Book Day for the second time;

5- I am still reading for the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee;

6- BookExpo? Maybe

7- BookFest? Definitely

8- KidLItCon? Hopefully

What’s different in 2018?

1- This year, I would like to read and review more transitional and chapter books;

2- I would like to read and review more graphic books and even some manga;